Just to share …..
One of my recent pieces started out so well…… I was smiling through the entire process of shaping and soldering the three step bezels for this three piece necklace.
Then came the last two solders for the little bails on the top of the two hanging pieces. That is when disaster set in ! After three or four attempts the metal became so oxidized that they became unusable.
Both of the bails kept falling off, and had to re-heat and try again.
On the last attempt on one piece, it was such a disaster, that I melted part of the bezel !
Your first question to me is probably asking if I used one of the 3rd arms with clamps. That was in fact the root of the disaster. I was trying to hold them in place with a pair of pliers in one hand and the torch in the other. I had overheated the clips on a previous project so they lost the springy ability to clamp.
I was impatient and, well….. the results show it !
I do not have enough of the same matching step bezel to give it another whirl yet. Next Rio order !
Just felt like sharing my recent disaster. Hopefully I can return with a positive update once I get some more bezel tape !
Thanks for reading. Maybe you have a similar soldering disaster to share ?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Iris 01.22.09 at 11:51 pm
Sounds familar, George. I’m a relative novice so I can sympathize. I recently had a pendant with twisted wire around the bezel that I ultimately overheated to the point where the bezel came unsoldered and I had to resolder the join. After the repair I sawed a tiny hole through the side of the bezel when I was removing the excess metal. Into the scrap pile it went. 2nd time everything worked flawlessly (grin).
I use nickels as weights to block small pieces from moving such as your bail in the photo above. True, the nickels are heat sinks but so is the 3rd arm. And the nickels often work better for things laying flat on the soldering board. Also, in my experience, if the soldering doesn’t take the first time, I usually have to pickle the piece, reflux then try again.
I look forward to seeing your finished piece!
georgeingraham 01.23.09 at 12:40 am
The nickels sound like a neat trick. I do have a charcoal block but need some other types of block that I can use pins in. Also going to start giving some wire ties a go round.
I just watched “The Complete Metalsmith video by Tim McCreight. Picked up on many neat forming tips, but one thing that really stood out was the flux he showed using. It is not like the My-T-Flux that I have. I really think am going to try the paste type that is brushed on. The soldering seemed to go real easy in the video.
Hey, thanks for the comments… Loved your PhotoBucket pieces. Nice work.
Michael Johnson 01.23.09 at 11:19 am
It doesn’t look too terrible of a disaster, but I am just going by the pictures. I would suggest giving it another whirl. It doesn’t look like oxides, but where the boric acid in your anti-firescale is just glassed. Pickle should take care of that.
It looks like you’ll have to clean up some excess solder, but heck, my first few dozen works were 50% solder, lol.
Re-heat that mug and move it back in place :o)
georgeingraham 01.23.09 at 4:55 pm
Hi Michael,
Ok.., I can give one of them another go round, but I melted a part of the other. Just placed a Rio order and included some more of this step bezel, but will take another look at the one that is not melted and let you know how it goes.
Hey! I really enjoyed poking around in your myspace site. Added you to my blog roll.
Thanks for posting Michael..
Your studio is tops, and your music is the best !
Michael Johnson 01.24.09 at 11:04 am
Thanks George :o)
I like all music, but especially rock and metal (lapidary and silversmithing :o)
georgeingraham 01.24.09 at 3:45 pm
Off topic, but after I saw your blog became interested in adding a music widget to another blog I have. I was not having any luck getting one to work so bagged it.
Any way…… liked yours..
Teri Baskett 01.25.09 at 12:22 pm
I also am a beginner and tried my first ring bezel after a 1 day class. In fact, I took on a new title: Bezel Burner!!! You can read the post right here if you want a laugh! (Don’t worry, it isn’t long!) http://www.sandtcreations.com/wordpress/?p=5 I was so discouraged (yes my own fault) that I’ve not tried to work with a bezel again, but I will once winter is over—I work in the garage, a bit cold right now!). But I am backing up a bit and soldering wire in order to get a bit more practice with the flame and how to heat metal correctly, without making a melted blob (oh, yes, I can make granulation balls! BIG DEAL!) Teri Baskett of S & T Creations
http://teribaskett.ganoksin.com/blogs