- To get started, mix your water and soap until it bubbles, then adds in the jewelry, then allow the jewelry to soak for...
- If, however, the chain is heavily tarnished, you may have to try a more aggressive approach like using the silver dip to...
- Next, take out, then rinse it with cold running water, then pat-dry the chain on a clean, lint-free towel or microfiber...
How do you repair a broken chain with silver solder?
Rejoin two portions of a broken chain with silver solder if it is too fine to repair using a jump ring. This process can be done on a standard wood or metal work bench. But first, soak the two portions of broken chain for five minutes in pickle -- an acidic solution used to clean metal before and after it is soldered. Step 2
How do you fix a broken chain link necklace?
If there’s an open chain link remaining, simply loop it through the link at the other end of the necklace. Once securely in place, take your snipe nose pliers and close the chain link in the same way you would close a jump ring. Use a twisting motion to bring the two ends together. That way you don’t lose the overall form of the chain link.
What kind of chains can you fix a broken chain?
This can only be done with chains such as cable chain or curb chain where the chain itself is made up of interlocking links. Other more complex patterns such as rope chain or ball chain may need more intricate work. Identify the problem. Where has the chain broken?
Are there different types of jewellery chain repairs?
There are many different types of chain out there, and some are much easier to fix than others. Learning the basic principles of a necklace chain repair will help you progress to some more complex jewellery chain repair techniques such as soldering fine jewellery chain links together.
Can silver necklaces get fixed?
Use a hard silver solder. You want to make sure you purchase a hard solder and not a soft solder. A soft solder will not work with silver jewelry, and may actually damage it further. You can purchase hard silver solder online, or from a local hardware store. You can choose to buy solder wire, or sheets.
How much does it cost to fix a broken silver chain?
Soldering a Broken Chain: $30-$230 If the chain on your favorite necklace breaks, you can fix it by getting it soldered back together. This will cost you anywhere from $30 to $230 depending on the type of metal and the area of the chain that needs to be soldered.
What do you do with a broken silver chain?
Most jewelry stores will purchase broken gold jewelry for recycling and pay you the value per gram. As for silver chains or bracelets, you can easily buy a new silver clasp at any of the major craft stores (Michaels/A.C. Moore/Joann Fabrics) and repair it yourself.
How do you fix a broken necklace chain?
1:2812:38How to Fix Broken Chain Necklaces jpg - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTaking it past the point where you think it's close tight and it'll kind of spring back in placeMoreTaking it past the point where you think it's close tight and it'll kind of spring back in place that addition of a jump ring then will allow you to either add your new clasp.
Can a jeweler fix a broken chain?
Chains are usually pretty easy to fix, if they're within a standard thickness around 1.4mm. Depending on the type of chain, the jeweler can cut a link open at one of the two broken ends, thread it through another link, and fuse the gap shut with solder, an easily melted metal alloy that functions like a glue.
How do you solder a sterling silver chain?
4:025:12How To Solder Ends to Sterling Silver Chain - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd first it smokes and then it flames then you can see the different colors that it turns is itMoreAnd first it smokes and then it flames then you can see the different colors that it turns is it becomes hotter and hotter and then at the very moment that the solder flows.
How do you glue silver together?
The best glue is a rapid two part epoxy, such as Devcon 5minute epoxy, which they have at Cooksons. It needs to be mixed well to set reliably and I would mix with a plastic coffee stirrer on a square of that stiff clear packaging that some things are sold in.
Can sterling silver be repaired?
Most jewelry stores will not even touch silver jewelry. If a repair on sterling silver jewelry can be done, I can do it, however, difficulties with repairing sterling jewelry include a risk to the stones, heat transfer when soldering silver, and Rhodium plating.
Do silver chains break easily?
Silver is a malleable metal that can stretch or break if the pendant weighs too much. Steel, on the other hand, is quite strong so a smaller link steel chain can handle a large or heavy pendant.
Can you fix a snapped chain?
