by Carol Rucker

Created on: May 29, 2011   Last Updated: June 05, 2011

When a jewelry artist learns to create metal designs with a jeweler's saw, soldering becomes a natural next step. Fusing pieces of metal together, layering them or adding bezels and semiprecious stones can take creativity to new heights. The fabulous results make the patience and effort required to learn the skill well worth it.

Even after learning basic soldering techniques in a workshop or classroom setting, it can be difficult to transition that skill to every day use. It's simple with an instructor pointing out mistakes and explaining corrective measures. Attempts at home, however, may become a series of frustrating soldering failures. Still there's good news: learning from failures can put a soldering student on the fast track to figuring out what will and will not work.

A few things to remember about soldering

The creative possibilities are endless, but there are lots of important things to consider.

• Clean metal- Metal pieces should be clean of dirt and oily residue.

• Adequate heat- A torch flame should be hot enough to heat the entire piece.

• No Gaps - Metal pieces should fit together well. Solder will not fill gaps.

• Adequate flux - Make sure all metal pieces to be joined have a light coating of flux.

• Space Solder evenly - Use small chips of solder spaced approximately 1/8 inch apart over the surface of the piece to be joined.

• Solder patiently- Soldering should be slow and easy, not rushed.

How to Solder

Heat makes solder “flow.” Flow happens when solder reaches its melting point from contact with the hot metal around it. That doesn't happen instantly. It's a process.

• Take it slowly. Don't attack the metal with the flame.

• Begin with a gentle rotating motion, close to your piece but not touching. Not yet.

• Warm the air around the piece. Gently, slowly move the heat closer to gradually heat the metal.

• Keep the torch moving. Staying in one place too long could overheat and damage your metal jewelry piece.

• When you heat your metal gradually, liquid flux dries gradually and turns whitish in color.

• If you move in too quickly, the flux may “boil,” sending solder chips flying.

• Once the metal pieces are adequately heated, the solder will reach a melting point.

• The solder will flow in the direction of the heat.

• Keep the torch moving. Keep the piece evenly heated

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