Contamination

When contaminated platinum is being stressed through rolling, drawing or hammering, it will crack and become unusable

Possible causes of contamination during soldering or welding:

• Using carbon soldering surface (charcoal)
• Abrasive rolled into the Pt surface during fabrication
• Filings from other precious or non-precious metals.
• Using flux or Fire coat on Pt during high temperature operation
• Using steel tweezers near the soldering flame
• Oil, grease or soap used during drawing, rolling or general working

Tips to avoid contamination:

• Use only oxidizing flames, avoid redusing flames during soldering or welding
• Avoid trapping contaminants in the Pt during cold working
• Dedicate files, sanding sticks and bench pins to platinum
• Do not weld or solder with acetylene / oxygen flames
• Use only Natural gas / Oxygen, Propane / Oxygen of Hydrogen / Oxygen
• When using a water torch, disable the flux feature

Tips on what not to do:

• Don’t use Acetylene Gas. Only Natural Gas, Hydrogen or Propane will work with Platinum
• Don’t weld without eye protection. UV radiation WILL damage your eyes
• Don’t weld when stones are nearby. The welding process will damage most stones
• Don’t use your soldering pick or steel stweezers near the flame, as they may contaminate the platinum
• Don’t weld on a charcoal block. Platinum and Carbon do not get along.