How to Solder a Gold Bezel to a Silver Back Sheet

[@ScottRedstone]

My usual impatience grew as I fast forwarded to the point of actual soldering. Then I realized using the metal tripod with wire mesh was a wonderful idea. I've had challenges heating up the larger mass of metal when soldering a prong to a setting. With the stand and mesh I can zap the larger mass from below and expect the solder to take without melting the prong. Very glad my impatience was kept at bay long enough for me to learn a great technique. Time for me to go back to the beginning and Watch and listen to see what else I may have overlooked.

[@JewelryArts]

I am glad you found it helpful! Heating from underneath is a great technique for soldering small parts to larger objects safely.

[@bettybho2168]

There's so many valuable snippets of information here, I like the explaination about heating up your metal quickly when soldering.

[@JewelryArts]

I am so glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@andreameigs1261]

This woman is a good teacher with a good eye and good planning skills. If you can learn from her, please do so. My teacher was a real stickler for tiny details which rubbed off on me, and once you have 'the eye,' you will be more frustrated, but your work will also be MUCH better.

[@JewelryArts]

Thank you so very much! 😃

[@emilymadland500]

Fantastic video! I love your patience, humor, and straight talk. I'm going to try and find a video on fusing the 22 kt bezel...I'm new to working with gold, but so excited. Thanks!

[@JewelryArts]

Hi Emily! So glad you enjoyed it! I have tons of gold fusing videos. enjoy! :)

[@silversmithclasses]

You have a lot of patience, answering the same question over and over...great video thank you 😊

[@JewelryArts]

Jewelry making teaches you patience! :)

[@silversmithclasses]

It sure does!

[@JewelryArts]

@@silversmithclasses LOL, no doubt about that! :)

[@wendyshaw6985]

Great up close shots!! Very, extremely and wonderful explanation of how to solder gold to silver. Thank you, thank you for taking the time to do this.

[@JewelryArts]

You are so very welcome! :)

[@valwhitney6661]

You never cease to amaze me!

[@JewelryArts]

Lol, thank you very much! :)

[@cpayne1757]

Good stuff - LOVE your purple tweezers!

[@JewelryArts]

I am so glad to hear that! :)

[@georgie859]

Can you use the same polishing compounds on gold as you do silver? Can I still put it in my steel shot/barrel bright tumbler?

[@JewelryArts]

yes, you can use the same polishing compounds and tumble them the same. :)

[@georgie859]

@@JewelryArts thank you so much. Can I also ask if you have any tips for a beginner working with gold? I am so nervous that I don’t even know whether to attempt it…I wish I was in the states so I could come and see you!

[@JewelryArts]

@@georgie859 It depends what carat you are using but high karat gold like 22 or 20k works very much like silver. If you ever visit NYC, please come for a visit. :)

[@andreameigs1261]

What kind of shears/cutters do you use to cut bezel strip? I use 30g fine silver usually. My flush cutters crush the ends which I then have to file, so I usually saw and file. Also, after pickling an 18k yellow and sterling piece, the gold turned green. Even after a fair amount of sanding, it never really went back to bright yellow. I thought the pickle, which had been used for silver for a long time, had just deposited silver on the surface and would be easily removed (and wasn't so), but I recently read that it was more likely from insufficient fluxing of the gold. I may have used the pot for a bit of argentium, and I don't know if that is significant or if it would have an effect.

[@JewelryArts]

I use Joyce Chen cutting shears, they are available on my tools site. They cut beautifully so you won’t need to file after you cut. I usually use 26 gauge fine silver for my bezels but if you are getting a good result with the thinner, why not? 😃 I have never seen silver or argentium plate onto gold in the pickle, I have seen argentium climb over the gold a bit when fusing the two together. Usually though, any effect like that can be sanded off. Using a fire coat before heating will maintain your color better in the future.

[@dianemater8554]

What is the “magic” stuff that you put between a silver back sheet and your stone in a bezel setting? Is it fine silver? What gauge? Thanks so much

[@JewelryArts]

I usually use 30 gauge fine silver. :)

[@erincuff566]

Thank you for posting this!! So helpful. I often solder 22k bezels to cast sterling silver rings with flat tops and have trouble with the solder flowing more than when I have soldered 22k to sheet metal vs the cast piece. Does that seem like a normal issue to have? I think one of my issues is being able to heat properly, but wondering if you have any other suggestions. so happy to have found your school and videos!

[@JewelryArts]

Hi Erin! So glad you are enjoying. :) Do you mean the solder flows where you don't want it on cast backsheets?

[@erincuff566]

@@JewelryArts Not exactly, it just gets "stuck" and doesnt flow the whole way under the bezel, I often end up having to pickle heat again while trying to tease the solder around open spots under the bezel. I use home made flux with denatured and boric. I did do one last night and used a larger torch tip to make it hotter and it actually worked much better! Not going hot and fast enough may have been my issue!

[@erincuff566]

Also, Ive never heard of your school until now, I look forward to someday traveling to take a class.

[@JewelryArts]

@@erincuff566 Hot and fast is the only way but alcohol and boric acid is a barrier flux, not a soldering flux get some paste flux and your experience will be completely different. :)

[@JewelryArts]

@@erincuff566 You are very welcome anytime. :)

[@wendyshaw6985]

I am not finding a video on fusing a 22K ring. Is it out there and I am just not seeing it. Thank you.

[@JewelryArts]

I fuse 22k bezels and links for chain but I rarely make ring shanks out of 22k because they deform so easily.

[@andreameigs1261]

Is that torch propane and atmospheric oxygen? What is this torch?

[@JewelryArts]

Hi Andrea! It is acetylene and atmospheric oxygen, with a Smith torch tip setup. :)

[@dianemater8554]

Nice!

[@JewelryArts]

So glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@anchoranchor3495]

Those pupils are not very smart, asked not smart questions, and distracted the teacher all the time instead of catching up all her moves and explanations. My respect to the great Teacher who didn’t send them you know where 😂😂😂

[@JewelryArts]

Lol, evereyone learns in their own way! :)

[@marilynsouthern1612]

I think these are students who are in their first or second class. You gotta remember … “no such thing as a dumb question”.😊

[@dalenkindred1139]

I liked this, but it could be abbreviated.

[@JewelryArts]

I could say the same about your comment. :)