i know this isn't lampworking related but wasn;t sure where to put it
I got a silver solder kit for christmas off my parents from palmers metal, but problem is i have no idea how to use it!! it's got a mini blow torch, a ceramic tile, and some "very easy" silver solder wires.
I want to be able to solder jump rings etc but don't know where to start, and don;t want to waste the silver by messing around.
any tips?
thanks
Shahlaa xxx
Hi Shahlaa,
Sounds like fun!! I am probably not the best person to describe it because I've only been silversmithing for a little while - but if nobody else answers you soon I'll come back and do my best ;D ;D
..having said that, I just found this on youtube, which may also help...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nYVl35kvKHs&feature=related (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nYVl35kvKHs&feature=related)
Close the jump rings as in the demo, add a drop of flux using a small painbrush,( you can also use household borax as a flux, mixing a small pinch with a couple of teaspoons of water and using the clear liquid at the top). Put a tiny piece ( a couple of mm until you get used to this) of the solder strip on top of the ring above the join and slowly heat around the ring. If you go at it full on, the solder piece will move out of place. Use a circular motion to heat the ring. It looks as if her torch is a fierce one. Yours may take a little longer to heat the solder. As soon as you see the solder flow, stop heating. Cool as per the video and pickle. Hope this helps.