oliver2-44 9,755 #1 Posted February 14, 2023 A special person made and gave away these Crosses made from horseshoe nails brazed together. The "drop of brass in the center signifies a "Heart of Gold" He is no longer with us to teach me how to make these. Any suggestions/guidance is greatly appreciated. He was quite an artist to make these as they present several challenges. I'm not a brazing expert, and haven't done much of it in a long time. So don't hesitate to remind me of any basic things. that would help. The pieces are so small, sometimes I bump them out of position with just the torch flame-gas pressure. I've experimented varying my acetylene and oxygen pressure in the 4-6 psi range, using a small tip on my regular size torch. I bought this jewelers block pictured below that has tiny pins to hold things in place, but I melt the pins by the time I get it hot enough to braze. There are my "poor" best 2. My braze flattens out, just can't get that "drop" to stay raised. You can see how both of them have pieces slightly out of shape. I did these with a magnet holding the longer bottom piece and it having a little attraction to hold the other 3 pieces. here are some more trial pieces. The one on the right has bits of "pin" stuck to in from trying to use the jewelers block. The 2 on the right have the braze metal flowed thin and all over them. I bought this little torch, but I haven't done much better with it. I'm currently using 1/8" flux coated brazing rods. I'm thinking of ordering some smaller ones, 3/32 or 1/16 . Do yall think that would help? The torches instructions recommend 6 psi for the tip I was using. These are the horseshoe nails I am cutting down and using. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dalez 137 #2 Posted February 14, 2023 Looks like a fun project to do. I can't help but will be following along as I might try to make a few myself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #3 Posted February 14, 2023 That's jewelers work Ollie. I think the torch you are using is a bit heavy. Also the rod... yes way too heavy. A small rod would be better no larger than 1/16 maybe even smaller. Check melting and flow temps. He might have use a silver solder which can have a goldish appearance. Very expensive tho and sold by the troy ounce. The trick is to get the base metal to the right temp then let the the filler "drip" on the nails. It's a art but trial and error you will get it. My other advice is buy your wife some expensive jewelry from a pro then pump him for info like a well handle... 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,243 #4 Posted February 15, 2023 19 minutes ago, WHX?? said: He might have use a silver solder Sorry for the loss of your friend, he used his considerable talent to honor our Lord which is wonderful. That is what I was thinking too. Silver Solder needs a much higher temperature than brazing but gives a much better appearance. You will want to heat the nails to the point that they glow red in normal room light then add the silver solder. Once the joint is closed you can move the rod and torch tip away at the same time to form a drop. Glad you have a whole box of nails, this will require a lot of practice. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,171 #5 Posted February 15, 2023 I like to braze!! I can do it so much better than stick or mig.... I recently had to attach a plumbing elbow to an existing hyd oil return pipe and knew it would take .... "stacking?" of the brass around the rather loose join, which I think this is what you are needing to do. I pretty quickly found that the motion? of the flame - in/out/in/out was giving me the 'stacking' (building up the amount of brass) that I wanted to be sure I had built up a good strong join. Turned out pretty well! This may very well not help your situation with the much smaller pieces which will heat and cool so fast. A smaller tip may be a help here..... I use plain rods with Borax (yes, the kitchen stuff!) as flux, my dad was a jeweler and he occasionally used brass and he taught me this. Just heat the tip of the rod and stick it in the powder and it will stick to the rod. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,755 #6 Posted February 15, 2023 (edited) Thanks for the suggestions. I have a niece that is a custom jewelry designer for a shop in NYC. She says my credit card won’t get me in the door. She actually did the wedding rings for my 3 sons. She felt it was brass but said she never works with it. I’ll definitely get some smaller rod and try more of an in out process with the torch. But as @pacermentioned these small pieces really do cool quickly. Like the Borax, I used to use Tide soap for my flux years ago. One other process I need to simplify is cutting the nails. I used a Dremel with a cut off wheel and held the nails in a vice grip to cut these pieces. Edited February 15, 2023 by oliver2-44 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #7 Posted February 15, 2023 10 hours ago, oliver2-44 said: these small pieces really do cool quickly Try doing it on a pre-heated thicker piece of metal that would help the small pieces retain heat. Make a jig to hold the pieces in place? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,000 #8 Posted February 15, 2023 What about using a strong magnet under that jewelers block to hold those pieces in place? Bolt cutters and a grinder would be quick for prepping the nails. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,243 #9 Posted February 16, 2023 2 hours ago, wallfish said: What about using a strong magnet under that jewelers block Heat will demagnetize the magnet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,000 #10 Posted February 16, 2023 What about one of these then? https://www.amazon.com/Newtex-High-Temperature-Resistant-Fiberglass-Pad/dp/B07VMP4QJ9/ref=pd_bxgy_vft_none_img_sccl_1/145-1231901-7224953?pd_rd_w=2qQi8&content-id=amzn1.sym.7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_p=7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_r=N9GGV55AXNNVVDS1HMSC&pd_rd_wg=VjoQ7&pd_rd_r=b741eb4b-f818-4f4d-b780-027e0cdb7858&pd_rd_i=B07VMP4QJ9&psc=1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #11 Posted February 16, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, wallfish said: What about one of these I was thinking toothpicks 'Fish... well maybe not... they like to go up in flames holding bacon on my tenderloins... I was thinking a 1 1/2 steel plate and carve some nesting places in it for the nails. Get the whole shebang to the right temp then dripping. Just thinking out loud here Ollie. Only thing I know about jewelry work is I got a ring on my finger that works well... for her... Edited February 16, 2023 by WHX?? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
