[Jewelry making - Article 00518] - Re: [Orchid] Any tricks to hiding platinum seams?

[Peter W . Rowe]

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Laurie,

>     I usually get a sizing seam when I work with 18kt white. The seam
>     always seems darker. 

    Try using 20K white weld grade solder for those 18K white seams. If
    it's well fitted first, pretty much no seam. The stuff I've got comes
    from AAA metals, but I expect you'd get similar results from that
    grade of solder from other sources too. 

    Or, as you note, the laser is another way around it. 

    And especially with palladium white golds, in typical thinner ladies
    shanks, I've been able to torch weld the seams. Cut the sizing so
    that it's just a hair too large when fitted tightly together, and
    adjust the shank so the two cut ends are pressing tightly together
    with a bit of tension. Flux as usual, and use a fairly small hot
    flame right at the seam. Takes practice, and is a lot easier with 14K
    alloys, but you can get that type of seam to fuse. as it does, the
    two ends push into each other creating a slight weld bulge, thus
    avoiding melted in edges that make the joint end up thinner. If you
    get it right, you can just clean it up and your good to go without
    needing further adjustment. Sometimes the weld needs to be forged
    just a little to get the size or shank shape right. If so, smooth out
    the inside surface first so it sits cleanly against the ring mandrel.
    That will keep the weld from cracking when you hammer it. 

cheers
Peter
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