How to Fuse Gold - Knowing this technique will change everything! No solder needed!

[@sharonjones6514]

I'm so impressed with the detail that you put into this video. I realize it takes a long time to put videos together. I also appreciate your detailed comments, educational. Very impressed with the burnisher haha. I've also priced steel burnishers like that and they were ridiculous I agree. Must try to make one.. I've been doing silversmithing for quite a while, & I'm getting into doing a little bit of gold work. This was extremely helpful, appreciate all the detail. Will join your blog. Thanks again blessings.

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Sharon Jones Hey Sharon, thank you so much. I really appreciate it and thanks for subscribing. 😀

[@jaxxwade2873]

i know I'm kinda randomly asking but does anybody know of a good website to stream new tv shows online?

[@terrancedaxton3781]

@Jaxx Wade meh I would suggest Flixportal. Just search on google for it =) -terrance

[@jaxxwade2873]

@Terrance Daxton thanks, I went there and it seems like a nice service :) I appreciate it!

[@terrancedaxton3781]

@Jaxx Wade no problem :)

[@elizabethtailor111]

I am at what I would call artisan level, self taught, and pretty proficient up to making settings for faceted stones, never completely happy with anything I do, which just goes to how picky I am. Tend to be adventurous with my designs. I've only ever worked in silver, copper, and red brass, and I am SO HAPPY! to find instruction in working in gold. Not that I have a lot of it, but I might try to acquire a bit more with fine folks like you generous enough to show me how! In this short video I have already learned so much, so you have my heartfelt thanks. BTW, you are an awesome teacher!

[@Stephanie-wg4wn]

So interesting. I have a ring where a gem has come out. I was looking to put a ball on to hold it in again. Anyway you came up on my list and I had to watch! Thankyou for your detailed video.

[@deborahduthie4519]

I agree. Non-selfish of you to share your secrets of the craft. Thank-you

[@Neverenuftime]

Great segment on fusing. Thank you so much!

[@flyingcheff]

*OMG!! Michael, I am jumping up and down for joy! YOU of all the people I have queried have taken on this subject. I haven't even watched it to the end yet, and I am ever so grateful. Your teaching is very VERY good, I thank you a million times! I am sure many will be happy to find this. Perhaps, a video on fusing gold bezels on sterling silver backplates next? Oh joy! *Isopropyl alcohol (for firescale protection)? I was always told to use denatured alcohol; perhaps there is no relevant difference? Thanks -Sooo loving this video! *ok, Whoa! Hold those horses! At 13:33 you introduce a "nut" to use as a burnisher. (!!!) Please, (pretty please) expound. It looks more like a square washer, it's MUCH thinner than a "nut". Do you have dimensions? I ask because that is a tool that looks like it is an amazing helpmeet (old English: helpmate). It actually looks like you took a nut/washer and shaped it with a grinder and then..... if so, I'd LOVE to know how/why/criteria for size... THAT is an amazing burnishing tool. And certainly not readily available to buy. Details are key! And as always, thank you so much, Michael..(sorry to whomp you with comments/questions....).

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Hey Gabby, I am glad you liked this video. All right, Fusing should be used for attaching parts that are part of the main body of your structure. Bezels and other smaller parts that may hold stones or serve as a working part, such as a springs and prongs should be soldered. When we uses fusing it does change the structural make up of the metal. The molecules grow and may cause the metal to become annealed or brittle. Which is fine for the larger structor of a piece but not great if it is a bezel that holds a stone. Isopropyl alcohol (for firescale protection). I uses isopropyl alcohol and boric acid powder instead of denatured alcohol because I found out that when denatured alcohol is burned the chemical make up is very difficult for your body to process. Thus you are slowly poisoning yourself over time. 90% Isopropyl alcohol burns just as well in my opinion and it is much safer. I am not a doctor or a chemist but I play one on KZbin, however, a good friend of mine is. So I am rolling with the isopropyl alcohol. I prefer to be safe then sorry. Always use ventilation when soldering or fusing. Okay, I am done on this subject. :) The burnishing tool? It’s a good one! Your right I thought there would be a source for this but I am not seeing them out there. The one I found is so over priced I cant in good conscience recommend it. I may have to make some a put them on my website for people to order. Give me a little time to check on a few other sources. I basically took a steel nut and made a fitting for the inside of it and then put it on a small mandrel. Anyway I will get back to you on that one. Be sure to join the blog on my website if you haven't already. I will put a post as soon as I get a reasonably price supplier. As always thanks for the comments. Keep on rocking with your jewelry. All the best, Michael

[@SashasRevenge]

Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us. It’s a very unselfish thing to do. You rock.

