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How to Solder a Silver Belt Buckle

Soldering silver is a moderately simple task for the novice jeweler. Fixing silver articles like belt buckles requires few tools and about an hour of work. Soldering silver involves melting a flux-coated silver rod into a gap between the silver items. When the solder cools it binds the broken or added pieces together, resulting in a weld that is just as strong as the original piece. Silver-soldering supplies can be purchased at most retail hobby stores.

Things You'll Need

Jewelers sandpaper, fine-grade
Silver solder
Brazing torch
Flux
Buffing wheel

Instructions

- 1
  Hand-sand the edges of the buckle that need to be welded. This will expose the silver and remove any debris that would inhibit a strong weld.
- 2
  Set the buckle pieces flat on a heat-resistant surface and space them apart about one-quarter the diameter of the soldering rod.
- 3
  Heat the buckle pieces, gradually, with your torch. Do not melt them.
- 4
  Coat the solder with flux and melt the flux and solder into the gap between the buckle pieces. The weld will overflow slightly when the gap is filled properly. Let the solder cool.
- 5
  Sand the weld lightly using fine sandpaper. Buff the weld until it matches the silver on the buckle.

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