How to make silver solder

Physico-chemical properties and melting point of silver solder

Silver solder allows you to solder silver workpieces. In addition, it is suitable for soldering other metals and alloys, from copper to stainless steel. The suture material is durable and has high electrical and thermal conductivity. This makes the material popular in electronics, electrical engineering, jewelry and the production of medical equipment.

Varieties

Silver-containing solders are divided into groups based on the proportion of silver they contain.

Compositions containing up to 40% base metal are used when joining parts made of steel and non-ferrous alloys. The strength characteristics of this material make it possible to solder workpieces no thicker than 3 mm.

Solders containing 40-60% Ag are suitable for soldering copper, nickel and steel in structures subject to heavy constant and variable loads.

The high content of the base metal allows the use of silver solder for critical high-load connections, contacts in electrical engineering and electronics, band saw blades and the like.

Physico-chemical properties and composition

The chemical composition of the soldering material is determined by GOST and affects its physical and chemical parameters. To change the properties, elements such as copper, zinc, tin, antimony and others are included in the composition.

Standard for dobvako content in various brands of solders.

To reduce the cost of the composition when soldering less critical compounds, silver is diluted with tin, lead, and zinc, which are cheap relative to silver.

Specifications

Physical and mechanical parameters are determined by the formula of the substance.

The table shows that electrical conductivity improves with increasing silver content.

Physical properties of various brands.

Features of choice

The correct selection of soldering material is the key to high strength and durability of the soldered seam. When choosing a brand, you should also take into account the technical and operational requirements:

• static and dynamic loads on the connection;
• temperature regime;
• the chemical activity of the environment in which the seam will work;
• planned cost of the seam.

Thus, to create high-temperature joints, copper is added to the composition, since tin and zinc have a low melting point and will weaken the joint.

The high price of the joined jewelry blanks makes it possible to maintain the economic efficiency of production when using solders with a high silver content, down to pure metal.

Advantages

Silver melts at 962°C . Pure silver solder allows you to create connections with high ductility. Their main advantages are:

• excellent fluidity in the molten state;
• strength;
• corrosion resistance;
• the ability to combine different metals and alloys;
• high electrical and thermal conductivity.

The melting point decreases as the proportion of silver decreases. At the same time, time and energy costs per unit of melted volume are reduced.

Silver percentage

The proportion of base metal in silver solder determines the thermal and electrical conductivity of the material.

Low

Such tin-silver solders, containing from 1.5% Ag, are popular in the electrical industry, the production of pipelines and vessels, they allow you to quickly and efficiently connect workpieces, contacts and other parts. Low resistance, high fluidity and affordable price allow the composition to be widely used.

Average

A silver share of 40-60% makes it possible to solder highly loaded connections . However, materials containing tin and silver are not recommended for use in high temperature environments. They are suitable for operation in conditions of vibration loads and chemically active environments.

High

These compounds are used for the most complex and critical compounds . Thus, the composition PSr65, containing 2% Cu and 14% Zn, is used for soldering saw blades. It is able to withstand breaking and bending forces.

PSr70 is used in the production of powerful generators, where resistance plays a decisive role.

What fluxes are suitable?

To create a strong connection, it is necessary to properly prepare the surfaces for soldering. To do this, they are cleaned mechanically. Silver solder is used with soldering flux - a liquid or paste that destroys the oxide film and facilitates soldering, increasing the fluidity of the melt.

Borax powder is widely used. It is diluted in a small amount of water, heated and stirred until solder paste is formed.

With this composition you can solder from 490 to 910°C

Ready-made soldering fluids and pastes are also widely available on the market. It is better for a novice master to use purchased materials. Making your own fluxes requires skills in handling strong chemicals.

Technology for creating at home

Preparing solder for soldering silver with your own hands allows you to save significant amounts, but requires melting and foundry equipment and certain skills.

You can do it in the following sequence:

• chop scrap with metal scissors;
• grind the filler material;
• remove iron dust from them with a powerful magnet;
• use precise scales to weigh out 20 gram portions of the charge;
• add 10% borax and mix thoroughly;
• put the weighed portion into a melting spoon and heat with a burner until completely melted;
• warm up the casting mold, called “ingus”;
• pour a spoonful of melt into the ingus in one go;
• cool the mold under running water;
• knock the finished solder out of the mold.

During work, you should be careful, use personal protective equipment, a hood, and do not leave the burner unattended.

Materials and tools for manufacturing

To work, a home craftsman will need:

• scrap silver;
• additives: zinc, copper and others according to prescription;
• borax;
• precision scales;
• burner installed on a stable base;
• melting spoon;
• metal scissors;
• bowl and stirrer for mixing components;
• sandpaper;
• Ingus.

An ancient cooking recipe

The recipe includes a Soviet silver fifty-kopeck piece minted in 1924 and a copper nickel minted in 1961.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• shred coins with scissors;
• melt silver in a spoon;
• add copper to the melting spoon;
• Using smooth circular movements of your hand, roll the melt over the spoon until completely mixed;
• pour the melt into the ingus and cool.

The solder used for soldering silver will be approximately 900 grade. The exact fineness depends on the degree of wear of the coins.

Source: https://svarka.guru/payka/oborudovaniya/serebryaniy-pripoy.html

Silver solders

06/25/2012 // Vladimir Trunov   

I’ll start with a quote from Brepohl: “When making solder, the base should be the eutectic composition of the Ag-Cu alloy and the melting point should be lowered by adding zinc. The difference between the melting temperatures of the base metal and the solder must be at least 50 ° C.”

