Q&A for How to Solder Gold

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

Can gold-filled wire be soldered?

Himesh Patel
Metallurgical Engineer & Manager
Himesh Patel is a Metallurgical Engineer at Mcclelland Laboratories in Reno, Nevada. With over five years of industry and graduate research experience in the raw materials industry, Himesh has extensive knowledge of mining and mineral extraction and recovery methods, mine financing, and the environmental impacts of mining. He received his MS in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Dual Degree in Mineral Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad. Himesh is passionate about educating the public about the minerals industry.

Himesh Patel

Metallurgical Engineer & Manager

Expert Answer

Yes—in fact, gold wire is the ideal material to use when soldering some kind of gold jewelry. A 10-, 12-, or 14-karat gold wire would be appropriate because it has copper in it, which makes it strong.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 4
Question

What does porosity mean in reference to gold?

Community Answer

Porosity or void fraction is a measure of the empty space in a material, and is a fraction of the volume of voids over the total volume, between 0 and 1, or as a percentage between 0% and 100%.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 14
Question

What would cause a gold-soldered joint to fail and come apart?

Community Answer

The most common reason would be that the joint was not cleaned of oxidation or dirt, which will keep the joint from bonding together.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 14
Question

What material is used to solder gold?

Cory John Buermann

Community Answer

Gold Wire to maintain purity and strength but Silver and various alloys work too.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 11
Question

Once I hammer out my gold ore into dust and then pan out what I think to be only gold dust, how do I get it to stick together? When it cools, it returns to dust no matter how much heat is initially applied.

Cory John Buermann

Community Answer

It needs to be treated with a flux to deoxidize it. Otherwise, it will just keep returning to dust as it cools.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 9
Question

Why is my jewellery a different color now that it's been gold soldered?

Cory John Buermann

Community Answer

If you don't use a flux or only apply it to the joint and not the entire piece, it may be discolored from that.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
Question

How do I print an alphabet in gold?

Community Answer

It's best to engrave any design on gold surface. Photo print is possible, but will erase it in a short time.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 5
Question

How do I keep gold in liquid form?

Community Answer

Consistently add heat to the metal to keep it from concentrating into a solid. Mixing would help a bit, but mostly you just need to apply heat.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6