Soldering Cufflinks

[Babushka]

I've been asked to make some silver cufflinks for a colleague and of course I said yes no problem with all the confidence in the world. But I don't know how to solder the cufflink bit onto the decorative bit. I know if they get too hot, you can damage the springs.

Can anyone offer me any suggestions please? Can't find much about it online and the book I have isn't very clear.

I'm planning to reticulate the surface of the silver (reticulation is my new favourite thing!) So that part I'm not worried about. Just joining the two bits together that's the tricky part

Any advice is muchly appreciated

[MuranoSilver]

Flux everything up, position your solder on the back of the decorative part of the cufflink, heat and bring the fastening down onto the solder as it comes up to temp.
Another tip is to hold the tweezers in between the bar area and the cufflink (to try & shield it from the heat) -
Alternatively make chain back cufflinks or use two part backs thus avoiding the spring issue entirely

Nic x

[teallach]

I have always used the 2 part fittings. It only takes minutes to assemble them and saves the hassle of protecting the spring

[Glitterbug]

The cufflink fittings usually have a couple of little raised bits on the base that need to be filed off in order that you get a good contact. One mistake I've made is to use reverse action tweezers to hold the top bar of the fitting, which causes the bar to dimple with the tension of the tweezers as you solder. If you use reverse action tweezers (which I find is the best way to do it), then hold the 2 bars between the top bar and the base.

[Babushka]

I have always used the 2 part fittings. It only takes minutes to assemble them and saves the hassle of protecting the spring

Thank you all. It all makes a bit more sense now

teallach: Do I need this and this? Not quite sure what to buy when buying the bits seperately.

[teallach]

Thank you all. It all makes a bit more sense now

teallach: Do I need this and this? Not quite sure what to buy when buying the bits seperately.

That's right. They also do lighter weight fittings as well. There's not a lot of difference in the price but if your piece isn't terribly heavy, then I would use them instead.