How can you solder silver at home?
Silver items sometimes break. After all, this noble metal is quite soft. Therefore, a broken chain or a cracked ring is a fairly common occurrence. The easiest way to solve the problem is to take the product to a jewelry workshop. However, a home master can easily cope with this task himself. There is nothing super complicated here.
The main thing is to know how to solder silver correctly. After all, it has its own characteristics. At the same time, by doing the wrong things you will only add new problems to yourself. In this case, you definitely cannot do without the help of specialists. Therefore, everything needs to be done after thinking through every movement, especially if you have never worked with this metal before.
How to solder silver at home - methods
First of all, you need to have an idea of the technology of this process. Soldering broken parts of a silver product is not difficult, but only if you clearly understand how to do it correctly. The selection of flux and solder is also important. The thing is that silver scrap is not suitable for such work. After all, the solder must have a lower melting point than the material being processed. Otherwise, you will simply melt the silver, thereby aggravating the situation.
It is worth recalling some numbers here. The temperature at which silver transforms into a liquid state is plus 960 degrees. Based on this indicator, we select solder. Everything here is quite simple - you just need to study the markings. The corresponding numbers will indicate the percentage of silver material in the solder alloy. Let's give a simple example. The PSR-10 marking means that the silver part here accounts for 10 percent. The higher this number, the stronger the connection.
It should also be noted that for soldering small-sized silver products, it is better to select refractory solder with a melting point of about plus 240 degrees. These are, for example, alloys PSR-2 and PSR-2.5, as well as a special solder paste designed to perform just such delicate work.
The next important point is the selection of special fluxes. Without it, you simply will not be able to properly solder a product made of silver. Flux performs a special task - it protects the joint from oxides, isolating this area from the negative effects of air. For household repairs of silver items, you can use a mixture of borax and potash in equal proportions. However, instead of borax, baking soda or technical soda is suitable.
If you use an aqueous turbulent solution, then pre-drying will be mandatory. This procedure is carried out at home on a gas stove. We place the liquid in a special container (it is better to take a porcelain one), and then evaporate. As a result, we should be left with a crystalline mass, which should be crushed after cooling. This powder must then be mixed with potash or soda.
After soldering, flux compounds are easily removed using a heated weak acid solution.
You can connect a damaged item using:
• gas burner;
• electric soldering iron.
Each of these methods has its own characteristics. Soldering silver products with a gas torch is much easier. Therefore, we will first consider this option. First of all, you need to firmly fix the soldered objects on a non-flammable surface. Also try to make minimal gaps between them.
Next, remove the oxide layer from the treated areas and thoroughly clean them. If this is not done, the connection will be weak. The next stage is coating these areas with flux.
Here you can prepare a watery slurry and then apply it with a brush, or simply pour in a powdery mass - whichever is more convenient for you.
Next, we bring solder to the joint. The best option here is pieces of 2 by 2 millimeters. You can divide the solder into strips of the desired size using wire cutters or side cutters. We bring the burner to the item being repaired from the side.
We begin to carefully warm up the problem area. Be sure to ensure that the solder and flux are not blown away by the gas jet. Otherwise, you will not get the desired result. Once the flux has melted, you can increase the heat to create a continuous solder joint.
If necessary, solder is added at this stage.
The progress of work largely depends on the damage. It is clear that it is simply unrealistic to talk about all the subtleties in one article. Therefore, we will highlight only the main points. In particular, it is better to fill small cracks with “light” solder with a reduced silver content. This clarification is important.
The whole point is that this will ensure the transition of the solder into the liquid phase at a temperature below the melting point of silver. All movements must be as precise as possible. Solder with a higher percentage of silver is used to join parts of a broken chain.
As noted above, this way you will ensure the required strength of the product after repair at the joint.
At the last stage, it is necessary to clean the soldering area from flux residues. We have already described how to do this a little higher. However, it is worth adding here that on large products you can remove flux residues with a needle file and sandpaper. If you need to darken or, conversely, lighten the surface, use a weak acid solution. When using a gas burner, remember to take all safety precautions.
In particular, such work should only be carried out in a well-ventilated area equipped with fire extinguishing equipment. It is also necessary to use protective gloves. An exclusively non-combustible base is selected as a working surface. None of these points should be ignored, since this is primarily about your safety. In addition, the fire will cause significant losses. Therefore, it is better not to risk your health here.
Remember that when it comes to security, there are no trifles.
Jewelry and some household items made from silver have been popular among a large number of people for many decades.
But sooner or later, such things may require repair, especially if a person uses them every day, for example, never takes off a bracelet or chain. Silver soldering can be done not only in a professional’s workshop, but also at home with your own hands.
How to solder silver at home? To answer this question, you need to understand the features of the soldering process.
Soldering process
Before you begin, you need to know everything about the physical and chemical properties of the metal you will be working with.
The melting point of silver is 960 degrees Celsius, while for copper this figure is 1083 degrees, and for gold - 1063.
It is known that all silver jewelry is made not from pure metal, but from an alloy, the main part of which is silver, and the rest is a ligature. Therefore, the melting point of the alloy will depend on its components.
