Using Argentium solder

Jewelry Discussion
1

I am interested in experimenting with Argentium, as it has gotten a
lot of positive press lately. I presume I will have to use Argentium
solder too because of the lower melting temp and because we don’t
want our solder joints to tarnish? Is that right?

Thanks for your advice!
Mary Barker

2

Mary

I did on mine, it was recommended by the supplier, and I ALWAYS
follow the recommendations the first time around.

Good luck
Terry

3

Hi Mary,

I am interested in experimenting with Argentium, as it has gotten
a lot of positive press lately. I presume I will have to use
Argentium solder too because of the lower melting temp and because
we don't want our solder joints to tarnish? Is that right?

You do not need to use Argentium solder, though you may like the
color match and tarnish resistance better. You can use regular silver
solder, but avoid using regular hard, because of the lower melting
temperature of Argentium Sterling. Think of regular medium as your
hard for Argentium Sterling, regular easy as medium, etc.

Cynthia Eid

4

Hello Mary,

I am interested in experimenting with Argentium, as it has gotten a
lot of positive press lately. I presume I will have to use
Argentium solder too because of the lower melting temp and because
we don't want our solder joints to tarnish? Is that right?

I’ve been experimenting with Argentium since May of 2005. I love it!
Remember that Argentium Sterling is quite a bit different than
regular Sterling Silver. Don’t let the differences discourage you.
For myself, things got easier when I stopped treating it like
Sterling and started treating like an alloy that I had never used
before. Although Argentium Sterling Silver is highly tarnish
resistant, I like it because there is no firescale and it’s so
malleable after annealing. Another plus is that precipitation
hardening is very easy (it gets quite hard).

I prefer using the Argentium Solder because of the lower soldering
temperatures.

Special thanks to Cynthia Eid for getting me interested in Argentium
Sterling.

Marty Andersen