Hi Peeps,
Another Hopi mystery for you 
The owner has completely broken the Hopi overlay cuff from bending it in around the wrist. There is lead solder from a previous repair…yikes.
Normally, I would file clean both ends to make a neat join but don’t want it any smaller! Then they want it soldered and then reshaped to a kidney shape and not a round shape. There is also a central silver inlay piece that needs to be soldered too
My mind boggles. To be or not to be, that is the question?
Thank you in advance 
Wishing you all a lovely day ahead. 
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Yikes is right. Lead on silver leads to powdered lead and silver. The whole part that’s broken has to be taken apart, cleaned up to remove all traces of lead. Are you sure that you are willing or able to tackle this awful problem?.. If the customer insists despite warning, they should be prepared for it being unfixable or having a worse result that as is, Pure tin solder can be removed with dry ice- tin will become brittle at low temperatures (-40F) and crumble away.
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Hi,
i don’t know where the old leaf solder is…
although the customer doesn’t want the cuff any smaller, it looks like the back opening is rather narrow…perhaps there is leeway to take a little off (ie: the whole lead solder area…is it like a 1/2” span?…
you could measure the customers wrist, and make a copper strip sample for fit, to show them the new shape, and test the new opening size, by showing them how to properly put the cuff on and take it off without bending it (at the soft spot just above the wrist bone), and this would give you the length measurement, and let you know how much leeway you have in removing the whole lead area…
(perhaps someone has suggestions on measurements)
if the cuff becomes too short in length, you could add metal to each end…or…something cohesive in the center…ie: recreate the pattern…
just my random thoughts
julie
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Cut back until you are clear of the lead solder then solder the two pieces together. You might include some backing. Add solid blocks to the ends to get back to the original length then finish and shape. I have made thousands of bracelets. When one comes back broken in that location, it is almost always because it is too big. You might address this possibility before you add material to the ends. Good luck…Rob
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If this were wood I know just how I’d fix it.
Does the center strip go all the way to the ends of the cuff? Can you remove the strip and replace all or part of it to create a stronger joint? Then add a new back to reinforce a center part? I hate these repairs as much as I enjoy the thought process it requires to come up with a solution. You don’t want to lose hallmarks but frequently they are at least in some cases partially the cause of the stress break. My stamping is always near one end of the cuff inside. And then the budget for a repair is a concern.
More photos as you progress please.
Don
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Thank you all.
You have come up with good points I hadn’t considered.
Best Jeanette
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My advice is to just say no. This project will take endless hours to do. It would be a nightmare. You really don’t need that. At this point the bracelet is so severely compromised and contaminated that it is best to tell the truth to the client that it is irreparable. You could offer to weigh the bracelet and give them metals credit and then make the client a duplicate of the bracelet . But that said I would make it a full bangle with a hinge and clasp. It has been my experience that open ended cuff bracelets all eventually break from all of the years of flexing them to get them off and on.
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to say “no”.
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I would probably take this on because it would be a challenge. But with caveats. It would have to be thoroughly understood that it may be an impossible repair. It might not look quite the same. And a budget would have to be determined and understood.
In the end I have to agree with Jo. Making a replica and returning the original might be the smartest thing to do.
Between Hans, Rob, and Don Meixner there are a lot of Sterling cuffs in the world. Several thousand is my guess. Dad came up with the sizing method we three use because repairing broken cuffs was a pain.
Post some photos of whatever you decide.
Don.
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anything made by man can be fixed by man.. the question should be if it’s worth it. With lead, everything lead must completely cut away. The rest has to be reconstructed. I don’t think it’s worth the time and effort either.
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see my response to jhaemer52… anything can be fixed, but is it worth it?.. this is the same problem with the bimetallic 14K gold and silver ring with cuts out that have to stretched 9 sizes… most clients don’t know that what to them seems to be a simple repair really doesn’t work as a simple repair. The whole piece has to be recreated..
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lots of luck and even a lot more work…
Hi Don
Great idea! Yes the centre piece goes all the way round. I could try that.
Thanks for your sound advice.
Best
Jeanette
Yes, It’s quite amazing how they just look at you like “oh thats just simple, just solder it…no probs” Not too make fun, but it does astound me and then one needs to explain why.
I am learning to say no or to say yes with large caveats as Don said.
I ended up saying just that, that it’s irreparable, however, if they want me to have a go, they know it may not work at all and be expensive.
I’m waiting for a reply 
I can’t thank you all enough for your good advice and wonderful ideas.
I love this supportive community!
I will send pics if I have a go at their risk and expense.
Best Jeanette
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