steelandstone
has rocks in the head
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Member since September 2008
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Post by steelandstone on Feb 8, 2014 8:46:32 GMT -5
Dasiy,
I buy from Thunderbird on a regular basis especially when they have their Super Sales. The next one is Feb. 13th and 14th During the sale you get •500 oz silver pricing and forged metals •Lowest price break on everything else and •10 percent off single-priced items
They do have some items on backorder from time to time but it has not affected what I buy mostly. They are really nice folks to deal with and I personally have had nothing but a positive experience with them.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
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My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tom on Feb 8, 2014 10:00:20 GMT -5
Thats really great for your first attempt, way more than I would have tried LOL. Its hard to say from the photo but what you may be doing is pulling the torch when you see the first little "flash", this is the time the solder melts. You need to keep the torch on the solder until it kind of "flashes" again and you should see the little bubble of solder flow like water. Now pull your flame away. Just like Radio said you can control the flow direction by pulling the solder with the heat of the torch, it takes practice and I am just learning.
Hell I am still learning everything but its dang fun!
Great job!
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daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2011
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Post by daisyd681 on Feb 9, 2014 10:35:47 GMT -5
They do seem very friendly, and busy, so that's a good sign they're surviving the economy. I know what you're talking about though radio. I think it was a lack of selection that steered me away from them a few years ago. Maybe it's the things that I need that have changed, but they seem to have everything I need now. Being able to run over there when I run out of something in the middle of a project is a serious benefit. Thank you Tom! I have less than nine months to figure all this out and make my sister's wedding jewelry, so I had to just go for it. ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) I think you're right about what I did with the torch. I was so scared I'd melt the wires that as soon as the solder went liquid I pulled it away. I'm hoping I can smooth it out when I go to put on the bail. I'm guessing I should re-flux before I put heat to it again. It won't hurt right?
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Post by radio on Feb 9, 2014 11:42:14 GMT -5
I know you asked Tom, but re fluxing is fine and I do it all the time. I would suggest taking a few pieces of scrap, flux them and lay a solder snippet on there and practice paying attention to how the solder melts, pools and what color the metal was when the solder flowed. I would also recommend overheating the scrap intentionally just so you can see more clearly the point at which the metal starts to melt. Always move the flame in a circular pattern, or at least to the join and then away. This is an excellent way to control the heat if you need to keep working on the piece. Be forerwarned that this technique will cause the dreaded firescale though!
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daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2011
Posts: 104
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Post by daisyd681 on Feb 9, 2014 14:44:02 GMT -5
That's a good idea. I do have a bit of scrap now that I've done a project. If I ever get my torch back from DH (not to mention my metal yardstick and the numerous other tools he's pilfered. ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) )I will play around a little. I got plenty of firescale (at least I think that's what it was) and was really quite impressed with the vinegar and salt pickle I made in a tiny crockpot. Sometimes those homemade recipes just aren't quite as good as the dangerous chemical versions.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
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My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 9, 2014 17:57:29 GMT -5
Thanks for getting that Radio, I am not on to read posts as much as I should. Yep, flux away, not sure if there really is a time when you shouldn't use flux? That vinegar and pickling salt recipe works awesome. You are doing really great Daisy!
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Post by 1dave on Feb 12, 2014 11:45:27 GMT -5
Thanks for getting that Radio, I am not on to read posts as much as I should. Yep, flux away, not sure if there really is a time when you shouldn't use flux? That vinegar and pickling salt recipe works awesome. You are doing really great Daisy! Well, careful with the flux when you don't want your solder to flow everywhere. Flux and heat are the paintbrushes for solder.
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Post by radio on Feb 12, 2014 19:46:56 GMT -5
Thanks for getting that Radio, I am not on to read posts as much as I should. Yep, flux away, not sure if there really is a time when you shouldn't use flux? That vinegar and pickling salt recipe works awesome. You are doing really great Daisy! Well, careful with the flux when you don't want your solder to flow everywhere. Flux and heat are the paintbrushes for solder. Tix anti flux, or yellow ochre, or in a pinch, even white out will keep the solder from going where it isn't wanted. Gotta be careful and dry the anti flux first and kinda shield it against the liquid flux intrusion as it will wet the anti flux and some solder can still flow past where you want it to stop. Not applying flux to an area is no assurance that solder will not flow there! I have intentionally soldered extremely dirty pieces, and some even with no flux just to see if it could be done, and it can. Everyone preaches clean, clean, clean, but solder will flow under some horrendous and unthinkable conditions. To clarify, I do not recommend soldering dirty metals, but it certainly can be done, and with perfectly acceptable results most of the time. It shouldn't be attempted on marketable pieces except under unusual circumstances, and then only by someone with plenty of experience. It's kinda neat to play with on scrap pieces though
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daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2011
Posts: 104
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Post by daisyd681 on Feb 12, 2014 23:04:16 GMT -5
That's good to know. I was being rather neurotic about cleaning it every time I put the torch to it. I'll stick with that neuroses for now, but any eventuality is good to have filed away in the knowledge base.
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Post by 1dave on Feb 13, 2014 0:17:20 GMT -5
Dirty metal? Hmmm might be something to experiment with! Thanks radio!
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_green.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_green.png)
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 13, 2014 7:31:34 GMT -5
I tend to flux the entire piece and use just small amounts of solder. Don't we need to use flux or anti firescale on sterling to prevent firescale from forming? that is why I have been liberal with the flux.
Thanks
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Post by radio on Feb 13, 2014 7:36:25 GMT -5
Dirty metal? Hmmm might be something to experiment with! Thanks radio! Yepper. Try it sometime on some scrap silver. I've rubbed all sorts of gunk on it deliberately trying to get solder to not take and rarely encountered a problem with flow. Granted, it is a bit more difficult and I am not advocating soldering dirty metals, but it can be done in a pinch if necessary. When you get bored with conventional practices, It's cool to have some dirty fun once in a while ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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Post by radio on Feb 13, 2014 7:49:23 GMT -5
I tend to flux the entire piece and use just small amounts of solder. Don't we need to use flux or anti firescale on sterling to prevent firescale from forming? that is why I have been liberal with the flux. Thanks I apply flux only where needed, and in very small amounts using a flux bottle with a needle tip. Most of the time I use pallions, but on some pieces I will feed wire solder around the piece. I seldom use a firescale preventative unless it is a bigger piece and I happen to think of it in time. I use a boar bristle brush on one side of my buffer and use either a bobbing compound or white diamond to cut any firescale that develops before proceeding to the Zam for the final polish. Keep in mind that I make several pieces each day, so some of my practices are a bit unconventional for the beginner or someone making a competition piece. As always, YMMV
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