What is “eutectic alloy composition”? I have already mentioned in the article “Melting point of Ag-Cu-Zn alloys” the terms “liquidus” and “solidus”. I repeat: liquidus is the temperature of complete melting of the alloy when it is heated, and solidus is the temperature of complete solidification of the alloy when it is cooled.

For pure metals, these temperatures coincide, and when the melting point is reached, the temperature of the metal remains constant until it completely transforms into a liquid state. In general, alloys have a temperature range in which they are no longer solid, but not yet liquid. The lower boundary of this interval is solidus, the upper boundary is liquidus (from the words “solid” and “liquid”).

However, with a certain combination of components, the alloy behaves like a single metal: the solidus and liquidus points coincide. This combination is called eutectic.

From the above diagram (click to enlarge) it can be seen that all alloys with a silver content below 91% begin to melt at the same temperature - 779 ° C, and completely melt differently. And there is one point (72% silver) where the liquidus coincides with the solidus. This is the eutectic for Ag-Cu alloys.

This point is the lowest melting point for all these alloys (“eutectic” - Greek for “easily melting”).
For Ag-Cu-Zn ternary alloys, this point of interest to us turns into a line, which is highlighted in bold and red on the liquidus isotherm diagram that is already familiar to you.

The most suitable alloys for solders are located along this line. Suitable in several senses:

• they contain the minimum amount of zinc required for a given melting point;
• they melt without an intermediate mushy state, which ensures the cleanliness and uniformity of the seam;
• they have a uniform fine-grained structure, which guarantees the strength and ductility of the connection.

That is why Brepol advises taking a eutectic alloy as a base, without, however, explaining anything. Like, if you don’t slurp cabbage soup with bast shoes, you’ll figure it out yourself.

2. Select solders from the tables

I mean solders, recipes for which are given in numerous tables. I wrote down those of them where there are no obvious typos, and as many as I had the patience for. And then I processed each one with the Ag-Cu-Zn program and got the table shown in the next picture (click to enlarge).

Now is the time to reveal the secret of the parameter hidden under the Greek letter “epsilon”.

Following Brepohl’s precept that a good solder composition is a eutectic composition, I decided to introduce into the program an algorithm for calculating a certain parameter that would characterize the “eutecticity” of the alloy. The parameter ε shows the relative deviation of the selected alloy composition from the eutectic one. Ideally, it is equal to one, and its most distant values ​​are from 0.7 to 1.4.

Values ​​close to eutectic should be considered approximately from 0.95 to 1.05.

In addition to the melting point and the “eutecticity” parameter, the choice of solder is influenced by another important criterion - its sample.

There is not such a strict requirement as for gold that the solder sample coincides with the alloy sample, however, there is a lower threshold beyond which conflicts with the assay inspection may arise. This threshold is 60% silver, i.e., the standard must be at least 600.

In addition, the color and resistance to chemical influences depend on the solder sample. Based on this, I would like to choose solders of the highest standard possible.

And finally, the most important thing: what are we going to solder? In this case we are talking about silver jewelry alloys. We’ll talk about soldering copper, steel and other metals another time.

Let us remember Brepol's second testament: the melting point of the solder must be at least 50 degrees lower than the melting point of the base alloy (here we mean solidus, i.e., the starting point of its melting).

For all jewelry alloys below 910 fineness, the solidus is 779 degrees. For 925 sample - 808 degrees, for 916 - 789.

We look at the table: the first four disappear due to too high a temperature, the last four - due to a low sample. Let's start with the choice of brazing solder. For soldering 925 silver, we can afford solder with a melting point of 760 degrees.

According to the table, we select compositions 5 and 10: the first - for sample, the second - for “eutecticity”. Then we select soft solder - we simply take the lowest melting point, this is composition 23. The average solder should have a temperature of about 730 degrees.

From the table, the best option is probably number 15.

3. We create our own recipes

However, there is no need to select solders specifically from this or any other table. We have the Ag-Cu-Zn program! We enter the required sample and temperature on its right side and achieve such a combination of them that there is a solution. Then, on the left side of the program, we specify the parameters of the resulting alloy and adjust it to the required ones.

I liked the four solders shown in the last picture. Their temperatures differ by about 20 degrees, and they satisfy almost all needs when soldering silver.

Source: https://tvlad.ru/solders/serebryane-pripoi.html

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:

1. 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.
2. Heat the joints to a temperature above melting.
3. Now place solder in this place, onto which you first need to put flux.
4. Now this area must be heated with a soldering iron until the solder melts and is evenly distributed over the surface.
5. 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:

1. Clean the silver ring or chain from visible dirt.
2. Coat the metal with rosin or self-prepared flux.
3. Then place a strip of solder at the junction of the material, which can be cut off with wire cutters.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. After welding the silver is completed, the repaired product must be given time to cool.
7. After this, the seam must be rubbed with sandpaper to remove residual flux and excess solder.
8. If necessary, you can use an acid etching solution to lighten the joint.

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://uborka-v-dome.ru/poleznyie-sovetyi/kak-spayat-serebryanuyu-czepochku-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

DIY silver solder

Silver solder is constantly used for industrial production and at home, because it is of the highest quality. However, its cost is quite high, because it contains precious material.

This is why people often try to make this solder themselves.

