Pattern Wire Solder Join

Jewelry Discussion
1

I recently purchased some lovely pattern wire from Rio to create rings. Using this wire is new to me. It has lots of small detail which I love but I’m having a problem with getting the join flush.

Here’s a bit of my process: I saw the join on a diagonal and line up the 1mm cable pattern on top and bottom of the wire (there are tiny vertical bars) . The wire is bent so that it is flat when I saw the join (not rounded as in a ring shank) . My thinking is that this is the best way to keep the join flush at both ends. When I refine the join I keep the wire parallel as well.
The pattern is irregular at the join and it’s very challenging to get both sides to fit. I have no problem with getting an excellent join on round wire. Just can’t get a good flush fit solder join with this product.

When I form and solder the ring, there is a slight bit of the pattern that’s off making the join is too apparent. Should I try to use gravers to clean this up? (I don’t have great graver skills.) Or is re-sawing the soldered join and resoldering it the best way to go?

My aim is to get a better sawed join to begin with and avoid the mismatch solder join with this new product I’m working with. Wish I could add an image here.
Thanks,
Joanne

2

Hi,
You can add images to your posts, by tapping on the upload icon on the bottom right…see below pic

Julie

image
image1269×1544 102 KB

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3

Thanks Julie!

4

Make the best joint you can with the ring size just a bit on the small side, then stretch the ring to size.

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5

Thanks rmeixner. I defaulted to cutting a vertical join. Sawing a diagonal on thick patterned flat wire is beyond my skill.
Things went very well when I did this. I was able to match the pattern exactly and correct the slight difference of angle on the inside band. I protected the pattern with white out so no solder flowed into the it.
Stretching the soldered ring shank is the way to go.

Thanks so much for your suggestions.

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Glad it worked. I have made hundreds of twisted rings, earrings and bangles and it has always worked for me.

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