How to solder amateur jewelry

video How to solder amateur jewelry

This video is in response to questions I’ve gotten about soldering. This is how I solder all my projects. Keep in mind metal solders best when it’s clean. Also, some metals are difficult or impossible to solder the way I’m doing in this video (stainless steel, aluminum). Good luck. Hope it helps.

winhyatt says: Jan 17, 2013. 7:53 AM

hi, please show me how to solder wire to the edge of a flat surface, eg around the edge of a coin...my jewellery designs are mostly vintage and this look is a key element....i cant seem to do it right...if i dont master this the designs may just have to stay right where they are, in my sketch pad :)....how do i proceed if the coin is maybe 1mm thick and the wire is 2mm in diameter???

Leighhjames says: Nov 25, 2012. 4:07 PM

I was wondering what the difference between using a torch, and a soldering iron? I am very interested in learning how to solder jewelry, and I was curious of which is better to use! Thanks for your great info!

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to LeighhjamesNov 26, 2012. 12:08 AM

A soldering iron is more for electronics and requires direct contact with the metal to get the solder to flow. A flame works much better for this kind of craft. Good luck!

Mr.Maybe says: Oct 24, 2012. 10:24 AM

Great video and love your instructables but got one question. What type of solder and paste do u use? i know there are several different versions such as lead free, lead and so on. what combination do u use? Thanks

taria says: Dec 9, 2011. 1:10 PM

this is perfect for what I need. my only question is. the wire I use if from Walmart in the hardware section you can get a huge roll for like 4 bucks. and it's galvanized. Will this work with it? I'm only asking cause I make wire butterfly's, I curl each piece, sometimes using 20 to 30 pieces in one design and then use heavy duty super glue to hold it together, but sometimes in different weather it comes undone and falls apart. You can image having to wire wrap a nightmare like this getting into all the little holes is hard to do plus keeping it flat and not start to curl on me. Tried one and it about drove me insane even with hammering it all flat again. it looked horrid. But I need a way to keep all these curls attached to each other and not fall apart. So if I use lead free solder and the paste with the torch, will it hold? Because that is what I have and haven't tried it yet. I didn't want to take it out of the package until I know for sure, cause if it won't work then I need to take it back. Since I only really work with the galvanized wire, or the jewelry wire that I pretty much don't solder anything, that's all done in one piece and wire wrapped which is far easier then the butterfly's trust me. I know, I talk to much. Any help with this would be nice. Thanks

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to tariaDec 11, 2011. 1:06 AM

I use galvinized wire all the time. But keep this in mind. Since wire heats up so fast you have to become familiar with when the solder should be melting once you apply the flame. If you oxidize the wire the solder will not stick to it until you remove the oxidation with somthing like sand paper. So if you make a butterfly and try to solder it, you may get it to solder in one place but accidently oxidize wire in another place. It does take practice but for sure it can be done. Good luck.

iMakeItHappen in reply to MrballengFeb 10, 2012. 5:38 PM

You should be careful when using galvanized wire. Im not to sure if soldering gets hot enough, but i am a welder, and if you try to weld galvanized metal you end up seriously sick, sometimes even in the hospital. This is because the heat burns of the galvanized layer and then you breath it in, which makes you very sick. So, when soldering galvanized metals, make sure you are in a VERY well ventilated place

taria in reply to MrballengDec 14, 2011. 2:34 PM

that's true because the pieces are really close and so much of them clumped together. now what if I do some of them together. like put a piece of solder on all the close joints and then do them like that? you think that might work instead of trying to do them all separate and risk the chance of the oxidizing effect happening to it?

I do have photo's of these butterflys, if I knew how to show you them I would. that way you can see what I'm talking about.

I actually lost one the other day, it came apart and fell back behind my egg crate shelving and I can't reach it, but the other two are still hanging on the wall, along with the beta fish I made to see if I could.

oh and even though this has nothing to do with the video, how would you recommend adding to the glass beads to this? I used the super glue gel that I used on the wire to attach them, but they tend to fall off as well. any suggestions on maybe getting those to stick? they are the flat on one side type of glass dots. that people put in fish tanks or to decorate bowls for flowers and such. You know the ones I'm talking about right?

did any of that make sense?