Soldering a silver chain
For soldering silver, silver solders are used, which have certain physical and chemical properties. Solder is widely used in industrial production because it guarantees reliability, strength and resistance to corrosion of welds.
Information about the melting point of solders can be found in the relevant literature. The most popular solders are Psr-25, Psr-10, Psr-12 (the number corresponds to the percentage of metal in the solder, Psr is silver solder), but to enhance protection against corrosion, Psr-70 can be used.
But for filling cracks in products, solder with a low silver content is suitable.
Source: https://master-kleit.ru/origami/chem-mozhno-zapajat-serebro-v-domashnih-uslovijah/
How to solder silver at home with tin
To restore old or broken silver items, silver soldering is often used. Soldering with silver at home is carried out using various silver solders. Information about brands of silver solders can be found in the metal science reference book. Silver solders are characterized by different chemical composition, melting point, density and electrical resistivity.
Silver soldering requires a lot of skill and courage. To solder silver parts, a suitable flux and silver solder must be correctly selected. Silver scrap cannot be used when soldering, since the solder itself must have a melting point lower than the temperature of the parts being fused. If the melting temperature of the silver solder and the product being fused are the same, then it may simply flow during soldering - simultaneously with the solder.
Soldering silver products with an electric soldering iron
To solder silver jewelry, use an electric soldering iron or a gas torch. The quality of silver soldering depends on the desired melting temperature, which can be created by an electric soldering iron or a gas torch. Conventional electric soldering irons do not produce a high enough melting point for soldering with silver solders.
If you have the money, it is better to have your broken silver item repaired by a jeweler and not take any risks. Soldering silver with hard solders is not an easy task. You cannot solder silver with enamel or blackening, hard high-temperature solders.
There were cases when, when soldering silver jewelry, the natural stones fixed in them (except for rubies, sapphires and diamonds) could not withstand high temperatures.
An ordinary electric soldering iron with a heating tip, powered from an electrical outlet, and without an open flame - like a gas burner - is not suitable for melting with silver solders. The essence of silver soldering is a strong connection of parts. If, as a result of soldering with an electric soldering iron, some surface adhesion of the parts being fused is formed, then it will not be much better than glue.
However, using an electric soldering iron, you can bond the surfaces of large parts, creating a massive layer of silver solder. An ordinary electric soldering iron with a tip, as a rule, is designed for soldering with tin-lead solders, and not with solders containing: silver, gold and cupronickel alloy.
This electric soldering iron is designed for melting solders with a melting temperature of 300 degrees, but we need 700 - 800.
What is soldering on silver jewelry?
Silver soldering is a permanent connection of various elements made of silver and its alloys, using low-melting materials containing silver and other components, where the temperature of the silver solder must be lower than the melting point of the base material.
Depending on the type of metals to be joined, soldering conditions and many other factors, there may be different silver soldering technologies. For example, the technological process of soldering silver jewelry - during assembly or restoration, and the technology of soldering electronic printed circuit boards - with your own hands, can differ significantly.
Source: https://crast.ru/instrumenty/kak-spajat-serebro-v-domashnih-uslovijah-olovom
What and how to solder silver at home?
Home comfort October 21, 2016
Silver is a precious and noble metal used for various purposes, including making jewelry. For example, a chain made from it is an attractive and classic piece that can be worn as a bracelet or necklace. True, despite the strength of silver, jewelry made from this metal can be quite fragile and even break. But many of them are easy to restore; the main thing is to know how to solder silver at home.
Features of technology for joining metal products
To connect them together, a more fusible metal is used. The soldering process may vary depending on the conditions in which the product will be used and the type of metals to be fused. For example, repairing jewelry and bonding printed circuit boards in electronics are done in different ways. However, many people are more interested in how to solder silver at home.
Selection of material for joining metal products
Solder for soldering silver can be purchased at any hardware store. It is better to give preference to refractory substances whose melting point is at least 240 °C. In this case, it is advisable to use specialized soldering paste or alloys marked PSR-2.
You can make your own solder for joining silver products. It must include the following metals:
- zinc 30%;
- copper 25%;
- silver 45%.
These components can be melted in a submerged muffle furnace. The resulting mixture must be poured onto a substrate, and then passed through a rolling machine to create plates about 0.5 mm thick.
To create permanent connections between parts, strips with a width of about 1-3 mm are used. Pieces of the required length are cut from them. During soldering, air is exposed to the area being joined. To prevent oxidation and other negative reactions, it is necessary to use flux (colophonium). When the solder is heated, it is moderately distributed throughout the metal, isolating the welding area.
How to solder silver with a soldering iron?
Before soldering silver at home, you need to prepare flux and solder in advance. Often when joining components containing silver, 60% tin and 40% lead are used. This solder begins to melt at a temperature of 180 °C.
But before you start soldering silver, you should clean the surfaces of the products and remove from them the film of oxides that has appeared over time. In such a situation, the solder ensures internal fusion with the silver.
The soldering area of the silver product must be heated well to exceed the melting point of the metals for the connection, using a powerful soldering iron. On top of that, it is recommended to isolate it from oxygen air. Flux will help to achieve the best result, creating a protective film over the junction of the components. When the solder melts, colophonium will be distributed evenly over the metal plane.
