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Post by Pat on Sept 24, 2014 19:18:33 GMT -5
Just returned the worthless pliers from Rio.
I need pliers that can cut both sheet and wire solder in small uniform pieces. Quickly.
The precut solder chips are pretty pricey now.
Do you have such a pair that you like ? Source ? Maker ?
Thanks.
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Post by radio on Sept 24, 2014 20:02:56 GMT -5
I use a pair of Lindstrom side cutters for making snippets of wire solder and utility scissors for cutting sheet solder. On the wire, I hold my index finger over the cavity of the side cutters to keep the snippets from flying everywhere. I make about a dozen cuts, then dump them into the shallow container.
For the pallions of sheet solder, make several cuts a half inch or so long and however wide you want them to be, usually 2-3 mm wide. The solder strips will curl up, so straighten them out, then cut at a 90° to the first cut, again however long you want them. Try to cut them inside a plastic container like a shoebox or they will scatter everywhere
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Don
Cave Dweller
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Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Sept 24, 2014 20:16:32 GMT -5
I just use straight aviation snips from the hardware store.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 24, 2014 21:31:17 GMT -5
I like the Rio cutters LOL. My teacher did it the same way as Radio.
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Post by Pat on Sept 24, 2014 21:40:02 GMT -5
Tom, Rio used to sell a good pair. I spoke with a Rio tech a few days ago. He said they could not get the good ones anymore, so now have these. They took my suggestion to change the photo and the description to reflect what they currently have. Sounds like you have the good old pair. That's what I want. This is what they currently sell: www.riogrande.com/Product/Solder-Cutting-Pliers/111607?Pos=1Click on the second photo. You can see the size of the solder "chip"!
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Post by Rockoonz on Sept 25, 2014 13:28:38 GMT -5
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 25, 2014 21:31:25 GMT -5
The ones I have are similar to the ones you linked Pat. Not sure if they are exactly like them. I could check my previous orders. Anyway the ones I have I can cut pretty much any size pallion I need. The method radio suggests actually works good and is fast as well. I cut wire solder with side cutters as radio does
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Post by connrock on Sept 26, 2014 7:42:56 GMT -5
Pat,,, I use scissors for sheet solder as most do but got tired of trying to "capture" the pieces of solder cut from wire solder. I made these cutting pliers,they are very easy to make and they work very well,,, The cutting pliers are a very cheap set and I used Stay-Brite solder and flux like this,, linkThis type of solder/flux can be used to solder different types of metal together with a low temp and is very strong. connrock
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 26, 2014 7:51:26 GMT -5
That sir, is one great idea!
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Post by Pat on Sept 26, 2014 21:45:30 GMT -5
connrock. That's a good idea. Do you just eyeball the length to get uniform sized solder chips? Never heard of Staybrite solder and flux. Good to know it can be used for soldering two different metals together.
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Post by Pat on Sept 26, 2014 21:54:20 GMT -5
connrock. One more thing. Do you use Stay-Brite to solder jewelry pieces? Thanks.
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Post by connrock on Sept 27, 2014 8:06:41 GMT -5
Pat,,,, Yes I eyeball the solder as I cut it to get different size pieces of the solder.Almost every joint requires a different amount of solder so I like to have an assortment of different size pieces of it to suit each joint I'm soldering.
I've never used Stay Brite solder for jewelry but have used it when soldering brass guards onto stainless steel knife blades.The solder flows at a low temp,,,,I think it's somewhere around 430F but don't quote me on that,,,,my mind doesn't always want to get out of bed with my body lately!
From what I've experienced with making knives,and using this type of solder,it stays nice and silver looking and so far I haven't had any tarnish issues with it. The liquid flux does splatter when heated and I masked off areas to protect them from getting the flux spatter on them.
Thew solder/flux kit is fairly expensive but it goes a long way for my purposes. connrock
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 27, 2014 8:15:05 GMT -5
Pat I will step in here or maybe on Tom's toes:) Stay-brite is a tin/silver solder with only a tiny percent of silver. It has a low melt point but pretty darn good strength. It is most used in the plumbing industry and other more "industrial" applications than silver solder. It is supposed to be a nice color match for stainless steel though. So it contains no lead and could be used for jewelry I don't think is would be commonly used.
This is ONLY my opinion It would be great to hear from others.
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Post by Rockoonz on Sept 27, 2014 12:36:44 GMT -5
It would work well with large items, I have cut steel blanks and soldered them together with stay-brite to turn split inserts for molds on a lathe, then heat them back up to separate them. It worked well for that purpose.
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39don
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Post by 39don on Sept 28, 2014 8:45:11 GMT -5
I ordered the Mazbot® 5" Solder Cutter Shears for wire cutting only. I very seldom used sheet solder........ Thanks for the info, 39don
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Post by Pat on Sept 28, 2014 9:20:08 GMT -5
Ii ordered the pliers from Gesswein. They give uniform pieces of wire snippets and sheet chips.
Good to know all the alternatives.
Also order JAX green patina. New to me.
I appreciate all the help and suggestions. I'm sure they will come in handy.
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Post by Pat on Sept 28, 2014 18:12:12 GMT -5
Rockoonz. The pliers I returned to rio said Pakistan on them; nothing else.
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dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
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Post by dshalldms on Feb 19, 2015 14:12:09 GMT -5
Hi
An interesting problem!
Check out the following video, I think it solves all of your problems...
Regards
Derek
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