However, this can only be done by those who have specialized knowledge in this area, because it is necessary to make a material that will have all the necessary characteristics and properties.

Silver in its pure form is a rather expensive metal, so it is used for solder in rare cases; it is mainly needed for jewelry production. The material has a soft structure, so to ensure a high-quality connection, it is necessary to add other materials to the alloy, for example, aluminum, cadmium, zinc, nickel or copper.

When pure silver is combined with copper and zinc, the melting of the metal will become significantly higher, which has a good effect on soldering parts. The seams are of high quality and durable. If there is about 10% or more silver in the material, then the seams become very plastic and are perfectly processed.

This option is excellent for soldering steel materials.

With a pure silver content of about 25%, the material efficiently solders brass workpieces. The resulting surface is neat and looks attractive.

Very often, solders are produced in the form of continuous sheets. Before work, it must be carefully divided into strips of about 2 mm in size, but the width can be made at your own discretion, it depends on how the material will be used.

Gap soldering in this way produces the highest quality. After use, the seams tolerate various vibrations well and do not deteriorate.

Parts may even be deformed or subjected to physical stress, but the connection remains intact and sealed for maximum time.

Characteristics and properties of silver solder

Making your own silver solder is often done for use at home.

In most cases, silver solder is needed in order to solder together several layers of various metals at once, because the result should be a large layer of thickness that needs to be created several times.

That is why the material must have a high melting point for stepwise soldering, so that when soldering the next metal the previous layer does not deteriorate. Solder must melt at a temperature of at least 600 degrees Celsius.

When creating this type of material, it is necessary to ensure that the composition includes 30% silver. Copper should be about 20%, zinc 16%, and cadmium 33%.

This material is quite fragile, so you should avoid mechanical and physical impact on it so that it does not collapse over time. To increase the fluidity of the alloy during single-layer soldering, you can add about 50% of silver from the total amount of the composition.

At the same time, resistance to external influences significantly increases. Multi-stage soldering is also possible in this case, it just requires great care in the work.

Materials and tools for creating solder

There are several options for creating silver solder yourself. However, even the simplest of them require careful work, and it is not a guarantee that the material will be of high quality. First you need to find all the tools and necessary materials. For this you will need:

1. silver crowbar;
2. other metals included in the composition, for example, soldering borax, brass, copper;
3. scales;
4. spoon;
5. wire cutters;
6. scissors;
7. sandpaper;
8. gas stove;
9. spatula;
10. folds;
11. Ingus.

Technology for creating silver solder

First you need to decide on the composition of the material, and then prepare the necessary elements in the required proportions. Pour the silver into a spoon and melt it using a burner. After this, you can start adding other elements, the main thing is not to rush and do everything carefully so that the resulting mixture is homogeneous.

Therefore, you will have to spend some time on this, but the result is definitely worth it. However, it is worth remembering that the components gradually burn out and evaporation occurs if the process is too long. Then you can pour the resulting mixture into the ingus, and then roll it out without annealing.

To make hard solder, you need to use the material in certain proportions:

• 80% silver;
• 16% copper;
• 4% zinc.

Medium hardness:

• 75% silver;
• 22% copper;
• 3% zinc.

To create soft solder:

• 65% silver;
• 20% copper;
• 15% zinc.

Making your own solder

Soldering with silver solder is a very responsible and important task, therefore it is necessary to prepare it with the utmost care and precision. It is necessary to properly ensure its transformation from liquid to solid state. It is necessary to add all the necessary ingredients and make the composition homogeneous, and after all these actions it becomes possible to pour the material into the ingus. In this case, there are three main stages:

• First you need to prepare for melting in a spoon.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• After this, you should mix the finished composition and pour it into the Ingus.

It is necessary to put a little cardboard on the bottom of the spoon, and then a plate of a larger diameter so that it covers the spoon completely. Then you need to press the plate into a spoon to obtain a concave shape. This is very important, because with greater depth the process will take longer.

Accurate all ingredients and their sorting

One recipe requires the exact content of the following ingredients:

• 20 g 916 silver;
• 875 silver scrap;
• 12 g pure silver;
• metals;
• borax;
• gas-burner.

It is recommended to distribute the metal to create solder in small separate piles. Then everything is done according to the recipe used and mixed thoroughly. Then you should add borax 1/10 of the total amount. And only after that you can start heating it in a spoon.

It is necessary to place the ingus close to the process. To begin with, it should be lubricated with wax and then heated, because the material cannot be placed from a hot to a cold container.

When heated, the composition must be at the same temperature, so as soon as the required consistency is achieved. It immediately pours into ingus. Once the solder is in the desired shape. You need to put it in cold water. When completely cooled, the block is pulled out.

It should be remembered that the cardboard in the spoon can withstand no more than five processes of this kind, then it needs to be changed.

Source: https://svarkagid.com/serebrjanyj-pripoj-svoimi-rukami/

Do-it-yourself solder for soldering silver - Metalworker's Guide

Silver solder is constantly used for industrial production and at home, because it is of the highest quality. However, its cost is quite high, because it contains precious material.

This is why people often try to make this solder themselves.

However, this can only be done by those who have specialized knowledge in this area, because it is necessary to make a material that will have all the necessary characteristics and properties.

Silver in its pure form is a rather expensive metal, so it is used for solder in rare cases; it is mainly needed for jewelry production. The material has a soft structure, so to ensure a high-quality connection, it is necessary to add other materials to the alloy, for example, aluminum, cadmium, zinc, nickel or copper.