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Thank you 😊 that's very kind of you to say.

[@alicerosa6766]

Very good video where your explanation are precise. I learned something new and just subscribed to your channel. Thank you for sharing 😊👍.

[@rmacfarland]

Very cool instruction video. Is is possible my little Orca torch would be hot enough to fuse a broken 24k clasp?

[@glodenscrollsawstuff8351]

Very good, your presentation and teaching abilities are outstanding!

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Thanks so much!

[@SashasRevenge]

Gloden ScrollSaw Stuff I agree, and he’s so down to earth and very comfortable in what he does. I’m subscribing.

[@amberhohman829]

That was awesome thanks! Love the nut burnisher too!

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Glad you liked it!

[@mitsospapas3306]

Excellent video very helpful dear sir. Iam an apprentice and i cant understand why you use boric acid with isopropyl alcohol ??? Thanks a lot keep up the good work

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

mitsos papas Thanks for the comment😀 Here is a link to the boric acid explanation. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXPQpZ-do5WqgZY The boric acid is a way to prevent fire scale. All the best, Michael

[@babagyoza]

Thank you for this video! Would this work for fusing 2 pieces of 18k wire (same wire), to tey to make a thicker gauge wire?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

It should work. You might just have a little clean up at the weld spot.

[@chriscapaldi2136]

Can this process be done of the inside of a ring

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Hello Chris, yes it can. I would heat up the ring first and then change the size of your torch tip to a smaller tip. You will have to work fast so that the ring doesn’t cool down. Just have everything set up ahead of time.

[@chriscapaldi2136]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY thank you that's set my mind at ease

[@kaylanwood2286]

How do you solder mounted jewels to a pendant im learning how to solder.

[@sourdoughdelight6289]

That's awesome! Well done! I found your video as I'm searching on techniques to repair a cast iron teapot that has a pin hole leak and fill it with gold. Seems like your technique would work well. Your thoughts?

[@d3vr4ndom]

Could you tell me how to fuse chain links together? I see a lot of people use tiny flakes of gold to fuse the gold chain but for me the chain always melts and deforms before the flake fuses the links. Thanks

[@yoelcarrera6586]

Make sure is clean and also make sure you use Flux.

[@yoelcarrera6586]

Also u need patience, u will melt many things before u get it right, specially when u don't have someone looking over your shoulder helping. It takes a good eye and reflexes to pull the flame out just at the perfect time when solders melts. A lot of it you will learn with experience..like this guys video, he got the job done, but I can tell that he can learn a few things to make he's craft better and get things done way easier.. I have been doing this for over 40 years. I don't want to put anybody down, I'm still learning new ways to make things easier and better my self .

[@tagg976]

A quality video that will help immensely, thank you!

[@AmericanThunder]

Nice video, thanks for upload! p.s. if you ever get sick of the torch sparkers and changing the flints, an old BBQ snap lighter works great, since they have the piezoelectric system in them, they don't really wear out.

[@Robert421ify]

Thank you for sharing I enjoy the tutorials!

[@LOOOVEIT]

Great videos! Would you be willing to show how to size a ring shank fusing gold instead of using solder? Thanks so much for all the info!

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

loveit Thanks so much for your kind words. I will see what I can do to demonstrate that. All the best, Michael

[@NathanHarrison7]

Great video. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Thanks for the sub!

[@caveatemptor313]

How can you hold what would have to be a sting hot piece of gold?

[@jessicaadorn]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Thank you

[@ilovemav3486]

i can use this to connect gold chains/bracelets? without the mess of soldering?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

I would still recommend using solder on chains.

[@ccforspecialneedskids4437]

Hi Micheal: Just subscribed to your videos after my second video of yours. I can tell you've been doing this for awhile! I am looking to solder or fuse?? 14-karat white gold setting 7.5 x 3.5mm marquise-cut 6-prong setting w/peg, to a 14-karat white gold ring shank set w/ 18 1-pt. round diamonds in prong mountings. The shank accepts the peg-style setting. afterwards I will set a 7x3.5mm sapphire. Do you have any video or suggestions that can help me with this project? CC

[@wendyshaw6985]

Would an air acetylene torch get hot enough for the gold to fuse?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

O’ yes it would

[@nickray6491]

Is a semi solid chain more durable than a hollow chain?

