[Jewelry making - Article 00402] - Re: [Orchid] Rhodium plating tanzanite jewelry

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>     At least the solder can be removed when a more "proper" repair can
>     be instituted for the right price. 

    True enough, especially with platinum, where one can remove gold
    solder with aqua regia in many cases, without harming the platinum.
    But it's extra work and cost for the customer, compared with simply
    doing a good job in the first place. 

>     While you're at it, Peter. Why don't you mention the shoddy
>     repairs that are done by "butchers" with lasers. 

    Also all too true. Some new owners of lasers, or especially,
    non-goldsmith owners of jewelry shops who've bought a laser and think
    it's a magic tool that can do everything perfectly, simply assume
    that if they CAN weld something, they automatically SHOULD do so.
    Often they ignore the fact that proper solder joints can, being
    capillary joints, be less visible and intrusive to detailed jewelry,
    and that some metals are simply difficult to weld well or neatly,
    and solder is a better option there. 

    It simply goes to show that inept butchery can transcend any set of
    tools...

>     As for the new plumb platinum solders, Although they are nice and
>     I use them a lot, they too often leave a visible seam. Some
>     jewelers that I have met don't like them at all for that reason as
>     well as the fact that they flow a little differently than more
>     traditional solders. If possible I suggest continuing to weld with
>     the same alloy that the shank is made of. When using solders pay
>     attention to what works for you and what doesn't. 

    Well said. 

>     Let's drop the name calling and try to continue our growth with a
>     little more dignity. 

    My bad. I need to remember to read my replies twice and count to ten
    before posting, and to be especially careful when a response is based
    on some "trigger" pet peeve button being pushed. Thanks for reminding
    me.

>     Have I told you how much I hate gold with silicon in it? Have I
>     mentioned that I really hate cobalt in my platinum? 

    Yup. But hey, at least with the cobalt, you have the option of
    seperating it with a magnet to keep it away from your more usable
    scrap... 

    And while we're at it, I suspect I'm gonna have to learn to at least
    pretend to tolerate working with palladium. Nasty stuff, from what
    i've tried so far. Our laser doesn't do a good job with it, so I
    can't as easily fix the bothersome porosity that seems to show up in
    so many of the castings, and I can't even decently just melt it down
    and fabricate the stuff, at least not with our melting equipment...
    By the time all is said and done, I suspect the stuff won't be quite
    as much a money saver, either for us, or our customers, as they are
    hoping. But time will tell. 

cheers
Peter
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