If you are looking for some great beginner tips for soldering jewelry look no further! Over the years here at Metalsmith Society we have shared some awesome soldering tips and I have compiled some of my favorites below.

Here is a tip for holding your cross-locking tweezers with binder clips from @marionwild

Here is a soldering tip from @marionwild - “I use binder clips on the ends of cross locking tweezers for help with...

SOLDERING NEST FROM @mothersonthemountainjewelry

Jeweler @mothersonthemountainjewelry brought this #solderingnest idea from @ganoksin_project to life with 22g steel...

SOLDERING A JUMPRING TO A CHAIN WITH SCRAP METAL AS A HEAT SINK FROM @Becca.compton

Here is another method for soldering a jump ring to fine chain from @Becca.compton - “I just use scrap bronze to cover the...

PAPERCLIP TWEEZERS FOR SOLDERING EARRING POSTS FROM
@irenezaerajoyas

These #DIY paper clip tweezers are AMAZING from @irenezaerajoyas - “I make tiny tweezers from steel paper clips to help me...

USING VARIOUS STEEL ITEMS TO PROVIDE A LITTLE LIFT WHILE SOLDERING FROM @amyy50

When you need a little lift during a solder job @amyy50 has multiple options for you! T Pins, paper clips, and pieces of...

TECHNIQUE FOR KEEPING DECORATIVE WIRE IN PLACE DURING SOLDERING FROM @thesovereigncrow

Here is an awesome solution for keeping decorative elements in place while soldering from @thesovereigncrow - ““ I make a...

USING WOLF CLAY AS A SOLDERING PROP TO POSITION PIECES AND AS A HEAT PROTECT

For this #tooltalktuesday I wanted to talk about Kate Wolf’s Soldering Clay (shoutouts to @katemallerjewelry who...

SOLDERING FINE CHAIN TO A JUMPRING (WITHOUT MELTING) FROM @thebenchmarkcollection

Here is a phenomenal breakdown of how to solder fine chain to a jump ring from @thebenchmarkcollection -“Step 1: cut jump...

USING LINES ON YOUR SOLDERING BOARD TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT FROM @pyrus_designs

Here is an amazing tip to help ensure your pieces are centered and aligned while soldering from @pyrus_designs - “On the...

POSITIONING A JUMPRING OR BAIL FOR SOLDERING FROM
@umyajewelry

Here is a technique to help you position elements like bails and jumprings while soldering from @umyajewelry - “Using...

USING A WOODEN DAPPING BLOCK FILLED WITH WATER TO PROTECT A STONE WHILE SOLDERING A REPAIR FROM @sarah.jackson.jewellery

Last time I had to solder a piece with a gemstone that needed protecting I used ‘heat shield’ that I purchased @riogrande,...

USING COPPER PENNIES (PRIOR TO 1982) TO LIFT ELEMENTS WHILE SOLDERING FROM @kkbmetalstudio

Here is a soldering tip from @kkbmetalstudio - “Use copper pennies (prior to 1982) when you need to hold things in place...

PREVENTING SOLDER FLOW WITH RONDA CORYELL'S MASKING MUD FROM @knotandsplice

When you want to prevent solder from flowing into a design you’ve stamped, or prevent a previously soldered element from...

SECURING ITEMS WHILE SOLDERING FROM @auldmoon

Here is a tip that is super helpful for securing things when soldering from @auldmoon “Make horseshoe shapes out of...

USING A SPLIT MANDREL TO SOLDER A SPLITSHANK EVENLY FROM @meritmade

I love this solution for holding a split shank ring in place while soldering from @meritmade - She used a split mandrel...

USING VIGOR HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT CLASPS WHILE SOLDERING CHAIN

When I’m soldering a clasp onto a chain, I protect the clasp with heat shield. It helps prevent the small elements of the...

USING GRAPHITE PENCIL LEADS INSIDE A HINGE WHILE SOLDERING FROM @elmharris

Amazing hinge tip from @elmharris - “I use graphite pencil leads to keep the hinge knuckles in place and to keep the...

MAKING BALLS IN A CHARCOAL BRICK FROM
@studiojulessilversmith

When you want to make silver balls use this methods from @studiojulessilversmith -“That block has about 2mm holes drilled....

USING A PIECE OF FIREBRICK AND CHIL GEL TO PROTECT A STONE WHILE SOLDERING FROM @andreabjewelry

When you want to go the extra mile to protect a stone during a soldering repair, use this method from @andreabjewelry -“I...

USING GLASS BEADS TO POSITION HINGES DURING SOLDERING FROM @sophiabrand

Thank you so much for sending me this unique technique @sophiabrand -“My tip is glass beads when you solder a moving...

CREATING A PRONG HOLDER FOR SOLDERING FROM
@mirieldesign

Here is an incredible prong setting tip from @mirieldesign - “Drill holes in a scrap metal plate (any metal works), and...

WHEN MELTING BALLS, ANGLE YOUR BRICK AND LET THEM DROP INTO WATER FROM @sinead_cleary_jewelry

When you are creating balls - angle your brick into a container of water and as you form the balls they will roll off the...

USING CLAY AS AN ANTI-FLOW FROM @lindablumelstudio

Here is a tip for preventing solder from flowing from @lindablumelstudio - “I use clay as an anti-flow! It’s a fairly...

USING A SMALL HONEYSOMB WITH PINS FOR POSITIONING WORK FROM @shinynotions

Here is a technique for holding a bail in place while soldering from @shinynotions - “I use a honeycomb soldering board...