To fix a broken or bent chain, you will need to remove it from your bike AND remove the broken or bent links. To do that, you will need a chain breaker tool. In the video, we used the Park Tool Master Chain Tool, which is the best tool for the job.
Can a broken chain be fixed?
Yes, it can be repaired. However, a golden rope chain belongs to the types of chains that aren't as straightforward in repairing. It's hard to maintain its original integrity because of the way it is constructed once it is broken. Gold rope chains are made with delicate, tiny interlocking rings of gold.
How do you solder jewelry chains?
How to solder chain links step by stepSetup is vital. ... Use a thin black marker to mark chain link joins. ... Make sure all joins are flush. ... Take your soldering probe. ... Apply solder. ... Place the solder onto the chain link. ... Heat again. ... Repeat as needed.
What to do if your silver has scratches?
If the scratch is still there, repeat the process. If the scratch doesn’t go away after a few tries, it may need to be taken to a jeweler for repair. Don’t use toothpaste that is for tartar control or has a whitening agent. These ingredients are too abrasive and may actually end up damaging the silver.
What to do after soldering a silver piece?
After soldering, you will want to rinse the newly repaired or joined piece in water, then pickle it to clean it if the flux you used wasn’t self-pickling.
What to use to solder jewelry?
Soft solder can be soldered with a soldering iron, which is electric. Hard solder must be soldered with a torch, with is powered by gas. Butane torches are useful for standard jewelry repair jobs like fixing jump rings and reattaching small chains. Always handle soldering torches carefully.
How to resize silver jewelry?
Resizing silver jewelry is much more difficult and time consuming than resizing gold. When melting down the silver to resize it, it gets very dirty through oxidization.
How to solder two pieces together?
If you are soldering two pieces together, for example, place the solder wire against the spot you need to solder. Adjust the torch to its highest temperature setting, and heat the wire until it melts. Once it melts , it will join with the silver piece you’re repairing or bonding with another piece.
How to get tarnish off of jewelry?
Or, try using a paste made from baking soda and water. Apply a small dollop (about the size of a pea) to your jewelry and use it to buff away tarnish . Always rinse your jewelry after using any kind of polish, homemade or otherwise. Rinse it briefly, then dry it with a clean cloth.
What is the safest way to resize a silver ring?
Laser welding is the safest way to resize and work on silver, as it won’t harm the metal the way traditional torch welding will. Laser welding will allow a jeweler to resize a silver ring with a stone on it, for example, when the same couldn’t be done with traditional torch welding.
What is snake chain repair?
1. Snake Chain Repair: Snake chains are a fan favorite of our customers because of the way they look- they’re so seamless and lie wonderfully on the collarbones. They also scare people when they break because they look like they’re irreparable.
Why is the herringbone chain so hard to repair?
Herringbone Chain: A variant of the snake chain (also known as a flat snake chain), this kind of chain is difficult to repair because it has a tendency to quickly unravel into a tangled mess. Jewelers often need to use a trick to lay the plated links out flat in order to remove kinks.
What are the different types of chain?
Other Types of Chains: 1 Herringbone Chain: A variant of the snake chain (also known as a flat snake chain), this kind of chain is difficult to repair because it has a tendency to quickly unravel into a tangled mess. Jewelers often need to use a trick to lay the plated links out flat in order to remove kinks. Soldering is a potential solution, but the location of the repair will not be quite the same afterwards. 2 Wheat Chain: Similar to the rope chain, the wheat chain is made from links that appear to be woven together. Since the links are so close, the wheat chain isn’t quite as flexible as a cable chain. Repairing a wheat chain may require a bit of trimming or weaving before adding the solder. 3 Singapore chain: A type of chain with links that create a twisted rope effect. Repairing this kind of chain takes very precise work, since this chain is usually very fine. A jeweler may need to use a laser for the soldering process.
What type of chain is used for dog tag jewelry?