[@kimberlya.delmer451]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@fallenslave6684]

where can I buy ALL your tools? please can you write down the names and if you want write down the links where can I buy them?

[@marktobin745]

HiI was engraving a ring and the area got damaged beyond being corrected by engraving.I have cut a small circular disc out of the ring now and I have an circular area about 5mm x 1mm to fill in.Can I use this technique to melt gold into the hollow and fuse it without melting the ring itself ?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Hey Mark, Yes it can be done but you will have to be really carful. I have done this on rings before. Mostly for electricians how had got zapped and melted their rings. If you can cut a piece of charcoal block and insert it into the middle of the ring to keep the ring from collapsing when you heat it. Hope this helps.

[@marktobin745]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY thank you. I was considering pouring a little amount of molten gold into the cavity first to create a piece that fits the shape exactly. Then fusing that. Is that likely to work do you think ?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

@@marktobin745 That might be a little risky. Try melting a piece that is close to the size of the hole and then add more gold if needed.

[@richardvanelli4337]

Nice presentation. I would be concerned with the fit into the void on the first fuse you did. Is it important that before fusing- that you have a close fit without any air cavities? What happens if you trap gas within the piece? Any negative consequences ?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Hello Richard, The fusing that I did I used a ball bur to get a semi close fit. If you are just starting out with this process I would recommend adding three smaller pieces to slowly fill the hole until it looks solid. The short answer is always have a pretty close fit. There are exceptions to the rule. When I work in platinum I leave a larger gap and allow the melting metal fill the gap. I seems to work better that way with platinum. Gasses will normally find there way out and leave you with another smaller hole. That is most likely what happen with my piece. If it happens re-drill the cavity and add another smaller piece of metal to fill it. If you are working with a largely hollow object and you are applying heat make sure that you drill a small hole somewhere for the pressure to escape. I have seen charms explode while being repaired. But if you are doing something pretty straight forward such as filling a pit you should be fine. My pendant had a very large hole. I hope to avoid this cast problem in the future. :) I hope this helps. All the best, Michael

[@richardvanelli4337]

Thanks for giving excellent information.

[@kitschnsink]

Great video. Is your fire coat just regular isopropyl alcohol that you can find in any drugstore?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Yes, find the 90% alcohol. It burns off better than the 70%. Be sure to mix it with boric acid powder. You can use a 50/50 mix or something like 33% boric and 66% alcohol. Both should work. All the best, Michael

[@kitschnsink]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY Thank you. I hope you will continue to do your jewelry videos. You're a natural teacher.

[@debrajoypeisner833]

What about fusing gold to sterling silver. I know that color washing the sterling to fine silver is first. Then you should be able to fuse the two metals with out solder.

[@kathrynhaisch1013]

I am so happy to have found your channel! New sub for sure. Its funny because i was actually wondering if i could do that with a ring that had pitted. I wasnt even looking it up and you came up in my recommendations. I fuse silver for ganulation and fuse rings and jumprings all the time and have fused a ball of gold to a ring before. But never tried to use the method for ffilling in pits or holes per seThank you so much for sharing this. Perhaps you could help me with another problem i have. Long story short, some gold was accidentally spilt onto some sheet metal and basically fused to it as it looks just like a splat of gold and there is no way to "scrape" it off or aanything lol. Anyways, what could i do in this situation? Its a bit over a gram of gold and i dont want to just throw it out of course. But do i just leave it and hope to find something i can use it for? I dont have any means to chemically separate it really. But i dont think melting it down would be a very good solution either. Idk. Please help.lol

[@josephirani2261]

What does the fire coat do exactly?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

It creates a glassy film that helps to prevent the alloys in the metal from mixing with oxygen during the heating process. Without the fire coat metal will be stained black and copper. Here is a link to the fire coat video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXPQpZ-do5WqgZY Thanks for the comment.

[@josephirani2261]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY I watched the video. But what is the difference between letting it get dirty and then pickling it and what you are doing with the fire coat? Don't they end up the same? or does this also protect from fire scale?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

@@josephirani2261 The fire coat protects from fire scale. Without it the silver or gold can become permanently stained with fire scale. The pickle can only remove a portion of fire scale. Another added bonus to using fire coat is that it helps solder flow when you are soldering.

[@josephirani2261]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY Thanks for the info

[@donaldasbury9823]

Why do you hold the flex shaft like it were a hammer????

