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Post by liveoak on Dec 15, 2023 7:13:41 GMT -5
I've had really good luck with the copper wire solder. I have the kind that you need to add flux to and have found Jel-Flux to be the best flux to use .
The one tip I can offer is HEAT, it needs a lot of it.
I found that my Smith Little Torch wasn't hot enough, but when I switched to an acetylene one I get consistent results.
It's not a perfect copper color match, but it's better than using silver solder, and worth the trouble to learn to use it, IMHO. And rockbrain is right - you definitely have enough for a lifetime !
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 15, 2023 9:17:22 GMT -5
A long time ago, I had some copper solder wire with flux made by a small shop that I have forgotten the name of. It was renowned for being a good match. I still have some, but I don't think it is made anymore. It was a really great solder, though.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,172
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Post by rockbrain on Dec 15, 2023 10:36:53 GMT -5
Hopefully I'll have some time to play with it this weekend. I'm doing a sale on Sunday. It should be a pretty kick back one. Doesn't start until noon and I just have one 10 ft table.
I have a couple of torches at work to choose from. Probably go with the small Acetylene/oxygen setup as I'll have more control than the other one.
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Post by susand24224 on Dec 15, 2023 16:48:21 GMT -5
A long time ago, I had some copper solder wire with flux made by a small shop that I have forgotten the name of. It was renowned for being a good match. I still have some, but I don't think it is made anymore. It was a really great solder, though. Yes! When I was thoroughly disgusted with the Rio "copper" solder I ran a search here and came across your link. The link no longer worked, and the shop was not locatable through Google. I kicked myself for not buying some previously . . . The wrap I made for Jason in the last roaming wire had that solder on it, and even though I threw it in dirty pickle, it still is decidedly silver. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 15, 2023 17:20:14 GMT -5
A long time ago, I had some copper solder wire with flux made by a small shop that I have forgotten the name of. It was renowned for being a good match. I still have some, but I don't think it is made anymore. It was a really great solder, though. Yes! When I was thoroughly disgusted with the Rio "copper" solder I ran a search here and came across your link. The link no longer worked, and the shop was not locatable through Google. I kicked myself for not buying some previously . . . The wrap I made for Jason in the last roaming wire had that solder on it, and even though I threw it in dirty pickle, it still is decidedly silver. I did some looking around today and found this: www.creatingunkamen.com/products/best-copper-and-bronze-wire-solder-18-32578 I think it is the same stuff. I have bought many things from these people on etsy. |
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Post by susand24224 on Dec 15, 2023 19:01:00 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 15, 2023 19:05:32 GMT -5
That's definitely cheaper!  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 23, 2023 10:43:51 GMT -5
Any more last minute entries?
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Post by liveoak on Dec 23, 2023 11:01:01 GMT -5
Geez, it's only the 23rd ! I got one earring done last night !
Christmas cookies are on the front burner today.
But I have a WHOLE week 
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 23, 2023 11:17:28 GMT -5
Geez, it's only the 23rd ! I got one earring done last night !
Christmas cookies are on the front burner today.
But I have a WHOLE week 
Patty
Are you trying to suggest that I'm being pushy?? I'm just excited. |
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Post by liveoak on Dec 23, 2023 11:43:10 GMT -5
NEVER 
You're just having that little kid,"It's almost Christmas" mood !  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 23, 2023 11:48:19 GMT -5
You got that right!!! Granddaughter is baking cookies right now and I have Mannheim Steamroller playing. I'm ready!
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Post by liveoak on Dec 23, 2023 11:53:37 GMT -5
Have to admit I had to look them up - good baking music
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Post by liveoak on Dec 28, 2023 10:32:12 GMT -5
So I've been working on a pair of earrings & I re-remember why you don't see (or at least I don't) a lot of wire wrapped earrings for sale. Pendants are much easier-as you don't have to have a matching one - even remotely. So it took me a couple of tries, to get the second matching one, but I finally got it (mostly matching). Now I have to see if I can efficiently make other ones, with different stones, that I can offer on my site?? Efficiently, is the important word here !
