[Jewelry making - Article 00090] - Re: [Orchid] Soldering with diamonds in place

[Erik Jewelers]

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    You are not likely to burn diamonds covered with boric acid when
    soldering with gold or silver solder. It will probably happen when
    soldering with platinum solder. What often happens is the diamonds
    are not clean, even after a day in the ultrasonic. Then the dirt gets
    burned on. You must clean completely before soldering. When this is
    the case, we use lye to clean off all the organic soils, which we
    affectionately call "customer slime" We just buy granulated drain
    cleaner (not the liquid kind) from the hardware store. Be sure that
    it is pure Sodium Hydroxide. Some drain cleaners also have some metal
    flakes in them. Put about a teaspoon of this in a small beaker with
    an inch or less of water. Float it on top of your ultrasonic solution
    (we have a plate on top with a hole in it) and run the ultrasonic for
    a half hour or more if necesary. I learned this technique many years
    ago from the Baume Mercier Watch Co. I was having trouble cleaning
    solid gold mesh watch bands before soldering them. They did it by
    boiling in an enamel or glass dish for a couple hours, but we have
    found the ultrasonic does the job well. Don't try this on pearl
    rings, or other delicate stones. Sodium hydroxide will also eat skin
    and eyes, so be careful. 

Dave Anderson
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