How do I solder gold filled material?

Since solder itself is an alloy of metals, there is no such thing as a gold-filled solder, so a colour match needs to be done. We recommend either 9ct or 14ct yellow gold easy solder as good colour matches.

Use extra care when soldering gold-filled material, as overheating the metal can cause irreversible damage and creates ‘restain’, a form of subsurface rescale that can run through the entire thickness of the gold layer.

Another potential issue when soldering gold-filled products with a torch is alloying the gold layer with the brass core. This leaves a dark, discoloured solder join and any exposed brass would tarnish quickly. To prevent this, heat your piece just to the point of solder flow between 690-788°c. Avoid overheating to the melting points of the gold layer at roughly 843°c and the brass core at roughly 900°c.

If the colours don't match or the brass has been exposed, you can fix this by gold-plating the entire piece. This will place a layer of gold across the entire surface creating a uniform colour and protecting the exposed brass from tarnishing. Plating to finish a piece is generally recommended on soldered gold-filled items.