When pure silver is combined with copper and zinc, the melting of the metal will become significantly higher, which has a good effect on soldering parts. The seams are of high quality and durable. If there is about 10% or more silver in the material, then the seams become very plastic and are perfectly processed.

This option is excellent for soldering steel materials.

With a pure silver content of about 25%, the material efficiently solders brass workpieces. The resulting surface is neat and looks attractive.

Very often, solders are produced in the form of continuous sheets. Before work, it must be carefully divided into strips of about 2 mm in size, but the width can be made at your own discretion, it depends on how the material will be used.

Gap soldering in this way produces the highest quality. After use, the seams tolerate various vibrations well and do not deteriorate.

Parts may even be deformed or subjected to physical stress, but the connection remains intact and sealed for maximum time.

DIY hard silver solder

To save money, it is advisable to make silver solder yourself, although this step can only be done by those who have certain knowledge. You can learn how to solder using various solders purchased at retail stores.

What is silver solder?

Pure silver is an expensive metal and is rarely used for work. Its structure is soft, so craftsmen use alloys that include copper, zinc, as well as aluminum, nickel, and cadmium.

Compounds of silver with copper and zinc have high melting properties and are used as silver solder. The soldering seam made with this solder is very durable. Solder with 10% silver can be easily processed with a hammer in rollers and is used for soldering steel parts.

PSR-25 and PSR-12 solder is used to connect brass surfaces and make especially neat and clean soldering areas. The production form of silver solder is a solid sheet that is cut to obtain strips of the required size.

For work, strips 1.5-2 mm thick are used, and small parts are connected using strips 3 mm wide. Silver solder is used to fill gaps between seams.

They withstand significant vibration loads, are resistant to shock and deformation.

The composition of silver solder is established by GOST, which regulates the area of ​​its use.

Chemical composition of the alloy for joining materials

Modern soldering processes involve the use of silver solder, which, when connecting nodes, is suitable for step soldering. Such work requires the use of an alloy that can withstand temperatures of 600°C.

The solder contains ingredients such as 30% silver, 20% copper, 16% zinc, 33% cadmium. The alloy is very brittle and is intended for soldering materials that are not subject to vibration. The composition with the amount of silver increased to 52% is very fluid, but withstands loads well during multi-stage stages of soldering materials.

How to cook silver solder using the old method

There are several ways to create a silver alloy, but you can master the technique perfectly only after long practice. To obtain the alloy, you need to prepare 2 coins: a fifty-kopeck piece from 1924 and a nickel from 1962. You will also need:

• silver;
• spoon (not tablespoon);
• ingus;
• gas-burner.

At the beginning of the work, silver is melted in a spoon. Add a five-kopeck coin to the resulting melt and roll the mixture over a spoon for better mixing. The longer the spoon is rolled, the better the mixing process occurs. But there is one significant drawback: many components necessary for solder burn out.

Then the master who makes the alloy with his own hands pours it into ingus and rolls it out without annealing. The resulting solder is of high quality: 10 g refers to the 900th sample.

When soldering, it is very important to prepare fresh flux, which will ensure high-quality work. It is necessary to carefully monitor the size of the flame in the burner: a soft, not very hot fire in the form of a broom will ensure a high-quality seam.

For work, hard solders are used, which contain: 80 Ag, 16 Cu, 4 Zn, 75 Ag, 22 Cu, 3 Zn. Soft solders include: 65 Ag, 20 Cu, 15 Zn.

To obtain light silver solder used in repairing products, you need to prepare: 7 parts silver, 2.8 parts brass, 0.35 parts zinc. It is important to clean the brass from the oxide film before starting work. To obtain 10 g of solder, 999 silver is melted.

After obtaining the liquid composition, add brass and mix the contents in a spoon. When the composition has completely melted, add zinc, shake the spoon several times, then begin to roll the resulting composition. After its manufacture, it is necessary to cut the rolled sheet using scissors and weigh it on a scale.

To work successfully, you should prepare:

• sandpaper;
• spoon;
• gas burner;
• mixing spatula;
• folds;
• scissors;
• scales.

An amateur craftsman cannot do without such materials as:

• silver;
• brass;
• pure zinc;
• borax, which is added to the molten composition.

Sometimes pure zinc is not added: it is better to use its alloy with brass or copper. Zinc is added to the solder, wrapped in silver foil.

To make silver solder, you can take 96th standard silver and burn 94th standard. It is obtained by burning old silver items: brocade, braids, galloons.

Melting silver solder

By melting the metals that make up the alloy in a crucible, silver solder is obtained. The crucible is placed in a furnace or the components are melted using a blowpipe. Before work you need to prepare the equipment:

• crucible;
• wooden stick or iron hook;
• borax;
• charcoal mixture;
• container with water.

Solder components are melted using borax. The order of the operation is observed: refractory metals are melted first, then low-melting metals are added.

To make solder with your own hands, liquid metals are constantly stirred in a crucible with a wooden rod or an iron hook. To create higher quality solder, the entire process is divided into two stages. The crucible is pulled out of the furnace, and the metal is combined in a container with water. Fine-grained drops are formed, which are dried and melted a second time, covered with borax on top.

After complete melting, the metal is poured into molds. The frozen tiles or bars are rolled into strips, which are crushed on a lathe.

For technical soldering of silver objects, alloys consisting of metals are suitable: 20% copper + 80% silver, 4% tin + 48% brass. When soldering steel with silver solder, the phase diagram between copper and silver is taken into account.

