Summary for titanium soldering Discussion
Titanium soldering is the focus keyphrase here, and the thread shows two different approaches. Krista Kleban asked how a jeweler could work with titanium and whether it could be soldered like silver. Guillermo Marrufo replied that the only method he knew was to preplate the titanium with nickel, noting that plating titanium is itself difficult and may require brush plating or other electroplating methods, depending on the part geometry and area. Years later, Joaquin Pendleton said he had found a way as a jeweler and watchmaker, claiming the secret was in the flux: he used Dandix and 56% silver Silvaloy solder (Silvaloy 56T), with an emphasis on making the joint perfectly clean. Because the answers differ, the thread does not give one universally accepted method, but it does suggest that successful titanium soldering depends on surface preparation and either nickel preplating or a specialized flux/solder combination.
Q. I am looking for information on working with titanium, especially how to solder it. I am a jeweler, and I am very familiar with silver soldering, but I have never worked with titanium before and I have no idea what to do with it. I have wanted to experiment with titanium for some time now, but have not found much information on this metal.
Any information on working with titanium would be very helpful.
Krista Kleban
– Denton, Texas
2001
A. Hello:
The only way I know of soldering Ti is to preplate it with nickel. Here comes the difficulties again because it is also hard to plate. Being a brush plater I obviously prefer this approach but it all depends on surface geometry, number of parts, area to be plated, etc. There are also other ways to electroplate by immersion and I assume they might work. Refer to a good plating consultant if brush plating does not seem feasible to you.
Regards,
Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2001
A. I have found a way. I am a jeweler and a watchmaker. Here is the secret.
It’s all in the flux. I use Dandix ⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
Next the solder is 56% silver, called Silvaloy from Silvaloy.com It’s called Silvaloy 56T.
Make sure the joint is perfectly clean, and I mean CLEAN.
Good luck.
Joaquin Pendleton
– La Quinta, California
2007