The Real Soldering Challenge!


Step 2
Doming The Base Plate

Here we have 46 pieces of 14 gauge square sterling silver wire soldered together with hard solder.





I was a little concerned about doming this base plate since it was really made up of 46 pieces. It was also a very heavy piece to dome. After polishing the base plate with a Scotch Bright wheel and white Diamond Buffing Compound, I found that the piece was really about the thickness of 16 gauge sheet.

If you look closely, you can see me in the mirror polish on both the front and the back.
(I knew this would be an extra treat for everyone!)

This just shows how hard solder will polish! The base piece now looks like one piece of sheet silver.




My other challenge to myself was to keep this project simple enough that anyone wishing to try the challenge could do it with the least amount of tools.

So, for doming, I found a scrap piece of 2x4 fir stud. Then I went next door to my friendly auto mechanic and borrowed the largest ball peen hammer he had. I keep small ones for small jobs and for texturing. The reason I wanted a big one was I wanted to get this piece done FAST!

I first slowly hammered a dome into the wood piece using light blows and removing any small flakes of wood. You will be surprised just how smooth you can make a dome in the wood.







Then I began to dome the piece by making rapid light blows starting in the middle and working out toward the edge. This large ball peen was great. Total time doming the piece was less than 5 minutes. As the dome took shape, I used lighter and lighter taps to keep the surface smooth.





I was satisfied with the dome, but mad at the mechanic. Look at my hand! I am not supposed to get that dirty!

I was, however, relieved to see that the piece behaved just as a single sheet of silver!




Click here for The Solder Challenge Part 3