[Jewelry making - Article 00385] - Re: [Orchid] Cleverwerx soldering set

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>     Tungsten for welding contains 5% thorium. Thorium is used to coat
>     tungsten wire used in electronic equipment, improving the electron
>     emission of heated cathodes. I don't know how this will react with
>     silver solder or with pickle. 

    I've never noticed any adverse effects, though i've not especially
    looked. Among other things, I don't use my solder picks in the
    pickle, so that's unknown. I'm not suggesting tungsten for anything
    but the high temp operations, ie solder picks, since that's all I use
    them for. It might work for other things, but it's main advantage is
    simply that it won't flare up unexpectedly and burn, like titanium
    can do with a thin rod or sharp point, if you get it hot enough (and
    platinum work is hot enough). 

>     I've used tungsten picks before from suppliers and found that
>     silver solder would melt onto the pick. Maybe it wasn't pure
>     tungsten, but again it's the consistent and repetitive heating. 

    You're right, it will, if fluxed. I've never especially minded this
    when in moderation, and by not getting flux on the pick, plus
    oxidizing it first, it's not a problem. Any solder that does flow
    onto the pick is not contaminated by the pick, so far as i can tell.
    I just figure occasionally needing to dress the tip is a small price
    to pay for a pick that will withstand the temps I need to use it
    with, and once comfortable with it for one use, I tend to just use
    them for all soldering. 

>     However, you are right, I haven't fully explored this yet and I
>     will give it a try. My husband has some in stock as he owns a tig
>     welder. The width of the welding stock is wider than the thin rod
>     you get from jewelry suppliers. 

    yes, you can get the tig rods in a number of weights, from very thin
    delicate wires, to rather heavy (1/8th inch or so). Lots of options.

>     I do know that tungsten for welding rod it is a consummable and
>     that there are 6 inch rods and which can be ground down. I do know
>     that you cannot put any pressure on the rod itself. 

    That depends on the size rod, and what you consider pressure. If
    you're doing large holloware and need to force a rim into position,
    this might be too much, but I don't know. My own work with tungsten
    picks is all "jewelry scale", and I'm not in the habit of needing to
    wrestle the metal around with the soldering pick. Modest pressure
    seems fine. I've never had one snap or bend while in use. 

>     It also oxidizes easily. 

    Which I encourage deliberately, is it limits solder flowing onto the
    pick. 

>     Tungsten is a very brittle metal, excellent for welding, but for a
>     six inch piece for continuous use, I will have to do more research. 

    As I said, though it's described as brittle, I've had no problems
    with the things breaking, at least not in use for soldering. There
    was one I snapped while using it, inserted in the cross hole of a
    stuck hammer handpiece tip, to try and wrench the tip off the hammer.
    That, needless to say, was more than it could stand. Two of the old
    steel busch burs I also tried, also snapped off, before the third one
    did the trick...

>     Thanks Peter. I'll look into this. 

    You're welcome. Hope you like em. 

Cheers
Peter
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