When using a soldering iron to join silver jewelry, it is necessary to use high-temperature solder that matches the test of the metal.
Joining silver items with a gas torch
Before you learn how to solder silver with a cassette torch, you need to make sure there is a fan to ventilate the room before starting work. To reduce the amount of smoke generated during the soldering process with a torch, you will have to not only turn on this device, but also open the windows. When joining metal jewelry, it is important to keep strong jets away from the work area, otherwise the cooling procedure may lead to problems during soldering.
Before soldering silver at home with a gas torch, you will need containers of water to rinse the products after bonding. Moreover, the metal parts must fit entirely into them.
It is better to solder silver jewelry with a torch that has a flat tip, since a pointed one will quickly remove heat. The metal joining process requires the following steps:
- First of all, the elements to be soldered should be placed on a fire-resistant surface. The main thing is to ensure rigid fixation of the parts relative to each other. To do this, you can use nichrome wire and clamps.
- Then the surface of metal products is cleaned of oxide films and covered with a thin layer of flux.
- After this, the soldering process begins. It is necessary to place a little solder at the welding site. The burner should be brought to the side of the part, carefully heating the joint area.
- To fill cracks, you need to use solder with a small silver content. But for a more durable connection, on the contrary, it is better to use solder with a large inclusion of silver.
- Then finishing is done. The products must be thoroughly cleaned of flux, and excess solder must be removed with a needle file or sandpaper. The surface of the silver product can only be coated with an acid solution to brighten and blacken it.
How to solder silver with tin?
Soldering silver jewelry with tin is rarely carried out, since their repair in the future can lead to dire consequences. For example, when a jeweler is not aware that the product was previously held together with this metal, he can use ordinary high-temperature solder to solder it. These actions will lead to the fact that it will simply burn out.
A few recommendations
Do not use too much solder to avoid lumps. If they do form, they must be removed with a nail file. If an acid solution spills on clothing or skin, immediately rinse the area with plenty of cold water.
Source: https://monateka.com/article/28371/
Is it possible to solder silver with tin? — Metals, equipment, instructions
Soldering of any metal is based on knowledge of its physical and chemical properties. This also applies to silver. The transition temperature of this metal from solid to molten state is +960 degrees. This is an ideal indicator.
In practice, when soldering, you have to deal with alloys, and the melting temperature here directly depends on the components, as well as their percentage. Soldering silver requires care, and before starting it, it’s a good idea to practice on inexpensive products.
What kind of solders are used?
Silver solders are used for soldering silver objects, including in industry. They are an alloy of silver with other metals and are characterized by reliability, strength and, most importantly, resistance of welds to corrosion.
The most popular are PSR-10, PSR-15, PSR-25 (the number at the end reflects the precious metal content as a percentage). And to enhance anti-corrosion protection during soldering, for example, PSR-70 can be used.
The brands differ from each other not only in composition, but also in density, melting point, and resistance to electricity.
Solders can be sold in the form of ready-made powder or cut into pieces of 2-3 millimeters. You can also find solders in the form of wire or solid sheets - in this case, you will have to cut the pieces of the required size yourself (this is easy to do with ordinary wire cutters).
Soldering tool
Almost anyone may need to solder a piece of silver jewelry, such as a silver ring with a crack or a broken chain.
Of course, you can turn to a professional jeweler, but such services can be quite expensive.
It is much more economical to do the soldering yourself. This is quite a delicate job, but with due care and minimal soldering skills, it is quite possible to complete it.
Usually in such cases they use an electric soldering iron or a gas torch. The quality of silver soldering will depend on the temperature that the working tool can provide.
It is interesting that not all electric soldering irons provide a melting temperature sufficient for soldering with silver solders.
For example, if an electric soldering iron is designed for solders with a melting point of up to +350 degrees, then it will not be suitable; a much higher temperature is needed here.
In addition, to solder jewelry made of silver of a particular standard, jewelers use special electric soldering irons with thin tips (although standard-sized tips are also suitable for one-time soldering).
Preparation of materials
Before soldering silver jewelry at home, you should prepare, in addition to the soldering tool, the appropriate solders and flux.
In this case, the best flux for soldering is colophonium - a special resin that forms a film over the soldering area and does not allow reaction with surrounding oxygen.
If you can’t find colophonium in stores, you can make flux for jewelry silver yourself. This flux will contain two elements:
- borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate);
- potash (potassium carbonate).
They need to be combined in a one to one ratio. Borax for soldering should be purchased in powder form, and not in the form of an aqueous solution (otherwise it must first be dried). The process of preparing this flux is quite simple: borax crystals are ground in a mortar and mixed with potash.
The silver jewelry itself also needs preliminary preparation - it must be cleaned and treated with alcohol (degreased).
How the process itself works
Silver jewelry should be placed on a suitable surface that has low thermal conductivity and will not be destroyed by exposure to high temperatures, such as brick.
Then the place where the weld will be located needs to be coated with flux and a piece of solder placed there.
Now you can take the burner and smoothly move it towards the product. The treated area should warm up evenly. And as soon as the flux has completely melted, the heat must be increased and soldering continued until a truly reliable seam is formed.
If the solder and flux suddenly run out, you need to carefully add new portions of them to the same place.
