Kathy, I’d like to make two comments about cuff bracelets before
addressing your repair directly. First, be sure to anneal the whole
bracelet well when you repair it. When you reinforce it,the former
thinnest spot on top will be replaced by the next thinnest spot, and
that will be where the next stress cracking will occur. This cracking
will be delayed somewhat if the area is annealed. The reason that the
bracelet cracks it that he is bending it when he puts it on and takes
it off. This brings us to my next point about cuffs. His cuff is too
large. If there is a big enough gap in a cuff to get it on and off
without any bending being necessary, then it will never crack. If the
design allows, cut material off to widen the gap so that he can just
barely get it on without bending. I try to do this whenever I get a
cracked cuff to repair, with the warning to never bend it again!
Once the piece is annealed, you can add a bit of sheet or wire in
back and it will most likely not crack there again, since it will
probably no longer be the thinnest spot, anyhow. If none of my design
ideas will work for you, perhaps you could anneal it for him on a
periodic basis, before it starts to crack again. Because if it keeps
getting bent without relieving the stress, crack it will! The repair
itself is not too trickey, if you are a good solderer. Use a high
temperature solder.I hope this helps.
M’lou Brubaker, Jeweler
Goodland, MN
www.craftswomen.com