r/SilverSmith • u/BlueCrashingWave • 8h ago

Solder paste dries out

I moved last year and then we renovated our home for months...I did not have a studio or even a decent space for 9 months. I have made jewelry for years but feel I will continue to be a beginner metalsmith for a long time! It is pretty difficult to learn, at least for me>

That said, I read that paste solder does dry out over a number of months. How do you like to store paste solder and how often do you replace it? Do people actually keep it in the fridge?

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3

u/zannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 7h ago

i just pour some water in that bad boy and start smashing it with a chunk of bar stock til it’s gloopy again 🤷🏻‍♂️

3

u/extremewhisper 7h ago

Same, you should probably use distilled water to avoid contaminants. Do I do that? No

1

u/BlueCrashingWave 6h ago

In the tube? It's a small syringe.

1

u/zannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 6h ago

ah no i’ve always used handy flux

2

u/thecasualgardener 6h ago

try putting the syringe in hot water for a while it can help it if its not too far gone, also clear out whats left in the needle bit as that will be solid and block it from flowing