By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more
Forum sponsored by:
Forum sponsored by Forum House Ad Zone

45% Silver Solder for Jewelry?

All Topics | Latest Posts

Search for:  in Thread Title in  
Blue Heeler14/05/2021 08:17:24
avatar
342 forum posts

Can anyone tell me if 45% silver solder is 'safe' for a copper bracelet jewelry repair that will be worn against skin?

Of course common lead solder would be bad, but what makes up the other 55% of a 45% silver brazing stick?

JasonB14/05/2021 08:25:03
avatar
25215 forum posts
3105 photos
1 articles

about 30% copper and 24% zinc with a few traces of others.

Blue Heeler14/05/2021 08:27:05
avatar
342 forum posts
Posted by JasonB on 14/05/2021 08:25:03:

about 30% copper and 24% zinc with a few traces of others.

Thanks Jason, do you think its ok to use in skin contact?

Paul Lousick14/05/2021 08:27:14
2276 forum posts
801 photos

65% silver solder is often used for jewelery and available in a paste/flux for fine work. Lots of information available on the internet. Do a search.

Paul.

Hopper14/05/2021 08:33:05
avatar
7881 forum posts
397 photos

Zinc should be ok. Same stuff as used on galvanised water piping. Ditto copper.

David George 114/05/2021 08:37:18
avatar
2110 forum posts
565 photos

Hi the correct silver content for jewelry is higher around 67% but I don't think if you are using it on copper it would make any problem. If in doubt ask Cup Alloys for more details on metal content. I have jewelry solder and if you only want a small amount I could send you some.

David

JasonB14/05/2021 09:26:03
avatar
25215 forum posts
3105 photos
1 articles

As Said I don't think you really need "Easy" (67%) jewelry solder on a copper bangle and could even use less silver content for a darker joint line but the down side of both is the need for higher temps to get it to melt.

Edited By JasonB on 14/05/2021 09:27:38

bernard towers14/05/2021 23:52:12
1221 forum posts
161 photos

Of course what you must remember is that although the solder ingredients before use are not necessarily what is left after the joint is made some is burnt off. Best ask Keith Hale about that.

bernard towers14/05/2021 23:52:50
1221 forum posts
161 photos

Of course what you must remember is that although the solder ingredients before use are not necessarily what is left after the joint is made some is burnt off. Best ask Keith Hale about that.

Keith Hale15/05/2021 09:12:32
avatar
334 forum posts
1 photos

There are three different alloys containing 45% silver.

There is a quaternary alloy with copper, zinc and cadmium. Banned in the EU because of a perceived danger caused by licking or sucking jewellery. But banned all the same.

Another quaternary alloy sees the cadmium replaced with a small %ge of tin

Then there is a ternary alloy where the cadmium is simply removed.

Which one are you using? Check your supplier's data sheet.

Personally (and with no medical qualifications whatsoever) I believe that you would come to no harm no matter which one you used.

Of more concern is the ugly and appalling colour match of these alloys on copper. Make it less obvious by the application of a heavy hammer to the thumb 👍

Or use a glue.

Then spray the bracelet with copper paint

Keith

Tim Stevens15/05/2021 16:15:29
avatar
1779 forum posts
1 photos

Some people are allergic to jewellery containing Nickel - and this may well be used in hard solders to make the more silver-looking rather than brassy.

And I suspect that people do much more than suck or lick cadmium plated components. For example angle-grinding or welding. Fumes are the worst pollutants.

Cheers, Tim

Edited By Tim Stevens on 15/05/2021 16:17:31

duncan webster15/05/2021 20:27:55
5307 forum posts
83 photos

Copper plate it when you've finished?

Keith Hale16/05/2021 08:50:27
avatar
334 forum posts
1 photos

If you want to make your silver brazing alloy (hard solder) more "silvery" add more silver. See ISO 17672.

In the general scheme of things, the use of nickel bearing silver brazing alloys is not very common. It is used to join ferritic stainless steel components that are subject to crevice corrosion. It is cheaper and more convenient to use austenitic stainless steel.

Under certain circumstances the nickel can improve the "wettability" of the carbide, at the expense of fluidity. The resultant larger fillets / joint thickness may be advantageous with regard to joint strength dependent on the joint design. See also JMM data sheets 1100:122 published June 1973 and 1100:185 published Feb 1976. Other sources are available!

Regards

Keith

All Topics | Latest Posts

Please login to post a reply.

Magazine Locator

Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!

Find Model Engineer & Model Engineers' Workshop

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.

You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

Latest Forum Posts
Support Our Partners
cowells
Sarik
MERIDIENNE EXHIBITIONS LTD
Subscription Offer

Latest "For Sale" Ads
Latest "Wanted" Ads
Get In Touch!

Do you want to contact the Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop team?

You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.

Click THIS LINK for full contact details.

For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.

Digital Back Issues

Social Media online

'Like' us on Facebook
Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
 Twitter Logo

Pin us on Pinterest

 

Donate

donate