Supplies:
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Silver solder paste (come in different hardnesses / different compositions) or silver solder plate
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Hand torch
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Refractory substrate e.g. a vermiculite plate or ceramic solder plate
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Charcoal block (place it on the refractory, charcoal conducts heat better which makes soldering easier).
When soldering, always use a fireproof surface, make sure there are no flammable items in the vicinity and always provide ventilation or exhaust due to the fumes released.
Solder paste
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Place the two parts on top of each other in the right place.
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Put a bit of solder paste right next to where the joint should be.
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Don’t aim the flame directly at the paste but start by heating most of your silver object. ( for an earring, for example, this is the earring itself, not the plug)
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Make small circles with the flame. Watch the paste carefully as you do this.
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When the paste begins to change, begins to liquefy, place the flame where the solder paste should flow to.
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The solder paste has the property of flowing to where the temperature is highest. (In the earring example, the solder paste then flows under the plug)
Soft solder and hard solder
There are two commonly used soldering methods: soft soldering and brazing. In jewelry and silver, brazing is mainly used but soft solder is used for some thin-walled silver objects.
Brazing solder always contains a high percentage of the precious metal it is meant to join. If you are going to solder silver, then you use silver solder that consists mainly of silver and thus produces a strong joint. With brazing, the melting temperature is over 450 degrees Celsius. Brazing gives a strong, permanent connection that is invisible after finishing. During brazing, a flux called borax is used.
Thin, small joints can be made with soft solder. Soft solder works more easily. The percentage of silver in soft solder is lower than in brazing solder.
Solder with silver solder powder.
Brazing with silver brazing powder is done when making fine jewelry such as filigree jewelry (also called filigree) Filigree jewelry is lacy delicate jewelry.
Silver solder powder can be used to make these fine connections.
Mix the soldering powder with slightly diluted flux to make a paste and apply it thinly with a brush to the bottom of the ornament. Now solder with the torch.