Properties of medium melting alloys

Silver solder has high strength, is resistant to corrosion in aggressive environments, has a low melting point, and high thermal conductivity. During operation, it completely fills the gap between the parts being soldered and fits well on the metal surface.

An alloy of 28.5% copper of the PSr-72 grade has high ductility. When working on creating solder with your own hands, you should remember that its melting point with copper decreases when alloyed with lithium. The resulting alloy is used for soldering steel materials that are resistant to corrosion. To reduce the melting temperature of the solder, tin is added to it in an amount of 35 to 70%. The resulting alloy allows you to solder various materials, avoiding the formation of cracks.

How to properly prepare solder at home?

When carrying out melting, it is necessary to solve one more problem: to ensure the reverse process - the transition of the metal from a liquid state to a dense one. Silver must be melted and then cast into ingus.

The work is divided into 3 stages: preparing the spoon - melting, adding flux, introducing the charge into the spoon, melting the starting material and pouring it into the ingus.

A small rectangle of cardboard is placed on the bottom of the spoon, a larger piece of cardboard is placed on top until the last part of it wraps around the edges of the spoon. Then you need to squeeze the cardboard sheets well. Pay attention to the shape of the bed: it should be concave.

This is a very important point in the work: when making solder with your own hands in the deep recess of a spoon, the melting process takes a long time, so it needs to be dried near the burner.

The charge is sorted on jewelry scales. The master prepares materials such as:

• 20 g of 916 sterling silver scrap;
• 875 grade scrap;
• 12 g pure silver;
• metal for solder;
• borax;
• gas apparatus.

Distribute the mixture of 18-20 g into separate piles. Scrap 875 and silver are mixed: 6 g of test silver and 42% pure silver are used per melt. The charge is cleaned using a magnet, removing impurities of iron and steel.

Solder is made from 875 silver with copper in a ratio of 4:1 (3 copper coins and 1 silver fifty). Borax is used as a flux: 1 part per 10 parts of the charge. Check the burner by adjusting the flame height. The spoon is placed over the burner. Silver changes its color and flows to the bottom.

Ingus is placed near the flame of the burner to warm up, having previously been lubricated with wax. The melt should not cool down and shine. It is poured into ingus, which is well heated. Do this immediately, with confident hand movements, so that it does not cool down and split into several parts. Ingus is placed under a cold stream of water. When the bar is sufficiently cooled, it is pulled out, turning the mold over. Cardboard or asbestos covering is intended for 3-5 swimming trunks.

Making solder with your own hands is a simple but fascinating process that requires accuracy, patience and skill.

Source: https://tools.adstores.ru/article/tverdyy-serebryanyy-pripoy-svoimi-rukami

How to properly solder silver at home

Products made of precious metals can break due to accidental movements. If a silver chain breaks, a bracelet link breaks, or an earring breaks, you can repair the jewelry yourself. To do this, you need to know what silver soldering is and how to do it at home.

The Importance of Silver in Ancient Times and Today

In ancient times, silver was considered a sacred metal. It was used to create amulets that protected people from dark forces and evil spirits. Gradually, this metal began to gain popularity as jewelry. In addition to making rings, earrings, pendants and chains, people made silverware.

Silver was often called lunar material and could only be worn by members of the nobility or people associated with religious teachings. This material was not available to ordinary peasants. Gradually money (coins) began to be made from silver. Now this metal is used for making jewelry, as well as in electrical engineering (silver plating, contacts).

Preparation of materials and equipment

Soldering of silver must be done using special solder. In addition to this, you need to choose what will heat the metal. A soldering iron or gas torch can be used for this.

You need to work with silver on a surface that does not heat up when heated. It should be smooth and firm. This could be a brick, a plate of decorative stone, or heat-resistant ceramics. Additionally, you need to prepare citric acid and iodine. Using citric acid you can lighten the material, and darken it with iodine. In addition to a soldering iron or gas torch, flux and solder, you will need hand tools - metal tongs, a brush and wire cutters.

What kind of solders are used?

Solders for soldering silver are sold in hardware and construction stores. The form of release of connecting compounds may be different. There are powder mixtures whose particles reach 2 mm. You can find whole sheets that are first cut into pieces of the desired size and then used for soldering.

Working with hard solders

Soldering with silver solder is similar to working with tin. A strip of solder of the required width and length is applied to the surface to be joined. The damaged area and the connecting substance are covered with flux to avoid the onset of oxidative processes. By heating the solder with a torch or soldering iron, the technician evenly distributes it over the area of ​​the breakdown.

How to choose a flux for soldering

In order for the flux to be evenly distributed over the damaged surface and reliably fasten the parts together, it is necessary to choose the correct soldering composition. To protect the finished connection from moisture and chemicals, it is necessary to choose a composition that is protected from corrosive processes and aggressive environments.

Making your own flux

The flux used to hold silver pieces together is a mixture of aqueous solution and borax. You can make it yourself:

1. Borax powder is poured into an empty metal container.
2. Fill with distilled water.
3. Heat over low heat until the powder is completely dissolved.
4. The mixture is cooled at room temperature.
5. Grind the crystals, mix with water and mix thoroughly until a thick mass is obtained.

The flux must be left to stand for 1–2 hours. Pour out the water remaining around the mass.

Soldering tool

At home, it is difficult to find a professional tool for joining silver parts. In most cases, people use an electric soldering iron or a gas torch.

