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Gold solder lighter in colour than rest of piece?
Hi everyone!
First time on here! I've searched everywhere for an answer to my question but have had no such luck.
I have soldered a jump ring (half jump ring) to the top of an 18-carat yellow gold pendant (which was cast via lost wax casting method). I used 18ct gold wire solder bought from cooksongold. The area that I soldered looks slightly lighter than the rest of the pendant. Not like silver but not quite as yellow as the rest of the gold. I can see the difference if I look hard.
I'm not sure where I have gone wrong, however, I will note that I probably used too much solder during the process.
I don't want to take too much gold off as this may weaken the joint? I also filed away as much as possible.
Any suggestions?
Thank you in advance. And sorry that I cannot attached a photo (I have to have made 5 posts)
Natalie
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Hi Natalie and welcome. It's quite common for solders not being a good match, even more so if the casting gold is from a different source.
To hide the solder used to attach a jump ring, be very sparing, because you can always add a smidgen more later if required. It also helps to make a tiny groove with a round burr so that the ring fits snugly, instead of just on edge.
If you can't clean it up to your satisfaction then hold it up a few cm, by hooking the ring on some tweezers. then flux and gently re-heat until the pendant drops off.
This will give you the chance to clean away more solder, but not all of it, and then re-fix the jump ring using the solder left behind. Dennis.
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I agree with Dennis, just to emphasise the aim is to keep the joint as close/tight as possible, this will minimise any discrepancy in the colour.
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Hello! thankyou Dennis and China for your replies
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