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sethb
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I need to solder a piece of ball chain (to make a matching fake knot for a Fast & Loose routine).

I have learned that ball chain comes in aluminum, nickel plated steel, stainless steel, chrome plated steel, and brass plated steel. The question is -- which of these materials, if any, will take solder?

Thanks in advance for any info on this. SETHB
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC
Michael Baker
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Don't try to solder it. With a pair of micro pliers and a very tiny, very sharp edge (like an X-acto blade), open the ball at both ends. Discard one of them. Insert the tang from the ball free end into the free side of the ball at the other end and CAREFULLY close the ball.

~michael
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flourish dude
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You could solder it if you used Silver solder. It is a low temp solder that will stick to all you listed.
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
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sethb
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Michael -- I had thought about trying to open the ball and insert the tang as you suggested, because that would really be the best-looking solution. But it seemed like an impossible task to me! Of course, I hadn't thought about using an Exacto knife, thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try or maybe I can get a jeweler to do it for me.

That's why the solder idea seemed to be preferable -- I would just cross the ends of the knot, and then put a drop of solder where the ends cross. That would hold the knot, and also make a fairly neat closure of the ends. I vaguely remember something about silver solder, and so will investigate that if the first option doesn't work out. There's always a way! SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC
flourish dude
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http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp......ID=80822

I guess it will not take to aluminum. I thought it did but I was wrong. I have used it for brass and nickle and it works great.
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
Just taking a step, is a step in the right direction because when you stop working, your dream dies.
www.magicalmemories.us
sethb
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Thanks for the info.

Ironically, I would have guessed that the solder would take to aluminium, but not chrome plating or stainless steel. Just goes to show you! SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC
Michael Baker
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The method I described is how we made endless chains for a magic shop I once worked in. We also made the little fake knots, too.

Asking a jeweler do it is not a bad idea. I'd try to get a few sets done at once. Save time and probably money and you'd always have a back up in case of problems.

~michael
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sethb
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Well, gang, you may not like this low-tech solution to my soldering problem, but for a temporary fix, I think it's not too bad!

I tied a knot or two in a small piece of ball chain, then took some 12-pound transparent fishing line and tied it between the balls on each loose end. It's almost invisible in the tangle of chain, and if it holds up for a while, I might not have to mess around with solder or Exacto knives! SETHB
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC
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