The quality of the work performed directly depends on the heating tool. Low-power soldering irons are not suitable for repairing silver products, since the parts need to be heated to 350 degrees. It is advisable to use a tool with a thin tip so that an accurate connection can be made.

How the process itself works

To connect parts together and repair the product, you need to know how soldering works at home. The entire course of repair work will depend on the choice of heating tool.

How to solder silver with a soldering iron

Knowing the technology and features of silver soldering, you can make a reliable connection without defects. Work progress:

1. Working surfaces are cleaned of dirt and degreased.
2. The parts are clamped in a vice.
3. To protect against oxidative processes, a layer of flux is applied to the joint.
4. When working with a soldering iron, the flux should cover the joint in an even layer.

Flux residues are removed with an acid solution.
How to solder a silver chain

How to solder silver with a gas torch

Work progress when soldering silver objects:

1. Parts must be secured to a non-flammable surface.
2. The adhesion site is cleaned and degreased.
3. Powdered solder is applied to the joint. The top is covered with flux.
4. A connecting shock is created using a gas burner. It is important not to blow the solder away with the flame.

Basic mistakes during soldering

There are a number of mistakes that beginners make when soldering:

1. Unreliable fastening of parts to the working surface.
2. Strong flame pressure in a gas burner, which blows away the solder.
3. Overheating of parts.
4. Using a large soldering iron for a small connection.

To avoid injury, it is important to follow safety rules and wear protective equipment (gloves, jacket with sleeves, pants).

Soldering silver is a process that can be done at home. To do this, you don’t have to spend money on craftsmen. All you need to do is find a heating tool, flux and solder.

Source: https://metalloy.ru/obrabotka/pajka/serebra

Soldering silver at home

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

Silver soldering

The process takes place using a special solder, the structure of which is selected to match the sample of the precious metal. The action can be performed using two tools:

• electric soldering iron;
• gas burner.

Silver is placed on a flat surface with low thermal conductivity, which is not susceptible to temperature influences; brick is an excellent object for these purposes. The soldering area is treated with flux, and a piece of material for soldering of the required size is placed nearby. It is better to solder silver with a torch; with smooth, uniform movements, the metal warms up to the desired temperature.

At home, soldering requires certain skills and qualifications. Selecting the correct flux and solder requires practice, experience, and knowledge of component markings. It is not recommended to use scrap silver as a soldering compound. The melting point of the part must be lower than the precious metal, otherwise there is a possibility of ruining the segment.

Having melted the product evenly, you need to continue the operation until a high-quality seam is created. Solder can be placed in small quantities and then added as appropriate. At the end of the operation, it is necessary to clean the product from residual soldering substances and flux; this action is performed with fine-grained sandpaper to avoid scratches and other damage.

To lighten the compound, a solution of citric acid is used, and blackening occurs with iodine. When carrying out activities, it is important to remember safety precautions; the process must be carried out in a ventilated area, the operator must wear personal protective equipment.

Silver additives are produced in different types and are used when soldering objects made of steel, as well as other alloys common in industry. Various parts contain other elements, the composition is reliable and has good quality indicators when connecting components. The main feature is the corrosion resistance of the connected components treated with silver.

In production, the most popular compounds are the PSR-10 and PSR-15 brands.

Soldering silver solution has different characteristics, the number at the end of the marking indicates the amount of precious metal in the composition. If there are high demands on the anti-corrosion resistance of the seam, grades PSR-70 and higher are used, however, such substances are expensive and are used by large industries. Soldering of silver is carried out according to various requirements, so the choice of composition before production must be approached competently.

Solder PSR-10

The form of release of material for soldering can be different, depending on the purpose and content of various alloys. It is sold in the form of powder or pieces of 2 mm or more; there are variations from a single sheet, which is easily cut with nippers to the required sizes. When working with wires, an element disguised as a wire is suitable; it is easy to transport and add in small proportions.

At home it is possible to repair any item, the main thing is desire. Silver parts are no exception; jewelry often breaks or develops cracks after mechanical stress. A trip to a jeweler can cost a pretty penny, and the quality of the work and the material used may be questionable.

Soldering iron

It’s not difficult to do it yourself; it’s important to carefully choose a tool. At home, you can use a soldering iron. It is important to note that not every electric heating equipment can heat the tip to a significant temperature. A regular soldering iron can heat the tip up to 350 ⁰C, which is not enough to melt parts.

Jewelry repair shops use a gas torch; it can heat the steel to the required level. It is possible to operate with heating equipment with increased power and a thin tip, however, such actions can only be performed with solders that do not have a high amount of mixture in the structure.

Preparation of materials

An electric soldering iron is included for soldering radio parts using solders containing silver in the structure. It will not be possible to connect a piece of jewelry with a soldering iron due to the lack of sufficient performance. For operations with such components, a thermal drill is used, as well as the following materials:

• high-temperature-resistant raw materials – brick;
• rosin;
• acid solution;
• tweezers, brush, nippers;
• copper tongs, a small piece of rag.

Silver Soldering Tools

Colophonium is used as a flux for production. The purpose is to form a film to avoid interaction of the substance with oxygen during operation. For jewelry crafts, a special compound is used; if stores do not offer appropriate options, it is possible to make rosin yourself. Borax and potash are mixed in one to one proportions, powdered borax crystals are ground with potash, the result is flux.

