Binding Wire

[akansan]

I'm curious about binding wire.  I know it's used to hold pieces together while soldering, but what I was most curious about was whether it acts as a heat sink as well making the soldering more difficult.  I don't have anything at the moment that would need it, so I thought I'd get answers before needing them!!

(Thinking ahead, this time!)

[bobby1]

The small diameter wire has such little mass that it doesn't impact the heating of the piece. I never use it for standard soldering activities but if you do use it, remove the wire before pickling. The steel in the wire will contaminate the pickle. You can also use stainless wire though, and it won't affect the pickle.  I take a sheet of crucible liner, wet it and crumble it into small pieces. I then form various supports for my pieces to hold them in place for soldering. I tried a "third hand" device many years ago and found it to be a PITA trying to get to hold the pieces just right. I also use the wet crucible liner pieces in a metal dish to hold rings with stones as I resize them. It acts as a heat sink to protect the stone from the heat. I also use a ceramic steam boiler refactory cloth crumbled up into pieces as a supporting material.
Bob

[akansan]

I like the crucible liner idea!  I've tried using my two third hands, and I agree.  They are a PITA to get just right for soldering. 

Right now, I've used nails to hold down to pieces (just laying them over the piece).  I originally tried using the pumice from my annealing pan, but it didn't have enough weight to hold the pieces. 

The binding wire was recommended when I had problems getting the bail on just right for my last piece.  I can see the use of it, but worried about the indirect affect of a heat sink.

[mirkaba]

Hi Ronda......I have been watching (sorta) for some stainless steel binding wire could have used it a few times. Just haven't gotten any yet. I dug up a couple hundred pounds of satin spar a couple years ago. A pretty good quality selenite. I use pieces of that to hold silver in placeI also have a thick slab I cut grooves in for holding rings and stuff. I know the time will come that I WISH i had some binding wire again but I guess it isn't that high priority..........Bob

[Spots Mom]

I got a tip from the Orchid website that I am using.  Fill a small tin (small altoids size) with old nails or screws or nuts or whatever.  Punch a hole through the front edge of the box.  take a piece of binding wire, bend in half,  and stick through the holes with the "fingers" sticking out.  Put a twist or two in the wire around one of the nails or nuts to hold it in the tin and close the lid.  Bend the fingers at the end at a sharp angle for hold-downs.

The fingers can be adjusted and placed in any position to hold pieces down and in the place you want.

For me it works much better than third hands, unless I want a heat sink and no presision.

[Taogem]

Stacy, any chance you can share a pic or two showing what this looks like ?

I would like to have a peek !