Copper solder?

Hi there - noob question as I’m just starting out and working out what is useful to buy...
I thought I might have a go with copper first to learn soldering skills (plus I quite like the colour). I’ve seen various discussions about using silver solder and then hiding it with decoration or gold to blend in. I’ve also seen an Etsy store that sells copper solder (I think in the US).
I can get 1mm copper solder wire on eBay that claims to be ‘ideal for hobbies & jewellery making’ but I noticed that Cookson Gold don’t list copper solder in their own clearly more specialist catalogue. And that makes me think that perhaps there is something more I need to know about using copper.

So folks, what do I need to know?
Thanks

Silver solder is easier to use, because it flows well and you can use various grades.

Copper becomes very soft when heated and then warps and buckles, so it is sometimes expedient to start with easy solder and progress with x easy. This reduces the problem for flat sheets and boxes.

However spills and splashes can be unsightly. They can be disguised upto a point by immersing in well-used pickle solutiion, which has turned blue, by temporarily adding iron, for instance a nail. The electrolytic effect will deposit copper on any silver solder, but the layer is thin and can be polished off. You can also set up a battery circuit with coopper sulphate solution and a piece of copper as an anode. The deposit can then be thicker.

The alternative is to use copper solder, but it has quite a high melting point, so can be regarded as hard. It contains phosphate and is self fluxing, but there is no harm in using borax as well to keep the piece cleaner.

It is a very hard alloy and is best rolled down, or hammered flat before snipping into pallions. Here is some:https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/2277...iABEgJ8r_D_BwE

It usually comes from far away places. Dennis.

Thanks Dennis, I thought there must be a reason why it’s not so much used otherwise it would be more readily available. Having done a bit more reading around I think the stuff I’d seen initially was ‘ideal for soldering’ rather than ‘ideal to use as solder’, with genuine solder being much more expensive and from an overseas supplier.
I’ll go with your recommendation for silver - the plan is to move onto sterling silver projects when I’ve got the hang of things a bit and tested a few designs so it will stay useful. ��

The copper solder Dennis recommended is the closest colour match Ive come across but even so its still somewhat grey so you need to make sure your joins are very tight.
We have the same problem with rose gold solder, I actually use yellow as its about the same colour as the rose gold solder anyway.
It all comes down to getting your joins /seams tight enough so that it is barely visible.

I've found this question very useful too. I'm at the same stage as eekoh. I was going to order some easy silver solder (i just have hard solder paste) but at the last moment didn't as i'd forgotten the reason why.

I actually happen to sell Copper solder; it comes in wire form and melts around 700c. Better colour match than the silver solders.

If you'd like to know anything let me know - I'll do my best to answer.

Sounds a little more co-operative than the phos/copper brazing rods I've used in the past - and they tend to be a greyish/copper colour.

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Originally Posted by AlbionFireandIce

I actually happen to sell Copper solder; it comes in wire form and melts around 700c. Better colour match than the silver solders. If you'd like to know anything let me know - I'll do my best to answer.

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Thank you that will be useful. Dennis.

Another site that sells copper solder is www.metalclays4you.co.uk he also sells a good range of wire including bronze, titanium and neobium.

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Originally Posted by Dennis

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Copper becomes very soft when heated and then warps and buckles, so it is sometimes expedient to start with easy solder and progress with x easy. This reduces the problem for flat sheets and boxes.
...... Dennis.

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Any way to harden up shaped (3d) copper elements after soldering? Or is it best to not to solder them in the first place? Had noticed some of my items were very bendy. Definitly going to try easy solder and see if it helps.

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Originally Posted by Sheen

Any way to harden up shaped (3d) copper elements after soldering? Or is it best to not to solder them in the first place? Had noticed some of my items were very bendy. Definitely going to try easy solder and see if it helps.

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No, copper is extremely soft once annealed. If you can't harden it by forging, or twisting, you can try just using a thicker gauge and as you say an extra easy solder. Dennis

Thanks Dennis ;)

I regularly solder copper with silver solder and as enigma has said its good practice to ensure you have a tight join. I've tried copper solder, but have gone back to using silver.

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Originally Posted by Dennis

No, copper is extremely soft once annealed. If you can't harden it by forging, or twisting, you can try just using a thicker gauge and as you say an extra easy solder. Dennis

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Hi Dennis, tried just using easy solder on some stud earrings this morning, definitly seems to have worked. Lot less squishy. Thanks

If you are continuing to work with copper Sheena, you might also get silver extra easy solder. It will turn your life around and it is quite inexpensive. Dennis

I always thought you were supposed to avoid extra easy silver solder? All the books tell you not to use it;)

Extra easy solder is actually accepted for hall making. Its uses can vary from repairing an item of uncertain composition, adding something to an item that is already very large and would otherwise be endangered by excessive heating, and use on base metals.

Its downside is that it is a little grey on silver pieces and is said to be not as strong as the harder grades. That said, I have never had it break, and have used it to solder a detached stainless steel rung on an oven shelf, three or four years ago, which is still intact. Dennis.

I use both silver and cooper solder - depend on situation (for practice i use the cheaper one, of caurce). Guys, what can you say about that Soaiy soldering iron?

It's better suited to sealing tins of chopped meat and it has no application in jewellery soldering.

Wonder how much of it was the last tin in the cupboard during lockdown, still as unpalatable I imagine!

Actually, I quite like the stuff in moderation. Depends how it's prepared.

I'm less impressed when I strip out a spam link and the spammer thinks it's a good idea to put it back in again. Still, it confirmed things for me.

Didn't take you long to show your colours, did it?