Non-silvered solders

During production, it is highly recommended not to use products that contain lead. This is due to the fact that traces of lead are difficult to remove, and reliable fastening is obtained in isolated cases. Lead is also toxic, and jewelry is usually worn in visible places on the body. With prolonged wear, the skin may react to toxic lead, which can be absorbed into the skin.

Soldering silver at home using tin

Tin wires are used extremely rarely when working with silver metals; it is possible to fasten parts, but there are negative factors:

• the seam is noticeable, different metals will give off a tint in sunlight;
• Tin darkens when in contact with water or exposed to a high humidity environment.

For silver parts of printed circuit boards, a soldering element of the POS-60 brand, which contains a large proportion of tin, can be used. The release form often looks like a wire with a flux composition.

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%.

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.

Source: https://stankiexpert.ru/spravochnik/svarka/paika-serebra-v-domashnikh-usloviyakh.html

How to solder a silver chain at home - Useful materials on the Russian Gems corporate website

​Unfortunately, sometimes silver chains break - from strong tension, careless movement, or load in the form of massive pendants. Silver is a fairly soft metal, so it cannot boast of increased strength. When a piece of jewelry requires repair, there are two ways to fix it: take it to a jewelry workshop or undertake the repair yourself. Today we’ll talk about the second method - repairing the chain yourself.

To repair a chain, you'll need patience, a little theory, and the right tools for the job (full list below).

Why do silver chains break? Top 3 reasons

• Defective product. But the store will not simply accept a broken chain back: an examination must be carried out to prove a manufacturing defect. If the examination confirms that the manufacturer is at fault, then the buyer will return the money spent - both for the decoration and for the examination.
• Hollowness. Yes, chains are often made hollow - this is not very practical, but it reduces the cost of decoration. Heavy pendants cannot be hung on such chains, and they can also break from the slightest mechanical impact.
• Wearing heavy pendants. To avoid putting too much stress on the chain, consider the weight ratio of the chain to the pendant.

What you need to know about silver soldering

• Silver melts at a temperature of 960 degrees. Of course, this indicator differs for different metals - for example, the melting point of copper is 1083 degrees. The melting point of the alloy will depend on how much pure silver it contains (exact values ​​can be found in specialized literature).
• To ensure high-quality soldering, it is important to carefully select silver solder. It is advisable to use refractory solder, which melts at temperatures above 240 degrees. All solders are marked for convenience; the number in the marking indicates the percentage of silver content. For example, in PSR-45 solder there is 45% silver, the rest is copper and zinc. In some cases, solders with a silver content of 70% are used. The higher the silver content, the stronger the connection.

Properly soldered seams are strong and resistant to corrosion. If the soldering is done well, the seam is not prone to deformation. To repair a silver chain, we recommend choosing solders with a high silver content: they give the best results.

Ordinary tin should not be used for soldering silver: over time it will darken, the soldering area will become noticeable and unaesthetic.

Tools for repairing a silver chain at home:

• small soldering iron or gas torch;
• silver solder;
• flux;
• alcohol-containing liquid;
• acid solution;
• clips for fixing jewelry;
• wire cutters;
• small brush;
• sandpaper;
• asbestos sheet or brick (if using a gas burner).

How to repair a silver chain using a gas torch

Before starting work, the product must be cleaned and degreased - treated with an alcohol-containing solution. The next steps are:

• Secure the broken parts of the decoration to a fireproof base. An asbestos sheet or ordinary brick is suitable for this purpose.
• Coat the places where the chain breaks with a thin layer of flux (this is convenient to do with a small brush). Place a piece of solder between the broken parts of the chain (it is convenient to separate the alloy strips with wire cutters).
• Gently heat the joint with a gas torch, moving the torch from the side. Try to ensure even heating. When the flux is hot, increase the flame, continuing to weld the metal and forming a solder joint.
• Wait for the soldered decoration to cool down.
• Clean the surface of the product from flux, remove any remaining solder with sandpaper, and polish the soldered area.
• The final treatment is to lighten the surface using an acid solution.

How to fix a silver chain using a soldering iron

For jewelry work, use a soldering iron with a thin tip and POS-60 solder with a melting point of 180 degrees. This solder is produced in the form of thin tubes filled with resin, which acts as a flux (protects the metal surface from oxidation). The procedure is the same:

• the surface of the decoration must be cleaned of blackness and dirt;
• heat the joints to a temperature above the melting point;
• place a piece of solder with flux at the joints;
• heat the surface of the product with a soldering iron so that the solder begins to melt and distribute evenly;
• You should wait until the decoration has cooled, and then clean the remaining joints with sandpaper.

Security measures

When repairing jewelry at home, be careful, the soldering process can be dangerous. In particular, when flux and solder are heated, toxic substances are released into the air, so you need to solder the chain in a well-ventilated area. An acid solution can cause a chemical burn (not only to the skin, but also to the respiratory tract), and a fire can occur from an open burner flame.

If you have never soldered anything before (we are not just talking about jewelry, but in principle about working with a soldering iron or torch), then think again before you start repairing the chain yourself. Maybe you should entrust the repair of your favorite jewelry to professionals?

Source: https://russam.ru/stati/o_juvelirnyh_izdelijah/p18416-kak_v_domashnih_uslovijah_zapajat_serebrjanuju_tsepochku/

Silver solders with flux for soldering silver at home with a soldering iron

First, the simplest thing: solder is an alloy of metals for soldering. The melting point of this mixture must necessarily be lower than that of the metals being joined, everything is clear here.

