Beginners Guide


Tip: To anneal silver, gently heat with a bushy flame until metal glows a dull red. Keep the flame moving at all times and try to keep the heat even across the whole piece. Remove the flame as soon as the dull red colour is achieved and quench.


Quenching: Quenching is the process of cooling heated metal in water, picklean or in some cases oil. It is normally done following an annealing or soldering procedure to cool metal quickly.


Soldering: Soldering is the process of permanently joining two pieces of metal together using solder and heat supplied by a blowtorch. The solder melts at a lower temperature than the main body of metal and flows into the join to form a strong and lasting bond.


Silver solder: To solder silver you always use specific silver solders which are available in strip form from your bullion supplier. There are four different types (Hard, medium, easy and extra easy), each with a different melting temperature, the idea being to use them in sequence with the highest melting temperature first.


Melting temp. When to use.. Hard Solder 745 – 780 C


Always use first and for as many subsequent joins as possible


Medium Solder


720 – 765 C


Use when the main soldering is done and the last few joins are in sight


Easy Solder


Extra Easy Solder


705 – 725 C 655 – 710 C


Only use on the final joins


Only use as a last resort, to correct mistakes for example


Tips


You will use twice the amount of hard solder than any


other, so buy extra


15


-


- Extra easy


solder tends to be quite yellow in colour


which can be unsightly


er has quite a low nt in comparison to us metals, making se”


Flux: Flux is a cleaning agent which is painted onto the area to be soldered, allowing the solder to run freely. It prevents oxides from forming during the soldering process and is essential to ensure a good join. You can buy it as a liquid (Auroflux), or as a borax dish and cone which are ground together with water to form a paste. Flux is best applied with a small paintbrush.


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