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Old May 26th 08, 04:27 AM posted to rec.crafts.jewelry
mbstevens
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Posts: 165
Default newbie questions

Peter W.. Rowe, wrote:
On Sun, 25 May 2008 11:02:47 -0700, in rec.crafts.jewelry mbstevens
wrote:

Yes, it is called phos-copper rod, available at many welding shops.
Sculptors loved it in the 50s and 60s when direct metal sculpture
was all the rage. Makes a nice copper colored joint.


My probably incorrect memory of the stuff (at least a 30 year old memory) was
that it behaved more like a welding rod in that it didn't flow into a capillary
joint too well, but would nicely fill a gapped joint, just as one does with
stick welding rods.


I remember a fairly free flow, but not just watery like silver solder.
No flux was necessary (nice!).

Is that right? or does it actually flow well enough to be
used like a solder? Is the melting point low enough to also allow it's use on,
say, bronze or similar alloys?


That I don't remember. Looking at my tables, I rather doubt it, since the
melting point of copper is about 400 degrees higher than bronze. So the
phos-copper
rod would have to melt _way_ down below the melting point of copper to flow
on bronze.

It is easy to join copper with any bronze rod, though, or you can
flow it over the copper to make a nice mottled surface. I have some old
sculptures I did that to, back in the 60s, coating the finished surface
with acrylic polymer medium. Their surfaces have still not deteriorated.

Mike


Peter

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