I did start with a paid tutorial from WireArtTutorials. I like her tutorials, they are, for the most part, thought out and well illustrated, and being a written tutorial you can refer to it on your bench & she can't leave out a detail, like it seems some videos do. I think her earrings are shorter & fatter - but I like my taller, leaner interpretation (especially since they somewhat match !) Then I saw this YouTube and thought, I can do that on my Wig Jig, no problem. A great quick Christmas earring I was able to gift the very next day. Personally, I thought they could work year round, but Tom instantly saw them as a "Christmas" trees, so now I'm not so sure. Thanks for the challenge, in an otherwise busy month, it was nice to have something to fall back and focus on. Patty |
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Post by susand24224 on Dec 28, 2023 15:10:20 GMT -5
liveoak They're gorgeous! And I think you were on the mark when you lengthened them--it works very well and is "eye-pleasing." As for the Christmas trees, perhaps Tom wouldn't have felt that way if it weren't Christmas--context is everything!
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 28, 2023 16:17:51 GMT -5
I got that tute also, but I never ended up using it. You'd think I would have having made so many earrings. LOL!
I think yours came out really nice! I like them. I love the Celtic ones. If the beads weren't green, I doubt you would automatically think Christmas. However, I have seen them referred to as Christmas designs.
One of the things I do when wrapping earrings is to do what you think will be the most difficult first (for your handedness and way of working) and then do the "easier" one to match the first. I don't know if that made any sense.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,172
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Post by rockbrain on Dec 28, 2023 16:40:50 GMT -5
liveoak, I like those earrings a lot! Just a cool graceful design that keeps leading my eyes around. I like the trees too. Tela beat me to the comment about not looking so Christmassy if they weren't green. I think they're abstract enough that if the beads and were orange or blue your mind wouldn't go there. Nice entries!
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Post by liveoak on Dec 28, 2023 18:15:09 GMT -5
liveoak They're gorgeous! And I think you were on the mark when you lengthened them--it works very well and is "eye-pleasing." As for the Christmas trees, perhaps Tom wouldn't have felt that way if it weren't Christmas--context is everything! Thank you, Susan.
It's funny, I decided on a smaller bead than the tute, which of course did much of the re-sizing for me & I'm glad I did.
I didn't want the bead to overwhelm.
I got that tute also, but I never ended up using it. You'd think I would have having made so many earrings. LOL!
I think yours came out really nice! I like them. I love the Celtic ones. If the beads weren't green, I doubt you would automatically think Christmas. However, I have seen them referred to as Christmas designs.
One of the things I do when wrapping earrings is to do what you think will be the most difficult first (for your handedness and way of working) and then do the "easier" one to match the first. I don't know if that made any sense.
Thanks Tela,
I mean, you NEVER have enough earrings, right-so I can't see why you shouldn't make a 105th pair  .
Thanks for the tip-
On the next pair I just started on, I decided I'd try doing stages of them together so they pretty much stay at a similar level of completeness.
I think, sometimes my problem is that I might make an earrings one night after work, but the second one might be days before I get to it.
I'm thinking my plan MIGHT help, we'll see.
liveoak , I like those earrings a lot! Just a cool graceful design that keeps leading my eyes around. I like the trees too. Tela beat me to the comment about not looking so Christmassy if they weren't green. I think they're abstract enough that if the beads and were orange or blue your mind wouldn't go there. Nice entries! Thank you, rockbrain, that's what I thought when I saw the tute in the first place.
But, I think you all are correct about the tree earrings - I think the 3rd pair I made will sport some very different color & we'll see how they fly.
Thank you all for the encouragement.
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 31, 2023 12:37:49 GMT -5
susand24224 Looks like you're next to choose. You can PM me or post it after I open the Jan thread. I know it will be awesome!
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Dec 31, 2023 18:02:47 GMT -5
liveoak Patty, really pretty earrings. I like them both a lot.👍
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