Jewelry Soldering
Soldering, while it may seem intimidating at first, is a great skill to add to your jeweler's repertoire.
Shop NowIf you're just getting started metalsmithing, don't be intimidated by the jeweler's torch. It takes a little getting used to, but it quickly becomes like an extension of your arm. It makes so many things possible in the jewelry studio that you'll soon become comfortable with the flame and excited about what you can do.
It quickly becomes like an extension of your arm.
The jeweler's torch is the center of a soldering set-up that you can build at your jeweler's bench or nearby in your studio workspace. We recommend taking a course on soldering basics and safety prior to experimenting on your own.
A jeweler's torch is used to heat metal and solder to permanently join two pieces of metal together. The solder flows across the join and holds the pieces together once it hardens. A jeweler's torch is different than a laser welder, which fuses the metals together without solder.
You have several choices when it comes to the solder itself. There is silver solder paste, sheet and chip solder, or wire solder. Base metal brazing solder is also available. For 14kt solid gold or gold-filled, you use gold solder. In the Halstead Studio, we use all the different types, depending on what is best for the jewelry design.
Paste solder is a tacky mixture of solder and flux. It's perfect for small things like jump rings. Chip (also called "pallion") solder is easy to control because the pieces are small and similarly sized. You can easily maneuver pallions with the tip of your soldering pick. Wire is versatile: you can cut what you need and flatten it with a hammer if necessary.
Easy, soft, medium and hard refer to the melting points of the solder and the mix of the alloys. As you plan your jewelry design, you'll want to think about how many times the piece will need to be soldered. Use the hardest solder necessary for the first join, then work your way down the scale.
We recommend specific training prior to soldering gold-filled items.
We recommend specific training prior to soldering gold-filled items. For the best results, use gold solder and then plate the entire piece in gold to protect the join and give the piece a shiny, evenly colored finish.
Soldering Tips:
- Make sure your metal is clean.
- The metal must be touching.
- Use flux to help the solder flow.
- Concentrate the heat on the metal, not on the solder.
- Practice, practice, practice.
Start your soldering journey today! Check out our soldering blog articles for more tips & tricks to help you along the way.
Jewelry Soldering Resource Articles
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Soldering sterling silver is one of the fundamental skills that every jeweler should have. Here is a step by step tutorial and list of jewelry soldering supplies & tools to get you going.
Read "Five Steps to Start Silver Soldering" »
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Learn how to solder earring posts on blanks or other ornaments in this 6-step how-to guide.
Read "6 Steps to Soldering Earring Posts" »
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Johanna Harold, one of our Halstead Preferred Teachers, shares her top three tips for working the torch.
Read "3 Torch Tips for Soldering" »
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Tips for finding the right heat source for your needs.
Read "Torch Tips, Fuels & Solder Melting Points" »
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See our jewelry studio soldering station set-up. What items we use the most and more.
Read "Soldering Station" »
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Solder any earring post onto a blank, quickly and easily.
Read "How to Solder an Earring Post" »
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Eva Sherman shows how easy it is to solder rings and tube settings together to make beautiful jewelry...
Read "Beads, Baubles & Jewels with Eva Sherman" »