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

donald asbury Hello Donald, I hold the flex shaft a couple ways depending on the work I am doing. When I cut seats during stone setting I hold it like a pencil. This gives me control when making fine tuned cuts. However, I hold the flex shaft like a hammer to apply leverage and help prevent my burs from skipping across the rest of my project. When I teach classes on this I start everyone out holding it like a pencil. Both are important to use, at least that’s what I think. Someone said to me me once you get good at what you practice, so why not practice both. 😃 Thanks for the comment, that was a good question. All the best, Michael

[@donaldasbury9823]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY Thanks for your reply--I too taught classes back in the 70's but never taught the hammer method---however , as you stated, it may have it's benefits .

[@dawndeluca]

Happy to discover your videos today 😊. I have some old small pieces of gold jewellery and was wondering if I melt them into spheres would I be able to fuse them onto sterling silver as embellishments or would I need to solder? I'm new at this so am appreciative of all the info I receive. Thank you.

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Hello Dawn, Yes you can totally do that. After you melt them into the shape you like, I add a little easy gold solder on on side and then place them on the piece you're working on. Slowly heat the silver and gold till the easy solder melts and hopefully they stay in place. Good luck and have fun. All the best, Michael

[@dawndeluca]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY thanks very much 🌹

[@kyststudio-epicartadventure]

You had the advantage with the second hole to make a matching hole on the other side as eyes instead of grinding away more gold. Each piece then is a bit unique.

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

So true 😀. Your hired! I never even thought about that. Lol. All the best, Michael Thanks for the comment 😊👍

[@salabs4222]

And one of my ideas of infusing the gold in the diamond was basically like copper on the quarter you know I got to yeah

[@kc3718]

does the green flame indicate copper in the gold ?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

k c That’s a good question. In this instance it is actually the boric acid powder being heated to its molten glass form. Different minerals will create different color flames as they burn. As a kid they had campfires kits that you could throw on the fire to change the color. Zinc was one of them. Okay, I’m going down a rabbit hole now, so I’ll stop here. 😀

[@salabs4222]

How about making 3 super conducting gold infused superconducting crystal diamond in superconducting material with gyroscopes and horoscopes feeding each other and the horoscopes in a driver Scopes would be inside the diamond just thinking

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

LOL. That sounds amazing. Send me a sketch. :)

[@salabs4222]

How many using the voice thingy and it was messing up but you get what I was trying to say

[@salabs4222]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY cool I will man I got so much stuff going on it's not funny I want to talk to someone not on this but like on the phone or something man

[@salabs4222]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY I got this other thing too Call of Duty Infinity machine you build it once and never dies cuz it's made out of superconducting gold infused crystal diamond with genetically modified jellyfish that feed off the tone skin over with its own dead skin cells and their feeding each other with by the electric Gene because you connected modify them to have the liquor gin in them too and the older they get more powerful they get

[@salabs4222]

But what would be the best liquid to use the gold with the diamond the crystal diamond

[@haydenritchie1609]

Why does your gold blackens?

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

Hello Hayden, Good question, this is called o oxidation and maybe a little firescale. When I heat the metal beyond the temperature that you would need for soldering you may experience some oxidation. Firescale is also a possibility. Firescale is when the metal is heated to a point where the alloy comes to the surface. In this case the alloy was copper. This is where the pickle solution come in to play. It will help to remove any discoloration. A little sanding and polishing is necessary as well. Oxidation can be something that happens if there isn't enough boric acid in the fire coating. For the most part this is a fairly common occurrence. That being said I don't like it when it happens. But it is fixable. Thank you for your question 😊. If you find that you are having it happen during soldering lower your torch temperature and uses more boric acid in your fire coating. All the best, Michael

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

Way Cool 😎👍💯🇺🇲

[@srajeweler1]

If you increase the size of your button, better chance of your castings filling…

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

True that! I should have put a larger vent on it as well. Can’t remember but I might have been low on gold the day I cast. Thanks for the comment 😎

[@BrianLopez-gz8ux]

Bad ass

[@salabs4222]

And do you know much about genetics an ion thrusters an electromagnetic generators

[@randymurray934]

This is pretty good info.. that being said.. you used a drill 2 sizes to big and the gold was 2x to large.. Good concept.. but your approach needed work, I assume you have learned allot more since this video.

[@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY]

LOL! Mom? Is that you?

[@randymurray934]

@@GotchaRocksJewelryDIY LOL YES DEAR

[@salabs4222]

And excuse my language on here I'm not trying to cuss or nothing but I'm using the voice thingy and I'm not taking the time to go back and proofread it

[@scarcieiani5763]

Robert Downey Jr much... 🤣🤣