I do quite a bit of enameling, but mostly create pieces I set in
bezels so I don’t solder as often as I should. However, I’m creating
a series of brooches and am soldering the findings directly onto the
metal before enameling. Here’s my problem: I’m using IT solder and
having a heck of a time trying to get it to flow. The brooches are
copper and the findings are sterling silver. I’m using a mixture of
50/50 black flux and Handy flux for the surface. The piece is
throughly clean when I start. I let the flux air dry before soldering
which has produced better results. What’s happening is that the
solder is staying in pallion form and not flowing onto the surface.
If I keep the heat on the piece, it eventually gets too hot, begins
to oxidize and gets dirty. Pickeling and starting over aren’t making
this better!
I’m choosing IT solder so I can fire my piece more times without
worrying about the soldering breaking down. I’ve done this before
with success so I don’t know what I might be doing wrong this time.
Could my solder mix be too old? What do you seasoned enamelers use
for solder? I’m about to drop-kick this IT to the curb and go back
to Eutectic!
Tammy Kirks
Red Bee Designs