Upon completion of soldering, the product must be cleaned of flux and solder residues. Sandpaper is suitable for solving this problem. Additionally, the surface of silver can be treated with a solution of citric acid for brightening or with an iodine solution for blackening.
Do not forget that soldering must be carried out in a ventilated area, and the person performing this operation must be protected by a mask or goggles
Non-silvered solders
Experts strongly advise against using lead solder when soldering silver jewelry . This method will not bring the desired result. In addition, traces of lead solder will be difficult to remove.
There is another important point here - many silver jewelry has constant contact with the body, since they are worn very often. Lead is very toxic and can be absorbed through the skin, which has very negative consequences for the body.
As for solders with tin, not everything is so simple here. Theoretically, it is possible to solder silver with such solder, but the seam, most likely, will not be very neat, and the item may lose its former aesthetics.
Over time, the tin will darken and the soldering area will be very visible. If new soldering is needed, and it is done, say, in a jewelry workshop with silver high-temperature solder, the tin will simply burn out.
This solder is produced in the form of thin tubes with resin, which acts as a flux (that is, there is no need to additionally purchase or prepare flux).
Source: https://spb-metalloobrabotka.com/mozhno-li-payat-serebro-olovom/
How to solder a silver chain at home
Silver is a precious and noble metal used for various purposes, including making jewelry. For example, a chain made from it is an attractive and classic piece that can be worn as a bracelet or necklace. True, despite the strength of silver, jewelry made from this metal can be quite fragile and even break. But many of them are easy to restore; the main thing is to know how to solder silver at home.
Selection of material for joining metal products
Solder for soldering silver can be purchased at any hardware store. It is better to give preference to refractory substances whose melting point is at least 240 °C. In this case, it is advisable to use specialized soldering paste or alloys marked PSR-2.
You can make your own solder for joining silver products. It must include the following metals:
- zinc 30%;
- copper 25%;
- silver 45%.
These components can be melted in a submerged muffle furnace. The resulting mixture must be poured onto a substrate, and then passed through a rolling machine to create plates about 0.5 mm thick.
To create permanent connections between parts, strips with a width of about 1-3 mm are used. Pieces of the required length are cut from them. During soldering, air is exposed to the area being joined. To prevent oxidation and other negative reactions, it is necessary to use flux (colophonium). When the solder is heated, it is moderately distributed throughout the metal, isolating the welding area.
Joining silver items with a gas torch
Before you learn how to solder silver with a cassette torch, you need to make sure there is a fan to ventilate the room before starting work. To reduce the amount of smoke generated during the soldering process with a torch, you will have to not only turn on this device, but also open the windows. When joining metal jewelry, it is important to keep strong jets away from the work area, otherwise the cooling procedure may lead to problems during soldering.
Before soldering silver at home with a gas torch, you will need containers of water to rinse the products after bonding. Moreover, the metal parts must fit entirely into them.
It is better to solder silver jewelry with a torch that has a flat tip, since a pointed one will quickly remove heat. The metal joining process requires the following steps:
- First of all, the elements to be soldered should be placed on a fire-resistant surface. The main thing is to ensure rigid fixation of the parts relative to each other. To do this, you can use nichrome wire and clamps.
- Then the surface of metal products is cleaned of oxide films and covered with a thin layer of flux.
- After this, the soldering process begins. It is necessary to place a little solder at the welding site. The burner should be brought to the side of the part, carefully heating the joint area.
- To fill cracks, you need to use solder with a small silver content. But for a more durable connection, on the contrary, it is better to use solder with a large inclusion of silver.
- Then finishing is done. The products must be thoroughly cleaned of flux, and excess solder must be removed with a needle file or sandpaper. The surface of the silver product can only be coated with an acid solution to brighten and blacken it.
A few recommendations
Do not use too much solder to avoid lumps. If they do form, they must be removed with a nail file. If an acid solution spills on clothing or skin, immediately rinse the area with plenty of cold water.
.ru
What kind of solders are used?
Silver solders are used for soldering silver objects, including in industry. They are an alloy of silver with other metals and are characterized by reliability, strength and, most importantly, resistance of welds to corrosion.
The most popular are PSR-10, PSR-15, PSR-25 (the number at the end reflects the precious metal content as a percentage). And to enhance anti-corrosion protection during soldering, for example, PSR-70 can be used.
The brands differ from each other not only in composition, but also in density, melting point, and resistance to electricity.
Solders can be sold in the form of ready-made powder or cut into pieces of 2-3 millimeters. You can also find solders in the form of wire or solid sheets - in this case, you will have to cut the pieces of the required size yourself (this is easy to do with ordinary wire cutters).
How to solder stainless steel and silver at home: tips for working and soldering technology
Their skill amazes and enchants, they bring dreams to life, create masterpieces, and pass on their skills from generation to generation. These people are jewelers. To conquer metal and turn it into beautiful products requires skill, perseverance and time.
The main metals that specialists work with are gold, silver, and stainless steel. The main operation in the manufacturing technology of a unique product is metal soldering. Soldering technology has its own characteristics for each material. Brazing stainless steel is a complex process.
