Keum Boo first time with miniature heater. Successful 9 February 2023

[@jimrika2]

I am so thankful that in every video, you take the time and effort to share your thought process when you create something or solve a problem. Your videos have helped me over the years become a better technician, and hobbyist. Thank you!

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

Hi thanks for the feedback. I love to design and make things. I'm not happy just to accept what people tell me, I like to find out for myself. I take everything apart to see how it works and like you I think there's an awful lot of rubbish spoken and people will say 'you have to do it this way' or 'you have to do that' and 'you must have this special tool to do this job!' That's a red rag to me, as soon as someone says 'you can't do that' I think, maybe you can't do it but I'm going to try and I have a go. We were told that we couldn't design a house because I'm not an architect, but my wife and I designed and live in a house that's people fall in love with. I don't have a degree or even a good education but I have done things that were considered extremely difficult if not imposable. I've never had a design disaster, I've had a few near misses but I have always been able to resolve any problems I've had and I've never hurt anyone along the way. Keep on enjoying life, all the very best to you and your family. Kind Regards . . . Andy

[@ParlanceOpus]

Great stuff Andy - love catching up on what you've been up to. Always learn something. All the best!

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

Thanks for the comment. I like to keep on playing and sharing what I learn along the way. Kind Regards . . . Andy

[@victoryfirst2878]

I just love the video Andy. You have a way with your videos. Keep on making whatever your heart chooses. I will always be interested in seeing them for sure. Peace fella too. vf

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

Thank you for the interest, without feedback I never know if people are interested or not. All the very best . . . Andy

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@AndyDaviesByTheSea You are the man Andy. Interesting videos fella. Peace

[@greggreenwood4628]

Hello Andy, Nice job. You knew it would work! One step closer to your goals. Keep it up. Greg Greenwood

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

Thanks Greg, I guess you could easily take your skills for granted I guess we all could but I'm very grateful to you for sharing. I'm pleased that in my own way I've been able to help folks. Just this morning I've had a comment from a guy on your side of the pond thanking me for my videos and he says that I have helped him become a better engineer and hobbyist. It's nice to think that your videos will, hopefully, be available way, way into the future and will continue to instruct and entertain folks beyond our lifetime. Keep on making the videos and turn me into Mr Faberge. (every made any Faberge eggs??) All the best . . . Andy

[@greggreenwood4628]

@@AndyDaviesByTheSea Hello Andy, Nice comments. Yes, I have made Faberge Eggs. In the 1970's, I was casting the plastic Easter eggs in silver. I worked wax over them and made really fantasy designs. Not exactly Faberge, but it was fun. Take care. Greg Greenwood

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

​@@greggreenwood4628 Hi Greg OK on the eggs. I’ve just uploaded a video showing the latest piece, I let everyone know that I couldn’t have made it without your guidance in the video and in the description. I’d be interested in you opinion. There are some burnishing polishing marks on the back that I have yet to tidy up but I wanted to get the video uploaded too quickly! Greg, I don't think I made myself quite clear about the staining. I find that after polishing I can only see any excess solder when I reheat the piece. But I know that that excess will change colour over time. I have three questions. 1, What I want is something that will preferentially stain or discolour the solder, (any excess solder that has spread out beyond the joint) do you know of anything for that? 2, other than taking a long time to do it’s job, how do you know when pickle is getting to the end of its life? 3, I’m using Easy Flow flux, I’ve had it for 20 or 30 years! Is borax any less sticky than Easy Flow? I find that within a few seconds of taking the torch off the silver the Easy Flow flux glues the job to the block to the point that I need a screwdriver to get it off. I actually reheat it a little to free it up otherwise I’d bend the silver. All the best . . . Andy

[@greggreenwood4628]

@@AndyDaviesByTheSea Hello Andy, 1. The thing that will cover the solder stain is Liver of Sulfur. It will oxidize both the silver and solder. 2. Pickle will start getting darker blue and not work as fast. You can add more sparex or whatever acid you are using to it will come back to life. 3. Most all fluxes will become sticky when heated. You can use this to your advantage when placing the pallions of solder. They will stick where you want them. As for sticking to the soldering block, no problem. It is part of the program! Do what you are doing. Heat the piece a little and it will come right up off of the block. Flux is supposed to be 'sticky'. That is what protects the silver from the air which oxidizes the silver. Have fun and you are doing a good job. Greg Greenwood

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

@@greggreenwood4628 Thanks Greg

[@OverUnity7734]

Pure gold cold welds onto its self. When it folds over on to its self like that you will not be able to separate it. That is why chip companies use pure gold to bond the die to the legs, no heat or electricity needed.

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

Hi Jack. I didn't know that. I used to own an Induction Heating Company, amongst other things, I've designed and manufactured melting equipment for gold silver and platinum etc and I've made 16 Kg gold ingots in South Africa. I've made melting units for companies like Johnson Matthey, Engelhard in England and Africa and even the Perth Mint in Australia. I've made equipment for Spin Casting metals for the dental industry, but no one has ever mentioned how gold will bond to its self. Does it require an elevated temperature? I'm not sure why they say Keum Boo has to be done at around 370 deg C. I'm just following along with everyone else on that but I shall probably test the temperature boundaries. I like to try and understand why things are done the way they are. I only pickled to silver 6 times because that's what, 'they say' should be done but I will look with a microscope and try and understand what works and what doesn't. You'd be amazed at how many companies don't fully understand their production processes. When I was designing equipment for use in mass production, I'd ask questions that the clients hadn't even thought about and couldn’t answer. Believe it or not, and worryingly, even in the aviation industry. Jack, please tell me what you know about bonding gold. I've made one equipment for fusion bonding steels but that involved high vacuum and stringent cleanroom conditions, not something you can do at home very easily. Thanks for your comment, I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards . . .Andy