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to tariaDec 15, 2011. 1:01 AM

Really my best advice is to give it a try. You don't have to shap the wire. Just cut a few sections and experiment. I would use quick setting epoxy for the glass dots. I think that would work. I actually bought a bag of them a while ago. I have an idea for them I'll try out soon.

urchin0705 says: Jan 25, 2012. 5:29 PM

glad i watched this video. i have helped my dad with soldering pipes for pluming quite a bit but had completely forgotten about the solder past.

dawn_ee says: Jan 2, 2012. 11:17 AM

Terrific instruction. Thanks!!

I solder a lot of jump rings for stained glass work, and have found that a pair of hemostats or locking clamps (like this http://www.harborfreight.com/5-1-2-half-inch-locking-clamp-99930.html) are really handy - that way you don't have to concentrate on keeping your pliers tight on the jumpring while doing everything else. :)

Skip says: Dec 13, 2011. 1:33 AM

thank you for posting this.

bluemoon6 says: Dec 11, 2011. 5:08 AM

Can I buy the silver solder at like Home Depot??

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to bluemoon6Dec 11, 2011. 5:41 PM

Home depot, lowes, walmart, ace hard ware are all places that carry silver solder.

bluemoon6 says: Dec 9, 2011. 6:35 AM

thank you so....... much--I make costume jewelry and always wanted to know how to solder and others have equipment I didn't want to buy--this was so straight forward and in anyones budget--When you said silver solder?? were you referring to the color or the solder and not the composition??? Great video!!!!!!!!

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to bluemoon6Dec 11, 2011. 1:00 AM

Thanks for the complement and taking the time to write. Silver solder is an alloy of different metals which does include silver. Also it does have a silver color. Good luck. Don't forget to post pictures of your creations.

bluemoon6 in reply to MrballengDec 11, 2011. 5:07 AM

Your very welcome and your really deserve it!!!!

taria says: Dec 9, 2011. 1:13 PM

Let me rephrase that, it's the kit from Walmart that has the torch and everything in it. it says WPK2301 in the top right hand corner. That's what I have.

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to tariaDec 11, 2011. 1:10 AM

That's exactly what I use. I use it all the time to include plenty of learning and it lasted me 7 months before tank ran out. Try not to knock it over either. That ruins the ignitor.

Zachintosh says: Dec 5, 2011. 12:34 PM

So when jewelers create jewelery they solder each individual link? That must take so much effort lol

snoopindaweb says: Dec 5, 2011. 12:31 PM

Thank You. I was trained to solder mother Boards, etc, but have had trouble with metal, I see a lot I never thought of. You should get a "Ball Vice" for X-Mas..YUP.!
P,S, I won't part with Mine..HAR.! G-G

paganwonder says: Dec 4, 2011. 3:26 PM

Your web site ROCKS! (so does this 'ible!)

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to paganwonderDec 5, 2011. 8:23 AM

Thanks. You would not believe how much effort it takes to start a web business.

paganwonder in reply to MrballengDec 5, 2011. 11:15 AM

I have never been good at balancing creative work with the demands of maintaining a business- perhaps that is due to an aversion toward the details of business!

kondzio29 says: Dec 5, 2011. 5:57 AM

Nice! But what if i don't have soldering paste?

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to kondzio29Dec 5, 2011. 8:24 AM

Without the paste you won't get a good bond.

Bobbie1013 says: Dec 4, 2011. 2:24 PM

Hi..great help..can you tell me where to get the piece that you use to hold the item when you are soldering..I have clamps but this works great!!

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Mrballeng (author) in reply to Bobbie1013Dec 5, 2011. 8:22 AM

The set up you see is two wooden parallel clamps holding a pair of needle nose vise grips. You can find both at home depot or lowes. Thanks for the comment.