Now let’s get down to the word “silver”; it won’t work out so briefly here.

Physicochemical characteristics

In such alloys, silver is not always the main element. It is, for example, extremely popular when soldering stainless steel or other complex metals. Everyone knows the rule - the higher the silver percentage in the solder, the more ductile and stronger the connection is when soldering.

In addition, the melting point of silver solder with a high proportion of base metal allows greater freedom in choosing the temperature range in the use of the finished product.

One of the most common silver solder compositions is as follows:

• silver – 30%;
• copper – 20%;
• zinc – 16%;
• cadmium – 33%

If you increase the proportion of soldering silver above 50%, you will get a mixture of metals with high fluidity and excellent resistance to later stress.

How to choose the right solder?

It’s not so easy to choose the most suitable option from a huge number of different alloys. Clearly, if vibration resistance and high shock resistance are your top priorities, you should opt for high-silver options.

The same choice applies to working with refrigeration and climate control equipment.

Partner metals behave differently. If, for example, lead should never be added to the alloy when working with products that are resistant to high temperatures, then copper behaves perfectly under such conditions and is an excellent partner for the main components.

If the alloy contains cadmium, then there is increased brittleness - which is why it is a rare element in silver-based solders.

But phosphorus is a popular additive due to its ability to reduce the melting point, which is useful when working with stainless steel, aluminum and other complex metals.

DIY silver solder

The word "prepare" is quite an appropriate expression in this section because silver solder can be prepared in many ways, including the old technique. Let us immediately note that here you need practice to achieve perfection.

GOST for silver solders.

The old recipe requires two coins: a copper nickel from 1962 and a fifty-kopeck coin from 1924, and additional metals, a gas burner for soldering silver and a spoon.

It starts like a fairy tale: we melt silver in a spoon. Then lower the copper coin and mix, rolling the spoon. The more patiently you roll the spoon, the better the mixing will be. After this, the solution is poured into a metal mold called “ingus” and rolled out again.

The alloy prepared in such a primitive way actually has very high qualities: it is pure sample No. 900.

An important factor in the quality of preparation is fresh flux. The flame in the burner must be monitored very carefully: it should be soft, and a not very hot fire should resemble a broom in outline. In this case, the seam will turn out to be of truly high quality.

To repair products, solder is made light in the following composition:

• silver – 7 parts;
• brass – 2.8 parts;
• zinc – 0.35 parts.

We stock up on the following materials for work:

• spoon;
• soldering torch;
• sandpaper or sandpaper;
• scissors, folds, scales;
• mixing spatula;
• borax for adding to the finished melt.

You can add zinc in its pure form, or in an alloy with brass or copper. Zinc is often added by wrapping it in foil. We begin to roll the composition. We cut the finished rolled sheet with scissors.

Melting solder

If you decide to do without old recipes, stock up on these materials:

• container with water;
• wood mixture with coal;
• borax;
• crucible and iron hook.

Solder composition and melting point.

We melt metals in a crucible, which must be placed in a forge or heated with a blowtorch. During melting, be sure to add borax. It is important to know and follow a clear sequence of the process. The main thing is to melt refractory metals first, and only then fusible ones.

Liquid metals are constantly stirred in the crucible with a hook or wooden stick. It is better to divide the process into two stages. The crucible with molten metals is removed from the furnace, and the metal is combined with water. The resulting small drops of metal are dried and melted again, adding borax.

After final melting, pour the solder into the mold. When it hardens, roll it into strips.

The most important part of the silver soldering process at home is the transition of the alloy from liquid to solid state. First, the mixture is melted and then cast into ingus.

The preparation of the spoon is as follows: a rectangular-shaped cardboard is placed on its bottom, and a plate is placed on top of it so that its edges wrap around the edges of the spoon. Cardboard sheets are carefully crimped to form a concave-shaped bed.

Sorting of the charge is carried out on special jewelry scales, scrap silver of different samples is checked and weighed: 916 and 875, pure silver, metal, borax. The charge is divided into equal piles of approximately twenty grams, it is cleaned using a magnet to remove impurities of iron and steel.

Scrap with purity 875 is mixed with the remaining parts. Borax acts as a flux.

The proportion of silver sample No. 875 and copper is exactly 4:1 (three copper nickels and one fifty kopecks), borax is added at the rate of one part per ten parts of the charge.

Ingus or another form is greased with wax and placed next to the burner. The fact is that the melt should under no circumstances cool down. Therefore, it is poured into well-heated ingus. The mold is then placed under cold water to cool. The cooled block is removed.

A few words about fluxes

The purpose of fluxes is to protect the soldering metal from the effects of oxides by isolating the soldering area from air. The most common composition of fluxes for repairs is a mixture of potash and borax in equal proportions; sometimes soda is used instead of potash.

To obtain powdered borax, you must first dry the aqueous solution of borax. It is better to do this on a regular gas stove in a porcelain evaporation container.

Once the solution turns into crystals, they need to be ground to a powder. Flux must be removed after soldering with a weak heated acid solution.

Medium melting alloys

Silver solder has unique qualities:

• highest strength;
• resistance to corrosion and in aggressive environments;
• low melting point;
• high thermal conductivity.

Making silver solder is easy, creative and very fun. And if you take into account the significant cost savings, then silver soldering is a method that is worth learning.

Source: https://tutsvarka.ru/vidy/serebryanye-pripoi