A snake chain before and after repair work. 2. Ball Chain Repair: These cute chains have the advantage of not being easily tangled, but they’re rather fragile in construction. This type of chain is commonly used for dog tag jewelry. They require some soldering work if broken. 3.
What type of chain does a necklace have?
The most simple type of chain, made from round or oval links. This kind of necklace usually does not require soldering repair work. Most open links can be closed with a pair of needle nose pliers.
Why is solder important?
This is important because the repair should not damage the original components in the process.
Can rope chain be broken?
It’s rather rare for this kind of chain to break (especially the very chunky necklaces.) 5. Rope Chain Repair: Rope chains are beautiful because of their “woven” appearance. Much like the snake chain, the rope chain appears to be impossible to fix when broken.
How To Repair A Broken Silver Box Chain
Watch as resident laser expert John Vandergriff shows how easy it is to repair a broken silver box chain with the laser welder.
Video Transcript
We have a box chain here and it is stamped 925 as Italy 925 now I don't really believe that so I'm going to start off at a low parameter say around 225 volts, four milliseconds, and 6.6 millimeter beam size. And just cut this open.
Why do chain repairs never look the same?
Certain chains will never look the same even after repair. Here are a few scenarios as to why a jeweler might turn a chain repair down: 1. The chain is hollow. Rope chains are notorious for this construction: the design of the chain is empty on the inside of the links.
Why do jewelers put gold on chains?
The repair work removes that plating, exposing the original color of the metal underneath. As some jewel ers may not have the ability to gold plate the chain, they will turn it down to avoid any issues with their customers.
What happens if a herringbone chain is broken?
Herringbone chains and other custom designed chains are almost done for if they are broken. Because these chains are constructed via a series of fluid, interlocking flat links, if the chain is snagged it “unravels” the entire structure.
What metal is used in jewelry chain?
The metal is strange. If your chain is made from an unconventional base metal such as brass, bronze, or copper, the jewelers may not take a chance on it. This is especially common if your chain has other components on it such as stones, charms, and pendants.
Can you hammer a bent link back?
The links are usually very thin slices of metal, and once they’re bent it’s near-impossible to hammer them back to an acceptable state. Most jewelers will not even attempt the repair with these pieces; however, we will take them and let the client know that the areas of work will be very visible.
Is it hard to repair rope chains?
For instance, it’s hard to repair a rope chain and maintain its original integrity due to the way it’s constructed; the area of work will have a visible difference in comparison to the rest of the chain. Certain chains will never look the same even after repair. Here are a few scenarios as to why a jeweler might turn a chain repair down:
What is chain repair?
Chain repair is a set of fundamental skills and techniques every goldsmith needs to master, but the structure and design of the chain dictate what you need to do for a successful repair.
How to use a solder pick?
Use a solder pick to transfer heat and a small amount of solder to a small chain link. Bring the solder-coated pick into contact with the open joint of the link. Instead of pointing the torch directly at the chain, heat the pick about 8 to 10 mm from the tip.
What is the secret weapon of goldsmiths?
The secret weapon is the trusty soldering pick. Normally, goldsmiths use a pick to hold a piece of solder in place or position it on the work. In this case, you will use the tip of the soldering pick to expose the clean metal and apply the flux.
How to solder a chain link without soldering?
The best way of getting an accurate solder join on your chain links without soldering them together is by using a soldering probe. Paint a small amount of flux onto the join of your chain link. Then take a small amount of solder and place it onto the end of your soldering probe.
Where does wear and tear occur on a necklace?
Most wear and tear on jewellery chains occurs at the point where the clasp joins the necklace as this is where the most stress is placed. If the spring on the clasp is broken or the clasp itself has come loose, you may need to find a clasp that closely matches and reattach. If it’s the chain link that’s broken, read on!
Can snake chain be repaired?
But there are some basic tricks you can use to get around this. For example, snake chain appears impossible to repair because of the way it’s constructed. So instead of repairing the tiny chain links themselves, we’d recommend repairing the end of the snake chain by adding a chain extender to it instead.
