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Kate Richbourg creates intricate patterns by soldering dots.

Watch the video for this project at YouTube: http://youtu.be/dXNPy9MRSl8

For More Information Visit:


www.beadingdaily.com


These little embellishments add a nice flair to your designs. Since these are smaller pieces, they are easily melted, so be aware of overheating! Also be careful where you are applying your solder. I used paste solder for these elements. Since they are small and may tend to roll, I find the paste solder helps them stick into place while heating. You will only need a tiny bit.

Tools
You will need:

  • Wire flush cutter
  • Chain nose pliers
  • Bench Block
  • Chasing Hammer
  • Screw down hole punch
  • Permanent marker
  • Solder setup
  • Brass head hammer

Materials

  • One piece of 24 g copper sheet
  • A small piece of sterling in any shape, 20 or 22 gauge thick to punch dots out of.
  • Easy paste solder

Make and solder Dots
Use the screw down hole punch to punch out 3-5 dots from your 20-22 gauge sterling blank.

  • Make a mark with your marker to position where the hole will go.
  • Align the metal in the slot of the tool and screw the handle until the punch pierces through.
  • Do not pull the piece of metal off of the tool as this could break the piercing bit. Release it by turning the handle in the opposite direction until the piece of metal falls off of the bit.

Place a tiny amount of medium paste solder on the back of each dot with your solder pick and place in the upper right hand corner of the tile in whatever arrangement suits your fancy. Place then solder all dots at the same time. It should not take long for the solder to flow on these tiny pieces. Be vigilant and make sure you don’t overheat your tile and melt the hard solder under the spiral. When the dots settle, remove the torch immediately! Quench, pickle and dry the tile again.

 

Trouble shooting/Points to remember

  • Be aware of using too much solder.  If you do, and it flows out from under your embellishments, you can still file it away.
  • Always solder embellishments from large to small and from hard to easy.
  • Remember to heat the entire tile slowly from a distance. This will keep the flame from pushing small pieces out of alignment.
  • Once the tile is glowing.  Move the torch in quickly to flow the solder and then immediately remove the heat.


For more information about Kate Richbourg visit: katerichbourg.blogspot.com 

Kate Richbourg

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