These can be purchased at craft stores or jewelry supply stores, and are similar in size and shape to an ordinary building brick.
Warning: Avoid silver solders containing cadmium, which may cause health problems if fumes are inhaled. If you are filling a crack, you may want to use a lower-purity “easy” silver solder, as it melts at a lower temperature. For joining two pieces together, use “medium” or “hard” silver solder with more silver content, to create a stronger bond. [3] X Research source Note that there is no industry-wide definition for these terms; if you are switching brands and want results similar to what you’re used to, look at the percentage of silver content instead.
Silver quickly conducts heat away from the location exposed tot he flame. Because of this, a small torch tip may make the soldering go much more slowly.
“Brazing” flux is used for high temperature joining, in which the surface of the metal objects themselves are chemically altered. While even jewelers refer to this process as “soldering” instead, “brazing” is technically the correct term. [4] X Research source It doesn’t matter which form of flux you purchase. (For instance, paste or liquid. )
Avoid loose or dangling clothing. Pull back long sleeves and tie back long hair before you begin working.
Do not use a crock pot, microwave, or oven that you intend to use again for cooking. The pickle may leave behind a metallic smell or even trace amounts of toxic materials. Never put steel in contact with pickle. Most prepared pickle solutions can keep for several weeks. [7] X Research source
Using a small amount of flux in a separate container is recommended, as repeatedly dipping a brush into the original bottle may add dirt and affect its function.
If one of the objects to be joined is thicker than the other, heat the thicker object from the back until the solder starts to melt, then heat the thin object briefly. [8] X Research source Use tweezers if necessary to hold the objects in place, but place them on the far end of the silver, away from the flame. You may need to hold down small, thin areas of the silver to provide a heat sink, preventing the thin area from melting.