Soldering silver at home is a rather expensive operation . It is especially technologically difficult and economically expensive to solder two different metals. Special conditions, special solder and flux must be observed. Author's products are becoming popular among consumers. Many complex projects have a combination of silver parts and stainless steel.
Technology for joining stainless steel parts
Unfortunately, soldering stainless steel is not such a simple process, and ordinary solders in the form of tin or copper will not do the job well. Solder for soldering stainless steel must contain silver. The industry produces it coated with flux (contains 30% silver). You can use solder containing zinc, copper and nickel.
Sometimes they solder with brass, this is considered the most difficult work. To melt brass, a temperature of 950 degrees is required. To ensure high-quality performance of work and reliable connection of parts into a single structure, it is necessary to use flux. For brass, the flux consists of boric acid and borax. Parts can be soldered using this method only if they are small and well heated. Soldering massive parts at home is problematic.
What you need to solder stainless steel:
- gas-burner;
- solder containing silver and coated with flux;
- soldering acid.
Technological process of soldering stainless steel with hard solders:
- heating parts for degreasing;
- surface treatment with orthophosphoric acid;
- heating parts to a red glow;
- supply of solder followed by heating.
To solder a hole in a stainless steel sheet at home, you need to determine its size and prepare an appropriate patch . Soldering must be performed according to technology using solder containing silver.
Nanotechnology: welding pencil
The easiest way to carry out welding work is with a special welding pencil. It can weld any metal: aluminum, iron, stainless steel, copper, brass. Moreover, there is no need to clean and degrease the surface. This is new. It works as follows. Light a pencil, bring the burning end to the object being welded and carefully roll the pencil over the surface to be welded. The molten metal will adhere to the part and provide a reliable connection.
How to solder silver parts
You can't go anywhere without silver solder! Silver cannot be reliably soldered with tin. Although at first glance such a connection is strong, the metals react with each other, and the product crumbles after some time.
To ensure a high-quality connection of silver parts, you must use special silver solder. They come in three types: hard, soft and medium, differing in melting point (from 700 to 900 degrees).
Solder is selected depending on the type of metal and the requirements for joint strength. When manufacturing complex products in several stages, as well as when combining different structural elements, soft solders are used.
It should look like a small, very thin plate or wire. They cut it into small (millimeter) pieces. Soldering silver at home is done on a refractory brick, a piece of charcoal or a special ceramic tile. It is not recommended to perform soldering on a material that conducts heat well - it absorbs heating energy, and the soldered object does not heat up well.
You cannot use a simple wet brick, which crumbles under the influence of temperature due to the moisture it contains. Superheated steam will send a piece of brick straight into your face with great force.
To solder a part to an object, it is necessary to lubricate the cleaned and thoroughly degreased area with flux (ready mixture: boric acid, borax) or soldering acid. Removing grease, oxides and other contaminants is important. The degreased surface ensures a reliable connection with the solder. Jewelers, as a rule, use a weak acid solution for this purpose.
After preliminary preparation, you need to heat the object slowly and evenly, keeping the burner flame low, this promotes degreasing. The burner power is then increased, heating the entire item. The flame must move over the entire surface - directed only to one place can melt and deform the surface. A piece of solder, previously degreased and soaked in flux, is applied to the hot surface using tweezers.
The solder should melt instantly under the flame of the torch. The parts that are connected must be evenly heated. If one of the elements is not hot enough, a strong connection will not be achieved. The easiest way is to connect elements of the same mass and thickness.
The process of soldering a small element to a massive object causes big trouble. In this case, the smaller element is carefully heated first, then a small amount of solder is applied.
Heating should be gradual and last until the solder begins to melt. The burner flame is directed to the main object to heat the entire surface. The soldering area is constantly heated by the burner flame.
At the moment when the object reaches the desired temperature, solder with flux is applied.
Source: https://chebo.biz/stroyka-i-remont/remont-yuvelirnyh-izdelij-payat-serebro-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html
How to solder a silver chain at home?
If a problem occurs in the form of a broken silver chain, do not despair and rush to get rid of the item. A jeweler will help correct the situation. However, it is not always possible to turn to him for help.
In addition, such a service will not be cheap and will be almost half the price for the item itself. You can try to solve the problem yourself and solder a silver chain at home using available tools.
How and with what help to solder silver?
Before you decide to solder parts of a silver product yourself, you need to understand the physical and chemical properties of the noble metal. The melting point of silver is 960 degrees. This is an average for the various metals used to make jewelry.
The melting point depends on how much pure silver is contained in the alloy. To ensure high-quality soldering, you need to carefully approach the choice of silver solder.
It is a strong solder joint and is used for soldering both non-ferrous and ferrous metals, as well as various alloys. For ease of use, all solders are subject to markings, including an alphanumeric set. The digital indicator determines the amount of silver in the solder as a percentage.
Any seam soldered with solder is resistant to corrosion, does not deform, and is durable. The most important factor of the above is anti-corrosion. To ensure that this point is observed, you should choose solders that have a high content of pure silver.
If it is impossible to purchase solder at special retail outlets, you can make it yourself. The most common and high-quality composition, which includes:
All components are melted in a muffle furnace. After melting, the mixture is poured onto a substrate and passed through a machine to produce sheets of the desired thickness. For soldering, sheets of 1-3 mm are used. Strips of the required length are cut from them.
