Siver Soldering/Brazing

[Ray Field]

Hi this is my first post to this news group, my usual site is metalworking,
but in this case my problem is closer to jewellery so hopefully some one
here can help.
I have a sporran belt made of pierced sterling silver plates approx 1 mm
thick , 17 wide by 27 mm long. The plates are connected by 5 mm dia rings
soldered/brazed the ends of the plates and linked with solid rings 10 mm in
diameter.
One of the smaller rings has come adrift from the plate, due to a partial
solder /braze joint that failed probably when caught on something.
I know that I can take it to a jeweller for repair but being a hands - on
type I would like to try this myself.
How difficult is this repair? What solder and flux is required, and what is
a good source for material. What heat source is required?
Looking at the other plates on the belt I note at least 12 more rings that
do not have a complete fillet at the joint.
I have silver soldered other pieces in the model engineering and hobby
fields, but that was brass,copper, and steel, but never silver or this
small.
Any suggestions or help will be appreciated.
Ray

[William Black]

Post by Ray Field
How difficult is this repair?

Reasonably so.

Jump ring soldering is a basic skill you learn when you're training.

Post by Ray Field
What solder and flux is required,

Hallmark quality silver solder and borax if you're being a purist, but
you can get silver solder a tube ready mixed.

A tube will cost more than your repair being done by a professional.

DON'T use a lead based solder, silver dissolves in molten lead...

and what is

Post by Ray Field
a good source for material.

Which continental land mass are you on?

But http://www.cooksongold.com/ is where I get mine...

Post by Ray Field
What heat source is required?

A small torch burning, usually, propane and oxygen (or air of you can
get it pumped under pressure)

Post by Ray Field
Any suggestions or help will be appreciated.

After soldering the silver will be blackened by oxidation of the copper
within the silver. This is usually got rid of by a chemical 'pickling'
process and then polished.

[Ted Frater]

Post by Ray Field
Hi this is my first post to this news group, my usual site is metalworking,
but in this case my problem is closer to jewellery so hopefully some one
here can help.
I have a sporran belt made of pierced sterling silver plates approx 1 mm
thick , 17 wide by 27 mm long. The plates are connected by 5 mm dia rings
soldered/brazed the ends of the plates and linked with solid rings 10 mm in
diameter.
One of the smaller rings has come adrift from the plate, due to a partial
solder /braze joint that failed probably when caught on something.
I know that I can take it to a jeweller for repair but being a hands - on
type I would like to try this myself.
How difficult is this repair? What solder and flux is required, and what is
a good source for material. What heat source is required?
Looking at the other plates on the belt I note at least 12 more rings that
do not have a complete fillet at the joint.
I have silver soldered other pieces in the model engineering and hobby
fields, but that was brass,copper, and steel, but never silver or this
small.
Any suggestions or help will be appreciated.
Ray

Hi Ray,
Sounds as tho it needs a complete overhall,
You say its sterling silver,
now is it hall marked?
judging by your spelling jewellery in the UK way,
you might be over this side of the pond.
So theres a good chance it is.
This means its worth quite alot
so its too risky to just try it and see.
Youd be soldering a small item to a large one,
not easy at the best of times.
You will need
hallmarking grade solder,
at least easyflo flux,
an oxygen and propane setup,
some where to pickle it after brazing
and possibly polishing it all so it matches,
as well as somewhere suitable to do it all,
I suggest you try and find a working silversmith
and get a price to do it for you
before you start to get together the above items.

NowIf you do decide to do it yourself
having put together the above kit,
Id advise you make up at least 3 matching pieces and rings in copper or
brass
just to get your hand in so to speak.
Keep practicing till you can get it right with ease.
before you tackle the silver.
Your probably used to solder in wire form
Thats a bit too crude.
you really need it in foil form
and put a small snippet between the ring and the plate
so you only use enough solder to make a neat fillet.
Use plenty of flux, to keep the joint area free of oxide
as well as preventing fire stain in the whole piece

Let us know what you think.

Ted
Dorset
UK.

[Jack Schmidling]

Lots of good advice here but the only thing that makes it as difficult
as it sounds is that you don't have anything to practice on so you
have to get it right.

I am no expert but have done a good deal of passable work and found
it fun and challenging to learn how do to it.

It should be noted that silver solder comes in various melting temps
and sold as hard, medium and soft to facilitate attaching little
things to big things so one doesn't melt while soldering the next. I
would opt to the soft side here.

I am not familiar with using Borax and use Easyflux as has been
mentioned. As you probably already know, the key is getting both
pieces to solder temp before any brazing can take place. This is some
shade of red for all three solder types.

Some clever person figured out where you live by your spelling but for
what it's worth, I have purchased my supplies from Rio Grande. If
nothing else, you can browse their catalog for lots of good info.

I use a hardware store butane torch for large stuff and a mini-torch
for small stuff.

Good Luck,

Jack

[1 Lucky Texan]

Post by Ray Field
Hi this is my first post to this news group, my usual site is metalworking,
but in this case my problem is closer to jewellery so hopefully some one
here can help.
I have a sporran belt made of pierced sterling silver plates approx 1 mm
thick , 17 wide by 27 mm long. The plates are connected by 5 mm dia rings
soldered/brazed the ends of the plates and linked with solid rings 10 mm in
diameter.
One of the smaller rings has come adrift from the plate, due to a partial
solder /braze joint that failed probably when caught on something.
I know that I can take it to a jeweller for repair but being  a hands - on
type I would like to try this myself.
How difficult is this repair? What solder and flux is required, and what is
a good source for material. What heat source is required?
Looking at the other plates on the belt I note at least 12 more rings that
do not have a complete fillet at the joint.
I have silver soldered other pieces in the model engineering and hobby
fields, but that was brass,copper, and steel, but never silver or this
small.
Any suggestions or help will be appreciated.
Ray

The only thing I would add, if this is even a reasonably important
piece, I URGE you to get some 'scrap' or 'example' pieces on which to
practice. After you have prepped, soldered, pickled and polished
representative pieces successfully a coupla times, THEN try the
repair.