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Can I use 9ct solder on 18ct gold
Hi,
I'm trying to make a kind of birds nest pendant using lots of very fine bits of 18ct gold wire. I have a mix of yellow, white and rose gold.
I've only very occasionally worked with gold before (soldering gold balls onto silver, etc) so I have a few questions please:
1/ To save money, can I use 9ct solder to fuse 18ct gold wire? If so, is there anything I need to change about technique?
2/ When I'm soldering rose to white gold, should I go for white solder?
3/ When I'm soldering rose to yellow gold, what colour solder should I use?
If you have any other hints that you think I should know please do let me know
Thanks so much
Emmy
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Normally best to use the same ct solder as is the gold you are working with, using a different ct will show the solder joints more easily as it will be a different colour, would also affect the Assay value,
rose gold to white gold, you could use either solder the problem you will have is one colour bleeding onto the other, you would need to make your joint very tight and maybe use a resist to prevent the bleed over, e.g. if you would use a resist on the white gold if you use rose gold solder and visa versa. Just as side note rose gold and solder in my experience is virtually impossible to match.
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Thank you China.
What is a resist? Is it flux or something different?
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No resist is the opposite to flux you apply it where you do not want the solder to flow, I use jewellers rouge mixed with water, to make a very fine slurry I am told you can use liquid paper although I have never tried it
another alternative is yellow ochre, used the same as rouge
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I’m putting this out there as I don’t know but would using a lower grade solder not change the hallmark issued!
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That is what I meant with "would also affect the Assay value".
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If you are working in gold, it is a false economy to save a couple of £ on the solder. Check eBay, there are sellers who sell tiny amounts
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There,s no need even to do that, Wendy. You can buy solder in wire form and just get a few mm. Dennis.
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Didn't know that. Easy to cut up! Why it can't be supplied as little tiny pieces by weight to save all the cutting up...who knows?
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