What do you need to have to solder the product?
To ensure a strong welded seam, you need to prepare the following materials and tools:
- The base for the main work (asbestos slab or bricks), resistant to high temperatures;
- Silver solder;
- Flux;
- Acid pickling solution;
- Sulfur liver;
- A small brush;
- Tweezers or tweezers;
- Wire cutters;
- Gas burner;
- Copper tongs;
- A clean piece of light-colored material.
How to solder a product: basic methods
At home, you can use one of two soldering options applicable for silver:
1. Gas burner. This method is not only simple, but also cost-effective. You need to proceed as follows:
- Clean the entire surface of the parts being soldered from visible dirt and blackness;
- Apply a thin layer of flux to the elements. You can cook it yourself. To do this, borax is poured with water and heated in a water bath. The mixture is cooled, and the resulting crystals are crushed in a mortar.
- Place a pre-prepared piece of solder at the soldering site. It can be cut with wire cutters;
- Use a gas burner to heat the product from its side, paying attention to the position of the solder. It should not be blown away by the flame;
- As the flux melts, the flame should be increased until the solder forms a seam. If there are insufficient materials, they can be added during work;
- After soldering is completed, allow the product to cool and wipe all parts of the item being soldered at the junction with sandpaper to remove traces of flux. It will also remove excess solder.
2. Soldering iron. To solder parts of a product with a soldering iron, you should choose a device with a thin tip. It is better to buy POS-60 solder for such work. It begins to melt at a temperature of 180 degrees.
This solder is somewhat different from the usual types. It is made in the form of a tube, the inside of which is filled with resin. It is this that is an alternative to borax flux and performs the function of protecting the alloy from possible oxidation. The procedure will be as follows:
- The surface of the product is cleaned from oxides and other contaminants;
- The joints are heated to such a temperature that it becomes above the melting point;
- Solder with flux embedded in it is placed at the melting site;
- The surface of the product is heated with a soldering iron. Under the influence of high temperature, the solder begins to melt and spread evenly over the surface;
- The product is allowed to cool and the joints are cleaned with sandpaper.
When working with a torch and a soldering iron, you must take precautions, since both devices can cause a fire.
It is important to understand that any poor-quality work can ruin the product. Therefore, if possible, it is better to entrust a broken chain or other silver jewelry to professionals.
How to solder a silver chain at home
A silver chain can break at the most inopportune moment, and it is not always possible to take it to a specialist for repair. If you have all the necessary tools at hand, you can repair a silver chain at home by choosing one of two possible methods.
What is silver soldering?
Before you start soldering silver, it is recommended to study the physical and chemical properties of the metal in advance, which will allow you to carry out the repair efficiently and correctly. The melting point of this material is 960 degrees. This value is averaged for all metals that are popular in jewelry production.
This temperature may not always be accurate because alloys may contain varying amounts of silver. Therefore, it is important to choose the right solder - a strong solder joint that is specially designed for pure ferrous and non-ferrous metals and their alloys. All solders have special markings, which consist of letters and numbers. The last value shows the amount of noble metal.
Do-it-yourself silver solder forms a seam that is resistant to corrosion and mechanical deformation. To ensure such properties, it is recommended to choose material marked PSR2 or PSR2.5. This solder has a melting point of 240 degrees.
What is required for soldering?
To solder a silver chain at home, you definitely need solder. You can buy it ready-made or make it yourself. In the second case you will need:
- 45% silver;
- 25% copper;
- 30% zinc.
All these components must be melted in a muffle furnace, then poured onto a substrate and used to form a sheet of suitable thickness. For jewelry, this parameter should be 1-3 mm. A strip of the required size is cut from these sheets and used for silver soldering at home.
For repairs you will need the following tools and accessories:
- asbestos board or brick, which will act as a base for work (you can use other material, but it must be resistant to high temperatures);
- flux (mix borax with water, heat the liquid, then cool, crush the resulting crystals and use for their intended purpose);
- acid pickling solution;
- sulfur liver;
- small brush;
- tweezers (you can take tweezers or another similar tool);
- wire cutters;
- small gas burner for soldering silver;
- copper tongs;
- light fabric;
- sandpaper.
Methods for soldering silver
If the silver chain is broken, there are two ways to return it to its original condition.
Soldering silver with a soldering iron
It is recommended to choose this method if you have at least minimal experience with a soldering iron. A tool with the thinnest tip will do. Solder is needed marked POS60, since it has a lower melting point (only 180 degrees). Additionally, it is shaped like a tube with resin inside. In this case, the resin acts as a flux and prevents oxidation of the metal. Silver should be soldered as follows:
- Clean the surface to be treated from dirt and blackness. In the latter case, an acid etching solution will help. You must work with gloves.
- Heat the joints to a temperature above melting.
- Now place solder in this place, onto which you first need to put flux.
- Now this area must be heated with a soldering iron until the solder melts and is evenly distributed over the surface.
- Now you need to give the chain time to cool, and then clean the seam with sandpaper.
Soldering with a gas torch
Soldering silver at home with a gas torch is cost-effective. The step-by-step instructions are as follows:
- Clean the silver ring or chain from visible dirt.
