Soldering
Soldering jewelry: solders, flux, torch, flame and pickle.
11 entries
Materials
Flux for soldering
Flux cleans the metal, prevents oxidation and helps solder flow; it comes as paste, liquid and powder, and is removed afterwards with pickle.
Tools
Jeweler's torches: gas, oxygen and mini torch
Jeweler's torches (propane, gas with oxygen, the butane mini torch) give the flame for soldering, annealing and melting; types, flame and safety.
Jeweler's dictionary
Jewelry soldering glossary: bench terms explained
Jewelry soldering terms explained: hard, medium and easy solder, pallion, flux, pickle, capillary action, flame types and firescale.
Materials
Jewelry solders: hard, medium and easy
Jewelry solders are classed by melting point (extra hard, hard, medium, easy); the hardest is used first so you can solder again without melting earlier joints.
Jeweler's dictionary
Jewelry workshop chemistry: pickle, flux, patinas and what not to mix
The chemicals of a jewelry workshop (pickle, flux, liver of sulfur, degreasers, plating baths) and which products must never be mixed.
Techniques
Lampwork glass beads
Lampworking melts glass rods in a torch flame and winds them onto a mandrel to make unique beads; annealing prevents them from breaking.
Techniques
Laser and spot welding
Laser and spot welding join metal with very localized heat, without flux or torch; ideal for repairs next to stones and enamel.
Jeweler's dictionary
Neutral, oxidizing and reducing torch flames
How to tell a neutral, oxidizing and reducing flame on a jeweler's torch, what each one does and which to use for soldering.
Techniques
Pickling: cleaning oxides after soldering or annealing
Pickling immerses the piece in a mild acid bath to remove oxides and flux residue; products, precautions and neutralizing.
Jeweler's dictionary
Solder pallion: what it is and how to use it
A pallion is a small chip of solder placed on the joint before heating. What it is, how to cut it, how much to use and the most common mistakes.
Techniques
Soldering for jewelry
How a jewel is soldered: types of soldering (torch, laser, microplasma, resistance), steps, tools, history and common questions.