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Post by upsided0wnducks on Feb 15, 2013 1:33:34 GMT -5
Okay, so this is only kind of wire wrapping... I made all the pieces out of wire, then soldered them together with wire solder? Does that count? Now don't laugh, be kind. These are my first two projects for soldering, I've never done it before this year and I think it turned out okay. Both pieces are Argentium Sterling Silver. The heart has some pinkish discoloration, even though I pickled it for a long time in hot pickle stuff. Any suggestions? Sandra told me to polish my little fingers off, looking for the easy street if you've got one?  The earrings were a custom order that kind of sparked me starting soldering. Happy Valentines Day! A little late but hey, I tried lol Thanks! Krista VVV This one is photo shopped to be black and white because the discoloration made me sad. VVV   |
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Post by talkingstones on Feb 15, 2013 6:19:35 GMT -5
Krista, I saw these this morning over on your site. I love what you did with both but that heart is spectacular!!!! Wonderful work!
Cathy
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 15, 2013 8:57:14 GMT -5
those are nice despite a few thick solder spots. mostly because they have creative design, and you can improve the fabrication over time. use less solder. ... you may also want to consider fine silver wire and fusing.
have fun
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2013 9:09:04 GMT -5
You have made a great start and I see only more wonderful new things in the future. Maybe the photo is coming across bad or something but the blurb or blob on the left center of the heart is a little distracting. You have great (make that awesome) artistic talent and I am sure you will make the new style into something very creative.
Jim
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Post by orrum on Feb 15, 2013 9:48:34 GMT -5
Wow me way impressed!
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 15, 2013 9:54:07 GMT -5
Nice creative pieces. A good way to practice soldering is to use copper wire and tiny bits of solder, then "sweat" the solder to cover as much of the wire as you can by heating the wire and causing the solder to follow the heat. Copper sheet is fun too, you can heat it from the backside and watch how the heat from the torch can actually move the puddle uphill.
You can try polishing the silver by dry tumbling in a polishing media. I'm not sure what jewelers use, maybe corn cob or super fine walnut shell? Your pink is probably red patina from the copper and germanium in the alloy, maybe try a solder with a lower melting point next time.
Lee
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 15, 2013 10:03:06 GMT -5
Lovely work. Soldering Argentium can be trickier than regular Sterling, so keep practicing, but these are very nice. You can try burnishing with a tumbler loaded with mixed shape steel shot, water and a squirt of dish soap to do the final clean up. Will harden your pieces too.
Jo
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Feb 15, 2013 10:07:48 GMT -5
Great start!!! I use spiders and ballcones in a vibe with a solution. On the road now, can give you more info on Monday if you want. Dave
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hubrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2011
Posts: 1,563
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Post by hubrocks on Feb 15, 2013 12:10:37 GMT -5
Krista Those look great! you did a nice job. It's still wire and its still wrapped.....................Hub
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 15, 2013 18:03:51 GMT -5
Both are lovely! The heart really has that filigree look. You should be able to tumble that clean. You are probably over heating. I want to ask, though-- since you use argentium, why don't you just fuse? It's easier to do. Argentium is very friendly that way. Another thing about it- it's very brittle when hot and should be air cooled. |
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Post by Pat on Feb 15, 2013 19:04:40 GMT -5
Very, very nice. For the pinkish spots, look up "fire scale". That is probably what it is.
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Post by beefjello on Feb 15, 2013 22:09:02 GMT -5
Neat, nice job with these!
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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Post by mc2 on Feb 15, 2013 22:46:55 GMT -5
Wow. Very impressive! Nice work!
Mike
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Feb 17, 2013 14:12:13 GMT -5
Wow, thank you everyone for the comments and compliments, I didn't think I'd get too many remarks since this is my first shot at soldering. Jim - Yes, that was supposed to be a curl but it kind of clumped together when it got too hot. I'm thinking about cutting it off Lee - As bad as it is, I don't have a tumbler of any sorts. I've been looking at this little 3lb tumbler www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Rubber-Barrel-Rock-Polisher-Tumbler-3-Lb-capacity-/160969809238?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D5663392553929989170%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D200640036072%26 but that'll have to wait til later, it's a bit out of price range for me, anyone have thoughts on if it's a decent one? Jo - Thanks! I will try the steel shot when I get a tumbler, I've heard of that before and will try it out eventually Dave - Yes, I'd love more information! Tela - I do let the silver air cool, but I'm having issues with fusing, it was what I wanted to do initially but I couldn't get the wires to make a strong joint. I think the problem is that there isn't anything pushing the wires together in my designs, they just sit next to each other touching while I torch them and the bond doesn't turn out strong, the earrings broke apart several times when I went to polish them up, so then I ordered this solder: www.riogrande.com/Product/WIRE-SOLDER-FOR-ARGENTIUM-EASY-20-GAUGE-ROUND/103640 and am still having a time with it, but I think it's easier than fusing something that has no tension holding it together. - suggestions welcomed! Thanks again everyone! Krista |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 17, 2013 14:44:25 GMT -5
Krista, the fusing I have done was with the silver touching. It wasn't under any pressure, but in my application, maybe it didn't need to be. Perhaps a third hand would be helpful. I use a cheap one from eBay for some of my copper soldering. The clips or tweezers end makes a great heat sink, too.
Do you use little nips of solder or bring the wire end to the joint? Just wondering. I use nips which I bring to the hot joint.
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Feb 17, 2013 14:50:32 GMT -5
I've been using little nips, but I've been setting the nip on the joint and heating the whole thing at once. How to you bring the nip to the joint? I don't have anything I can hold it with. I got a pick, but the nips don't stay on the pick so I was frustrated that I even bought it.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 17, 2013 15:13:48 GMT -5
Warm up the joint, warm up the pick tip, heat the nip just enough to get it melting- you'll see it look wet and ball up- then touch the hot pick tip to the ball. That should pick it up. Then heat the joint some more, place the nip "bead" to the joint. A little bit of pressure will release it. With a little more heat, it should flow. It's all about timing. It took me some time to practice, but it becomes second nature. Hope that helps.
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Feb 17, 2013 17:53:14 GMT -5
Wow, that makes a lot more sense than what I was doing! Thanks for the tip, John works tonight so I'll try it out once he leaves Krista |
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 17, 2013 18:33:47 GMT -5
Be careful with putting too much pressure on Argentium once it reaches red hot. It will break/collapse sooner than regular Sterling. Also, Argentium doesn't fire scale and fuses more easily than Sterling.
Ronda Coryell did some great Argentium youtube vids.
Pick soldering
Two other soldering vids that might be helpful
Go get 'em!
Jo
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Feb 17, 2013 19:04:04 GMT -5
Hey thanks Jo! Those are great!  |
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The earrings were a custom order that kind of sparked me starting soldering.