- Coat the metal with rosin or self-prepared flux.
- Then place a strip of solder at the junction of the material, which can be cut off with wire cutters.
- Now use a torch to evenly heat the damaged product from the side, while constantly monitoring the position of the solder - it must remain in place.
- Gradually, the burner flame must be increased. This must be done until the silver solder forms a strong seam. If during work it was discovered that there is not enough material, then it can be added during the process, the quality of the repair will not suffer from this.
- After welding the silver is completed, the repaired product must be given time to cool.
- After this, the seam must be rubbed with sandpaper to remove residual flux and excess solder.
- If necessary, you can use an acid etching solution to lighten the joint.
Read more: How to make a shower in the bathroom without a tray?
Solder joint strength
Soldering allows you to join dissimilar materials. This is the main advantage of the method. But it is important to evaluate the strength of the solder joint, which is an indicator of the quality of work. This is affected by the size of the gap. At low values, the effect of capillary flow is best manifested, that is, the metal of the product dissolves in the solder. This effect increases the strength of the connection by 30-60%.
During work, we must not forget about safety measures. This applies to wearing gloves and a respirator. We must not forget about high temperatures, which can cause a fire.
Source: https://sokol-clean.ru/sovety/kak-spayat-serebryanuyu-tsepochku-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html
How to solder silver at home? — Machine tools, welding, metalworking
Silver soldering occurs by melting solid metal, the action occurs at a temperature of 960 degrees. In alloys, the melting index may vary depending on the constituent parts. Before you start working at home, it’s worth getting your hands on less expensive crafts.
Soldering silver at home
How to solder silver with a soldering iron
Jewelry items are repaired using a gas torch or an electric soldering iron. Before soldering silver at home, it is important to determine the sample. High-grade metals are not exposed to the temperature of a soldering iron. If you have funds or a complex product shape, it is better to contact specialists.
It is prohibited to solder jewelry items with enamel or blackening, or hard soldering elements.
Fixed gemstones must be removed before soldering, otherwise they may crumble and deteriorate when exposed to high temperatures.
It is impossible to melt solid silver substances with a mains-powered electric soldering iron. For reliable fastening, high rates of melting of the substance are required; heating equipment forms a surface fastening of the elements.
Soldering silver with a soldering iron
Using an electric soldering iron, it is possible to fasten massive parts with silver solder; the tool is often used to work with lead-tin substances.
How to solder with a gas torch
For high-quality and reliable fastening of elements, a gas burner is used. Using a tool, it is possible to heat the required section to 1200 ⁰C; soldering of silver at home occurs at around 960 ⁰C. The process is carried out as follows:
- Before any soldering operation, the components are degreased and oxidation is removed using sandpaper.
- After mechanical impact, the part must be washed and dried. Rosin, purchased in a store or made at home, is applied to the joining surface.
- The product is secured with a vice or a special fastening device is used; during operation it will be impossible to hold a certain section with any tool. Heating requires the use of both hands; the product must be moved during the process.
- Switching on occurs by moving the gas regulator to the appropriate position. The flame jet is regulated by supplying or reducing the amount of gas. It is important to remember that carrying out activities with gas is a fire hazard; it is necessary to organize ventilation of the room.
- The designated soldering area is heated by a jet of flame, evenly distributing the size of the torch over the surface of the silver product. The flame must be controlled visually, ideally it has a dark core, the increased temperature is produced by the core of the torch. Activities for repairing jewelry items of various mixtures at home are carried out using an outer layer of flame, the performance corresponds to melting in all respects.
- After the melting operation has begun, it is necessary to bring the wire to the seam. Under the influence of high temperatures, the metal intended for soldering will begin to melt and fill the seam by gravity.
Soldering silver with a gas torch
There are mixtures in powder form; they need to be mixed with flux and first applied to the joint. In this case, the heating device does not need to be directed at the substance, otherwise it may melt and spread or oxidize in advance.
Solder selection
The selection of the appropriate type of mixture when soldering steels is carried out in accordance with the structure of the raw material. Solders containing silver make it possible to produce strong seams with a uniform, dense cut. These types have increased anti-corrosion properties, which makes it possible to use them with substances exposed to aggressive environmental influences.
For home use and household needs, ordinary products are used, a mixture of which contains tin and a small amount of silver; soldering can be used for radio equipment and other household appliances.
To repair fittings, various pipes and other substances with a copper content of more than 57%, a structure marked PSR-12 is used. For structures with high requirements for reliability and strength, it is important to use more saturated materials. You need to know that there are products with a silver content of up to 70%.
Soldering tin at home
Solder POS-40POS-40 in packaging
As an alternative to tin soldering, silver-zinc is used. The price of such a product is high, but it pays off when used with steels of increased brittleness. Common solder in radio engineering is POS-40 solder, which contains 2.5% silver.
Do-it-yourself flux preparation
There are several ways to prepare flux at home. Basic tools and materials that may be needed during manufacture:
- A gas stove heats the substance to a liquid state.
- A spoon is used to dose the powder.
- A steel container or mortar is used to grind solid rosin into small particles.
- Sealed storage container.
