laminating gold and silver?

[medusa]

I have a bit of a special commission (OK, it's the girl's 21st so not really a commission!). I've been making mobiles strip bangles and got quite good at them now and I want to make one which is silver but with gold laminated over the top. I intend putting the gold halfway along the the length on one side and then continuing over the other side with the gold strip cut diagonally so when it's all put together the gold is all on the outside with the silver on the inside.

But I'm not sure how thin I can get away with the gold. I was going to use 18ct as I have some medium 18ct solder already. Would 0.3mm be too thin? I'm planning on using rectangular sterling wire in 5x1.7mm size.


(and sorry I've been quiet lately, shift work is a biatch!)

[CJ57]

There will be others more informed than me on this Liz but nice to see you back

[medusa]

Cheers Caroline. I have a rare day off to think about this before I get it made. I've missed being here!

[CJ57]

It's been interesting recently!

[Dennis]

I had difficulty following this question Liz, until a later light bulb moment, when it dawned on me you might have meant Möbius not mobile. The real problem with adding a gold strip onto the surface of silver is that it would have to be sweat soldered and in close contact with the backing.

So personally, I would shirk having the gold too flimsy, and go on to 0.4mm thickness and finally give it a light rolling on my mill and re-flux and re-heat, to make sure it is well soldered.

I would also use silver solder, probably easy, to avoid the gold sinking into the silver. Welcome back from me too, Dennis.

[medusa]

heh, flippin' autocorrect!

If I go .4mm would it be rubbish if I used 14ct? I suppose if I went 9ct I could go for .5mm but I was hoping using a higher carat plus gold solder would keep the integrity of the laminate. Also do you mean roll the two strips together before soldering or after? Or both?

I was going to sweat the solder on the gold first and then lay the silver on top and heat.