bad day :(

[marna]

So today (AM) I broke FOUR drill bits (after breaking no drill bits in at least three months - I am pretty sure that I tensed up a bit more after each break) and today (PM) I melted probably beyond salvage a shawl pin mount at the final solder. That final pallion of solder would not flow for some mystery reason, and instead of pulling back and having a cup of tea, and then cleaning and fluxing again and giving it another go I got stubborn and kept the torch on for *far* too long in the hope it would flow. And of course, what happened was that *everything* started to flow.

Moral of the story: when things start going wrong stop and have a cup of tea and a hug of a cat or something like that.

[CJ57]

Oh dear, the workshop gremlins have been playing with you today:/ I think we have all done the melting bit, you become fixated with the pallion of solder and take your eye off the rest of the piece. That's when you know it's time to take a break or give up for the day

[Patstone]

That happened to me a few weeks ago, I then put the remains in a lot on my bench and left them. Yesterday I cut a pieçe of square silver and put the scrumpled up remains on it and it looked good as a pendant so I soldered it on and it soldered first time. Moral to this story, when sh.. happens walk away and try again another day cos you can guarantee that everything you try and solder that day will melt.

[caroleallen]

If only I learned from my mistakes!

[more534]

well, that just means you're good for a whole 'nuther year or more.

I haven't been posting at all, but have been reading and really appreciate all my new-found knowledge.
and have been working on improving my soldering techniques.

[vernon]

Don't you just hate that. Also don't get stubborn- I have before and restart! really annoying.

[Nick martin]

Taking a break and having a re-think is a GREAT idea as you say, and as I have unfortunately found out myself!

I made a similar mistake last month. Tried my best to solder a gold ring I'd been working on, but the solder wouldn't flow.

Then when it did flow ( and it was too late ) I realsied I'd used thin gold wire instead of my thin gold 'solder' wire to join the damn thing!

Cheers,

Nick

[metalsmith]

But to turn this on its head and look on the bright side a little, does anyone else get 'solder joy'? I'm sure you do!!

Just in case anyone thinks I'm being a smug git, I've made many many soldering faux pas by now - and the other day I got more than my three months worth of broken piercing blades!!

[Sammyjean]

I'm glad its not just me! I have to walk away and re focus and come back to it more composed. And yes, my kitten comes in very useful in this scenario too!!

[CJ57]

But to turn this on its head and look on the bright side a little, does anyone else get 'solder joy'? I'm sure you do!!

Just in case anyone thinks I'm being a smug git, I've made many many soldering faux pas by now - and the other day I got more than my three months worth of broken piercing blades!!

I like soldering because there is great satisfaction when it goes right and you've got lovely joints. It's usually the piddling little jobs that should take seconds that don't work and have me pouring with sweat!