On Jan 19, 10:08*am, David Billington
wrote:
lemelman wrote:
Harold and Susan Vordos wrote:
"axolotl" wrote in message
...
There was a jewelry chain making machine on diplay and in operation
at Cabin Fever. My daughter, who makes wire jewelry, was facinated
by the machine, and wanted to search Ebay for another. I disabused
her of the idea of competing with the Chinese and Indians but we
would still like to explore the method.
How are the individual chain links soldered as a bunch? The only
method I can come up with is to dump the chain in a molten metal
bath, like galvinizing an anchor chain. How does one keep the
individual links from sticking to each other?

Kevin Gallimore

Years ago, on TV, there was such a machine featured in a special on
gold. Could have been a National Geographic production, but at this
point in time, I'm not sure. *Needless to say, I was focused on the
set, for that was when I was refining precious metals and had a keen
interest in all phases of gold.

The one in the special had a torch that soldered each link as the
chain was made. *The torch was attached to a cam mechanism that moved
in and out as required.

I'm not suggesting that is the method for the machine in question,
but the idea of dipping a chain to solder links makes no sense. *I
doubt that's the procedure. *As you alluded, it would border on the
impossible to keep solder from areas where it is not desired.

Harold

I _think_ I've seen somewhere that special, solder-filled, wire is
used. For gold or silver chains, the solder is an alloy of lower
melting point but same purity as the wire proper. The machine makes a
link, heats the join to make the solder flow (possibly with a flame or
electric resistance heating) and then proceeds with next one.

One youtube video herehttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt4Lh-hgGokat
about 4:15, indicates the links are heated in a furnace at 815C to
perform the end soldering en mass, it doesn't mention how the solder
component gets there which would be interesting.

Solder paste is a possibility, applied post-cut but before final
bending.

Dave