Can you use solder on silver?

Can you use solder on silver?

Silver and gold jewelry require hard soldering. Copper, brass, and bronze components can also be fused with hard solders. In addition to requiring flux, hard solders generally also require the use of pickling solutions to clean and remove surface oxidation from the finished piece.

Can you solder silver with a soldering iron?

CAN I SOLDER STERLING SILVER WITH A SOLDERING IRON? A soldering iron will not be suitable for soldering sterling silver. You will need to use a gas torch to achieve the correct temperature.

Can you fix a broken silver chain?

Rejoin two portions of a broken chain with silver solder if it is too fine to repair using a jump ring. This process can be done on a standard wood or metal work bench. But first, soak the two portions of broken chain for five minutes in pickle — an acidic solution used to clean metal before and after it is soldered.

Do you use flux with silver solder?

Don’t even use flux on the fitting (the edge). If you’re using silver solder – that is, solder with 45 percent silver or higher – to connect copper to steel you must always use an acid-based flux.

What are the different types of silver solder?

There are four grades of silver solder (hard, medium, easy and extra easy), which all come in strip form and have different melting temperatures.

Do you need to use flux with silver solder?

When you’re soldering you should always use flux. Only flux the outside of the copper tubing that you’re joining. Don’t even use flux on the fitting (the edge). If you’re using silver solder – that is, solder with 45 percent silver or higher – to connect copper to steel you must always use an acid-based flux.

How much does it cost to fix a silver chain?

If the chain on your favorite necklace breaks, you can fix it by getting it soldered back together. This will cost you anywhere from $20 to $230 depending on the type of metal and the area of the chain that needs to be soldered.

Can sterling silver be repaired?

Repair and restoration on your sterling silver and silverplate require extensive metalworking experience and hand crafting skills. Most silver is not designed to be repaired.

Where can I buy solder for sterling silver?

Artbeads, CoolTools, RioGrande or even on Amazon. You can usually purchase 1/2 ounce spools of wire, or by the foot if you’re just starting out and need to keep your costs down. 3. Silver Solder and Flux In wanting to keep my process simple and cost efficient, I’ve found a marvelous product that includes both solder and flux, silver solder paste.

What kind of solder do you use to join two pieces together?

For joining two pieces together, use “medium” or “hard” silver solder with more silver content, to create a stronger bond. Note that there is no industry-wide definition for these terms; if you are switching brands and want results similar to what you’re used to, look at the percentage of silver content instead. Use a torch, not a soldering iron.

What kind of solder do you use to fill a crack?

Warning: Avoid silver solders containing cadmium, which may cause health problems if fumes are inhaled. If you are filling a crack, you may want to use a lower-purity “easy” silver solder, as it melts at a lower temperature. For joining two pieces together, use “medium” or “hard” silver solder with more silver content, to create a stronger bond.

What’s the temperature at which silver solder melts?

Silver Solder melts at around 750°C. Water only goes up to 100°C, so there is no way it will melt the solder.