I love making jewellery but....

[Polar]

I really suck at soldering and last jewellery class I managed to melt every piece I was working on and now I'm worried about going back in case I melt everything again


What if me and jewellery making just weren't meant to be?


Any tips?

[Seahorse]

Practice.

What are you melting!!!??

I do soldering too(tho not since March last year for some reason).Its quite therapeautic.

[Polar]

Mostly silver bezels


At first we thought it might be the solder I was using coz everyone else had trouble with it too but I tried some paste solder at home which sometimes worked and other times not so much

[Seahorse]

So you melted the actual silver,eek!
Are you on a course?
Do yo use those horrid flame thrower type torches?I used those on a silversmithing course and they scared the heck out of me.Luckily I use a soldering iron with my sldering which scares me less.

Can we see some of your work when possible?

[Polar]

Yes to being on a course and using the horrid flame thrower thingies and they really scare me too


RE: Seeing some of my work....if I ever manage to make something that isn't a complete embarrassment then sure

[ShinySilver]

I'm pretty sure everyone melts silver during soldering at some point! I know I've melted my fair share, sometimes things that were quite thick. but bezels are thin and it won't take much to melt them.

Are you heating the base you're soldering them to first? It might be that's thicker and takes longer to heat up but if the bezel is already in place then it's just too hot for it.

Or you might be better off with a smaller torch (the flame throwers are better for the big stuff!)

But don't give up! it really is a case of practise makes, well, not quite perfect but less likely to melt!!

[goldy1]

I could never do it with the flame thrower so I bought one of these. much easier. http://www.toolspot.co.uk/product/bl...e-pencil-torch

[Chris W]

Tips

My tip is if you enjoy doing it don't worry about making mistakes, keep trying and eventually you will improve.

[Babushka]

I'm hoping to start a silversmith course in September so will let you know how scared I am of the horrid flame thrower thingies then

[ShinySilver]

I could never do it with the flame thrower so I bought one of these. much easier. http://www.toolspot.co.uk/product/bl...e-pencil-torch

I bought myself one of those as well! But I've never been able to get any gas into it to make it work! It just won't take any so I've had to go bac to something bigger. Is the flame a nice small size?

[Polar]

I'm hoping to start a silversmith course in September so will let you know how scared I am of the horrid flame thrower thingies then

Please do


*Useful tip* Remember to point them away from you


Thanks for your comments, guys

[goldy1]

I bought myself one of those as well! But I've never been able to get any gas into it to make it work! It just won't take any so I've had to go bac to something bigger. Is the flame a nice small size?

I've never had a problem filling mine. Just use a can of gas for lighters. Find the little atachment that fits right. The flame is about an inch long and can be controled to a fine point.

[Babushka]

*Useful tip* Remember to point them away from you

lol . I'll keep that in mind

[LaVidalerie]

Hi Polar - On the first jewellery making course I took many many years ago we used that white cone flux (borax I think) and I had lots of problems making the solder flow and overheating the silver. On a later course we used Auflux and I have never looked back, it makes it so easy, I get mine from Walsh but I would imagine it is widely available. I use a small hand held torch which looks like a creme brulee torch but is hotter and find it works for almost everything I do, if I need a hotter torch for larger pieces I use a plumbers hand held torch with a fine head.

Good luck, it really is worth percervering with.

Karen
Website lavidalerie.com - Gorgeous sterling silver charms & findings, Swarovski, Earring pairs of semi-precious stones, Czech glass flower bead mixes, tools and handmade jewellery.

[Rachie]

Soldering

Hi there

What kind of solder are you using? If you are using a hard solder, switch to an easy solder as it has a lower melting point.

Also I find the solder paste you can buy from Cooksons easier to use. It's more expensive but a small syringe will last a long time and you can have a bit more control over where it goes.

It is frustrating, I've spent many an hour trying to solder something only for it to end up in a melted mess. Keep going though, you'll get there in the end!