Comments on: Question About Soldering an Earring Post

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 15:47:59 +0000

Hi Pati,

I have tried her method using Eutectic Solder, which is a hard solder and it worked well for me! This was on very small earrings! But, like everything we do, a lot of it is trial and error to find out what works for us! But you can enamel both sides with this method!

Hope this helps!

Heather

By: Elizabeth A Reid

Elizabeth A Reid — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 14:26:50 +0000

Thanks for your question as I am experimenting with torch-fired enamel as well. I haven’t tried the earring post to back yet. Another way of making it into a stud type earring is to set in shallow bezel or prong setting with the post (I only using sterling) to the back of the setting.

By: Dianne Jacques

Dianne Jacques — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 13:02:50 +0000

Hi Pati, If you’re torch soldering you’ll have to do the enamel first. You can’t counter enamel using this technique so make sure your copper gauge is thick enough for the amount of enamel layers you are planning to have. Enamel the front of your piece. Clean the back to prepare for solder. Don’t pickle yet. I use 3M bristle discs in the foredom. Invert your piece on our trivet, make sure the trivet is clean, & using a tiny piece of silver sheet solder and flux solder and sterling silver posts (I prefer one with a 1.5mm pad) your post onto the back. As soon as your solder flows take away your torch. Don’t quench, let your piece cool You can pickle now, using a cool solution of your pickle and only for 2-3 minutes. Work harden our post by using flat nose pliers and grasp the top 1/3 of the post and GENTLY twist. This will not only work harden your post, but will ensure your solder join is good. Finish as normal. Keep in mind that enamel flows from about 1380-1560°F and hard solder at 1365° so medium may be preferred. My setup: trivet on a charcoal block, place the piece, post in third hand, flux the piece and post, place solder onto piece, lower third hand so the post is flush with piece. Make sure the contact is good, this is critical.
Hope this helps! I’m looking forward to see what you do!

By: Judy Bjorkman

Judy Bjorkman — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 13:00:15 +0000

Pati, a way you can add an earring post (or a pin back) without soldering is as follows: purchase a roll of 3M’s Scotch VHB 4950 two-sided tape. After enameling (perhaps both sides of the earring), mark the spot for the post. Using something like a Dremel’s grinding point, lightly roughen just the place where the post will go. Cut a piece of tape to match the size of the earring back, roughen the back-side of the earring back, and apply the tape to the back and then to the roughened spot on the earring. Press down on it for several seconds and let it “cure” overnight. This tape holds very well — I have a pin-back held this way and have worn and cleaned (and dipped) it for several years—it shows no sign of letting go.
Otherwise, I use hard-soldering wherever I can.

By: Dana

Dana — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 11:25:57 +0000

Dearest Pati, I recommend doing the enamel first. Next you can use any post you have on hand or can buy from anyplace that sells findings. I wouldn’t use copper as it’s a filthy metal which will cause infection in your earring hole, As for the soldering, Hard soldier many videos on how to, remember to keep the flames moving. You don’t want to melt the post.

I hope this helps, try looking up on tube, Nancy Hamilton she has many tips on soldering.