After preparing the powder, it is necessary to prepare a solvent. The element is heated to the required temperature, usually a solution with proportions of 1 to 1 is used. The solution prepared at home is mixed with a spoon until all particles transform into a liquid state. During the process, the mixture acquires a yellowish tint.
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Source: https://stanki-info.com/kak-payat-serebro-v-domashnih-usloviyah/
Soldering a silver chain at home - Metalworker's Guide
For a long time, silver was considered a practically useless metal that did not influence the development of progress and technical improvement. However, even in ancient times, silver was actively used for soldering. Soldering silver is a relevant procedure in our time, since many of us have certain jewelry made of useful precious metal: a ring, a chain, a ring, earrings, etc.
The temperature at which silver begins to melt is 960 degrees. C is not high enough for the melting temperature of the metal . For example, the temperature at which copper and gold begins to melt is 1083 degrees. C and 1063 gr. C accordingly. Of course, there is no point in drawing parallels, comparing with other metals, since the range of metals in such ancient times was very small.
Many of us took the subject of materials science while studying at technical schools. Having opened a modern reference book on materials science, we can personally verify that it contains several silver solders: PSr-25, PSr-10, PSr-12. Solder markings contain letters and numbers, where the latter indicate the percentage of silver in the solder.
In technology, solders with silver have a special place, since seams soldered with silver solder are incredibly strong, dense, and resistant to corrosion. The last quality is the most important.
Of course, no one even thinks about soldering household items (buckets, dishes) with silver solder, but some household items, which are very difficult to do without today, simply need the presence of solders of this kind.
We will separately consider the PSR-12 alloy, used for soldering pipes, manifolds, fittings, as well as other equipment with a copper content of more than 58%.
The higher the demands on strength and corrosion resistance, the more significant the silver content in the solder. It is worth noting that in some cases soldering with solder with a 70% silver content is required. It is interesting to know that soldering a material such as titanium forces you to use the purest silver, without any zinc impurities.
Soft silver-zinc solder is used as an alternative to tin solder. For many, this is absurd, since solder is replaced by currency metal. But there is essentially nothing to be surprised here, since this issue is purely monetary.
Nowadays, POS-40 solder, which contains 40% tin and 60% lead, remains the most popular solder. Solder is used almost everywhere where soldering is required. For comparison, let's say that the POS-40 substitute contains only 2.5% silver, while the remaining share is lead.
The importance of silver as a material for soldering is steadily growing in our time, mostly in the technical field, as evidenced by published data according to which, in the United States alone, up to 840 tons of silver are spent annually for these purposes (soldering).
How to solder silver with a gas torch?
It's no secret that in every person's life something ever breaks or fails. Because of this, it is necessary to repair the item quickly or not too quickly.
Not all repair procedures can be done with your own hands, but soldering a broken tablespoon made of silver will be within your power. It is best to give a broken precious item to a jeweler, but if you temporarily do not have the required amount, you can use useful information regarding repairing the item yourself, materials, and tools.
Materials, tools needed for work:
- Gas-burner;
- Flux;
- Brass;
- Solder.
Procedure:
- To connect small jewelry parts, you can use a soldering iron with a small tip, as well as an oversized gas torch. It is worth noting that the last option is the most suitable. Such certainty when choosing the main tool is associated, first of all, with convenience: to operate a gas burner, you only need an ordinary gas cartridge, and the quality of the work performed will please you no less. Thus, the method of influencing the precious metal in question with a gas burner is also the most suitable from an economic point of view.
- Next, you should purchase solder, for which it is preferable to entrust the work to refractory solder, the melting point of which is in the range of 240 degrees. C and above. The PSR2 and PSR2.5 marking material can serve as an excellent solder. You can also use specialized soldering paste, which is not difficult to purchase today. You will also need to buy flux.
- Next, the surfaces of the parts will need to be cleaned of dirt and oxides, and then a thin layer of flux will be applied.
- The next step is to place a small piece of solder in place of the soldering joint.
- Before you begin the soldering procedure, carefully consider the details of the clamping system required to secure the parts. Thus, you should thoroughly heat the edges of the parts to be soldered, and then place them on a sheet of asbestos.
- Then you need to use a gas burner, starting to warm up the parts. It is worth noting that the heating area must first be cooled, and only then treated with sandpaper.
- In addition, tinols with a lower content of silver in the composition may well be used for processing silver. However, in any case, the composition of tinol necessarily contains silver. It should be remembered that to solder your personal jewelry, no specialist will exchange ordinary tin-lead solders or other low-temperature materials of this kind without your permission. Otherwise, the product may become damaged during repeated repairs.
- You can prepare the flux with your own hands: take borax, then pour it into a special container of a suitable shape (for example, a glass); then fill the borax with water, then heat the bottle in a water bath; the resulting mixture should cool; the resulting crystals must be crushed using a mortar. Thus, you can prepare flux for processing silver with your own hands.
Correct soldering of polypropylene pipes
It is worth summarizing: if you have the funds to repair and solder silver items, as well as other jewelry, it is better to seek help from a master jeweler. However, if you don’t do this, you should prepare carefully: gain knowledge, gain experience, and only after that start working on your own, otherwise you risk being left without decoration at all.
Source: https://ssk2121.com/payka-serebryanoy-tsepochki-v-domashnih-usloviyah/
