Subject: Attach hard metal pins to 22 ct golden earring

From: C++ Freak <[email-masked]>
Date: 29 Jul 1996 07:28:55 GMT

I made golden earrings of .25 mm thick sheet of 22 ct gold
(gold with 4 % Ag and 4 % of Cu) and 0.8 mm thick wires of the same
alloy soldered to it. After many times of use (a year) the pins
(wires) broke (not at the solder joint), probably due to metal
fatigue. Is there a *hard* alloy without nickel which can easily
be soldered to the gold ? It does not need to be gold.
Using Ag Cu 28 is an option, but it's melting point is too low and thus hard
to solder.
I use 22 ct gold because of the 'real gold' color because 18 and particularly
14 ct gold look like the paler brass.

Klaas

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From: Abrasha <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 18:00:40 -0700

> 14 ct gold look like the paler brass.

Beste Klaas,

Jazeker, ik ben een landgenoot (Just saying something to Klaas in Dutch)

Use 900 Au and 100 Cu for (coin gold) for your 22K alloy.  Actually it will be a little 
under 22K.  This is a red gold alloy which is fairly hard and durable.  You can bring up 
the 24K gold color very nicely, by the depletion gilding process.  After you have done 
that, you can work harden the ear wire, before you bend it into tthe desired shape.

You can also use the following 18K gold alloy that will depletion gild to a nice fine 
gold color.  The recipe is:  

75% Au.  The remaining metals are Copper and Silver in the proportion 5:1.  This is a 
harder alloy than the above mentioned one and red in color also.

Both these alloys are exellent "welding" alloys, so you do not need to use any solder at 
all.  the bond will be extremely strong, and if you work harden the piece properly in 
the right place, it should last a long time.

Veel geluk, veel plezier, en tot de volgende keer.

Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

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From: [email-masked] (John Burgess)
Date: 1 Aug 1996 04:54:22 GMT

On 29 Jul 1996 07:28:55 GMT, C++ Freak <[email-masked]> wrote:

>Firstly you can buy gold of any carat value you need, and any 
colour  (within reason) but the colours should really be called hues o
r tints.  For instance, green gold isn't really green, but does have  
a greenish hue and the same can be said for red gold which has a sort 
of rosy tint.   Gold or silver can only be hardened by working, and so
ftened by heat.  To harden gold or silver wires (carat or sterling)  
hold one end of the wire in a vice and twist the wire from the other 
end  with a pair of pliers - you'll have to guess when to stop, 
although you can try the hardness by attempting to gently bend the 
wire.  You can easily sharpen one end to a point with a fine file or 
abrasive paper and  gold-solder  the other end to your work.   There 
are plenty of good books on jewellery - try your library and if they 
haven't got any ask them to get you some on interloan. That's how 
many excellent amateur jewellers learnt.  best of luck end every good 
wish
John Burgess.