Solder Paste HELPPPPPPPPPP

[Solunar Silver Studio]

lol i am resorting back to the old fashioned method for the rest of this bracelet and then i will practice on some scraps. I even find it hard to make the paste actually sit on the join it prefers being attached to the syringe rather than sitting on the link!!!

I agree Su' - I bought some of this stuff back in the winter and could hardly get it out of the syringe....oooo me arthritic thumbs!! When I moaned on the forum a couple of weeks ago Nic suggested that it squeezes out better if it is warm. Now I know it has not been a very warm summer and all that....but - are you keeping it in the fridge or something (clutching at straws here!! hee hee!) Anyway - you are not alone with having rigid paste that won't lie down!! I'd love to know if you eventually manage to tame it!!

OOO, sorry - meant to add that I agree with bijou and george about the hottest bit being well in front of the blue cone. I know they say at the tip of the cone at college but I've always found it hotter considerably further on down the flame...and the fiercer you have the torch turned on the further away you need to hold it!

[Charlotte]

Did you get the easy paste? (680 degrees melting point?) I melt fine wire (0.4mm) quite easily without the wire melting (the technique that I use is to hold the flame near but not on the link, and as soon as it gets a bit of heat up (the paste smokes) then I flash the flame over it (the end of the blue bit of the flame).

You only need a tiny bit of paste, so as tough as it is to squeeze it it shouldn't take much to get it out. It does sound like its a bit dry though if its sticking to the syringe.

Julie - You done need to flux, the paste is solder and flux mixed together... clever stuff... I use both methods depending on what I'm doing... I ALWAYS use paste for links though!

[julie]

Did you get the easy paste? (680 degrees melting point?) I melt fine wire (0.4mm) quite easily without the wire melting (the technique that I use is to hold the flame near but not on the link, and as soon as it gets a bit of heat up (the paste smokes) then I flash the flame over it (the end of the blue bit of the flame).

You only need a tiny bit of paste, so as tough as it is to squeeze it it shouldn't take much to get it out. It does sound like its a bit dry though if its sticking to the syringe.

Julie - You done need to flux, the paste is solder and flux mixed together... clever stuff... I use both methods depending on what I'm doing... I ALWAYS use paste for links though!

thank you charlotte does sound good might have to give it ago

[Charlotte]

Its quite expensive, but it seems to last a very long time, and you can change from strip to paste whenever it suits. I would recommend it, it can be SOOOOoooooo helpful sometimes when you just can't balance a piece of strip or cut a piece small enough.

[Charlotte]

Su,

Do not panic.....Make sure your little torch is absolutely full of gas

OMG, YES! This can make a huge difference, the amount of times I've seen no difference in the flame but couldn't get something hot enough then topped it up with gas its like a whole new torch again!

[bustagasket]

the torch dam near went out of the window just now. roll on 30 mins time when the pain killers kick in. it wont stop hurting but i will be a lot happier about it lol

[Charlotte]

Lol, you've got to love pain relief pills... I had to come off mine when I started seeing chickens and clowns though

Hope you feel better quickly... go have a hot bath and a glass of wine (its Friday afterall) and go back to the jewellery after

[MuranoSilver]

Su have you melted a few things on purpose yet?
If not then it would be a really really useful thing to do....
Assemble a jump ring like you normally would, squidge a bit of paste solder out
(I normally scoop a bit on a toothpick and apply it in a blob on the join)
lie it on your solder block and heat it until the solder melts...

Then deliberately keep heating, keep heating until the silver jump ring melts observe the way the silver goes
extra shiny & fluid looking. You'll find soldering a lot easier once you've done that a few times
Nic xx

[Charlotte]

Lol, yeah... a planned mistake is better than messing up your actual work... I wish I'd done it that way

[bustagasket]

Su have you melted a few things on purpose yet?
If not then it would be a really really useful thing to do....
Assemble a jump ring like you normally would, squidge a bit of paste solder out
(I normally scoop a bit on a toothpick and apply it in a blob on the join)
lie it on your solder block and heat it until the solder melts...

Then deliberately keep heating, keep heating until the silver jump ring melts observe the way the silver goes
extra shiny & fluid looking. You'll find soldering a lot easier once you've done that a few times
Nic xx

oo thanks nic, i will have a go at that when i regain control of my legs again