[Jewelry making - Article 00656] - [Orchid] First Steps in Soldering

[M.Brooke Barone]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    I am just starting out in the soldering process. I took a short
    class, where I learned to solder with "easy" solder and made a
    sterling silver linked bracelet. Of course, all went well during the
    class- no problems with torch or solder. However, I have recently
    purchased an Acetylene/Air Smith torch with a size 00 tip. I set up
    my shop, and anxiously got to work making another bracelet. I have
    encountered nothing but problems with the home shop. Clearly, I do
    not know the temperature of my torch and have alternately
    singed/burnt/overly oxidized scraps of sterling silver. For some
    reason, the smaller gauge wire is easier for me to solder than 14g
    sterling silver. Specifically, the process I was taught is: flux my
    joint, let it dry. Heat the entire piece, heat a small snip of solder
    until it "balls up" grab it with my titanium tip....heat the joint I
    am soldering, then apply the ball of solder and VOILA! Currently,
    when I heat my solder it lays flat and does not "ball up"... then if
    I apply the blue part of my flame to it, it balls up rather
    quickly... However, when put the ball of solder on my joint, it sits
    there and does not flow. (Meanwhile the entire piece becomes
    oxidize/singed). I have a feeling that the entire piece is not
    heating (because I don't see it glowing red), but how could it not
    be heating when there is a torch waved over it??) I believe my
    problems are related to not knowing the temperature of the flame- as
    then the piece or the solder is over/under heated. Any suggestions/
    knowledge of the Acetylene/Air torch would be appreciated! (I did
    read the "5 problems encountered in soldering" article posted,
    revisited the process... and still did not have any luck) 

Brooke

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________