[Jewelry making - Article 00830] - Re: [Orchid] Heavy Platinum Welding

[David L. Huffman]

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Hello Neil;

>     I have to size a gent's plain plat wedding band two sizes up... I'm
>     concerned about getting full penetration in the weld without
>     melting the edges of the ring. 

    I'd recommend you solder it using one of the new plumb platinum
    solders. They are pricey, but they will solder a seam in platinum at
    a much lower temperature and provide a seam that has good color match
    and won't polish out. Stuller and R. Findings carry them, so does
    United, I believe, and probably others. Stuller will sell half
    pennyweight pieces of it. It comes in 1300, 1400, and 1500 degree
    Centigrade melting temperatures. The lowest grade leaves a seam that
    is barely noticible as slightly grayer than the surrounding metal.
    The higher grades are progressively harder to detect. I'd shoot for
    the middle grade of 1400. Use a neutral flame, not oxidizing as used
    to fuse platinum, and don't use any flux or boric acid coat. 

    The older platinum solder will leave a seam unless you get at least
    a 1700 degree welding solder or higher, and those higher grades of
    the old solders are nearly as expensive anyway. Next choice would be
    to weld the seam using a laser, and, of course, the old method of
    fusing the seam shut by inserting a thin shim of the same platinum
    that is wider than the cross section of the ring. If it's a plain
    band, this isn't really so risky as it sounds, but it does take a
    little more experience than using solders. I use the new plumb
    platinum solders for all my platinum sizing and thing they're the
    best way to go. 

David L. Huffman
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