Versatile Permanent Markers

by Judy Larson
As jewelry makers, we all have those moments where we do something just a bit different than we always have before and everything becomes so much easier. You know, those "Why didn't I do it this way or think of it before?" moments.

During an assembly line process of sweat soldering loops to the back of a lot of T-bars for toggles, I had such a moment.
Instructions
Sharpie markers are used to make a squiggle line on a piece of sheet metal before heating it with a torch and waiting for the line to disappear to know the metal is annealed. They are used to draw lines on metal to know where to saw or cut pieces. Wire is wrapped around them to make jump rings and shape ring shanks.
I marked the center of the back of the T-bar with a Sharpie and put a dab of paste solder on either side. I then heated the solder until it flowed. I noticed the solder did not flow over the center line. I wondered what would happen if I put lines where I did not want the solder to flow. The same thing happened! Whoopeee! Less cleanup!

The copper solder does not like to flow over Sharpie marker. It will, but it doesn't like to. This is probably because the Sharpie mark makes the metal "dirty" and as we all know, for a good solder join, metal surfaces being connected need to be clean.
Judy Larson's Versatile Permanent Markers - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, , versatile permanent markers
Judy Larson's Versatile Permanent Markers - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, , versatile permanent markers
Judy Larson's Versatile Permanent Markers - , General Education, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, , versatile permanent markers

Materials

22 Gauge 0.025 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch
MET-705.22
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.30
  • Gold Club Price: $8.48
Out of Stock
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Tools

Basic Soldering Kit
G15-4
  • G15-4
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $58.95
  • Gold Club Price: $44.21
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Copper Solder Paste, 1/2 ozt, Soft
SOL-824.10
  • SOL-824.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.95
  • Gold Club Price: $7.46
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques, General Education