USING A POTATO AS A HEAT PROTECTANT FROM @makeitkimtoday

If you need an inexpensive heat protectant or prop for soldering, use this tip from @makeitkimtoday - “Potatoes can be a...

USING A TRIVET TO SOLDER BEZELS AND HEAT FROM BELOW

Here is a technique for soldering your bezels or smaller details to a piece without melting - focus your torch flame on...

USING YOUR TWEEZERS AS A HEAT SINK WHILE SOLDERING A CHAIN FROM @lumenrosejewelry

Here is another technique to try when soldering a jump ring onto chain from @lumenrosejewelry - “This is my little trick....

PENCIL TO PREVENT SOLDER FLOW FROM @nrjewellerydesign

Here is a tip to prevent solder flow from @nrjewellerydesign - “A pencil is all you need to stop messy solder overflow....

USING BROKEN HONEYCOMB BOARD TO POSITION A PIECE FOR SOLDERING FROM @brackendesigns

Here is a great use for those broken honeycombs from @brackendesigns - “If you've been torching from below with your piece...

DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR SOLDERING SURFACES

For this #tooltalktuesday I wanted to discuss the most common SOLDERING SURFACES (to the best of my knowledge :) First we...

I hope you have found these tips incredibly useful. If you are looking for more tips be sure to check out my book, Metalsmith Society's guide To Jewelry Making. You can purchase a signed copy from the Society Shop where you can also find some awesome merch!

Metalsmith Society's Guide To Jewelry making book

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Tips For Soldering Jewelry

Here is a tip for holding your cross-locking tweezers with binder clips from @marionwild

Binder Clips on Cross Lock Tweezers for Soldering

SOLDERING NEST FROM @mothersonthemountainjewelry

Make a Soldering Nest From Steel Binding Wire

SOLDERING A JUMPRING TO A CHAIN WITH SCRAP METAL AS A HEAT SINK FROM @Becca.compton

Soldering Jump Rings to Fine Chain With a Heat Sink

PAPERCLIP TWEEZERS FOR SOLDERING EARRING POSTS FROM @irenezaerajoyas

DIY Soldering Tweezers From Steel Paper Clips

USING VARIOUS STEEL ITEMS TO PROVIDE A LITTLE LIFT WHILE SOLDERING FROM @amyy50

Lifting Pieces Off the Block While Soldering

TECHNIQUE FOR KEEPING DECORATIVE WIRE IN PLACE DURING SOLDERING FROM @thesovereigncrow

Titanium Solder Strips to Hold Wire Flat

USING WOLF CLAY AS A SOLDERING PROP TO POSITION PIECES AND AS A HEAT PROTECT

Kate Wolf Soldering Clay to Hold and Protect Work

SOLDERING FINE CHAIN TO A JUMPRING (WITHOUT MELTING) FROM @thebenchmarkcollection

Soldering Fine Chain to a Jump Ring

USING LINES ON YOUR SOLDERING BOARD TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT FROM @pyrus_designs

Grid Lines on a Honeycomb Block for Soldering

POSITIONING A JUMPRING OR BAIL FOR SOLDERING FROM @umyajewelry

Positioning Jump Rings in Carved Charcoal for Soldering

USING A WOODEN DAPPING BLOCK FILLED WITH WATER TO PROTECT A STONE WHILE SOLDERING A REPAIR FROM @sarah.jackson.jewellery

Protecting Gemstones While Soldering a Ring Band

USING COPPER PENNIES (PRIOR TO 1982) TO LIFT ELEMENTS WHILE SOLDERING FROM @kkbmetalstudio

Copper Pennies as Soldering Props and Lifts

PREVENTING SOLDER FLOW WITH RONDA CORYELL'S MASKING MUD FROM @knotandsplice

Masking Mud as a Safer Solder Stop Than Whiteout

SECURING ITEMS WHILE SOLDERING FROM @auldmoon

Binding Wire Staples to Hold Work on a Soldering Brick

USING A SPLIT MANDREL TO SOLDER A SPLITSHANK EVENLY FROM @meritmade

Soldering a Split Shank Ring on a Split Mandrel

USING VIGOR HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT CLASPS WHILE SOLDERING CHAIN

Heat Shield to Protect Clasps When Soldering Chain

USING GRAPHITE PENCIL LEADS INSIDE A HINGE WHILE SOLDERING FROM @elmharris

Soldering Hinges With Graphite Pencil Lead

MAKING BALLS IN A CHARCOAL BRICK FROM @studiojulessilversmith

Making Even Silver Balls in a Drilled Charcoal Block

USING A PIECE OF FIREBRICK AND CHIL GEL TO PROTECT A STONE WHILE SOLDERING FROM @andreabjewelry

Protecting a Large Stone During a Soldering Repair

USING GLASS BEADS TO POSITION HINGES DURING SOLDERING FROM @sophiabrand

Soldering Hinges: Glass Beads Keep Parts Separate

CREATING A PRONG HOLDER FOR SOLDERING FROM @mirieldesign

Soldering Prong Settings in a Drilled Metal Plate

WHEN MELTING BALLS, ANGLE YOUR BRICK AND LET THEM DROP INTO WATER FROM @sinead_cleary_jewelry

Making Metal Balls That Roll Into a Water Dish

USING CLAY AS AN ANTI-FLOW FROM @lindablumelstudio

White Stoneware Clay as a Solder Anti-Flow

USING A SMALL HONEYSOMB WITH PINS FOR POSITIONING WORK FROM @shinynotions

Honeycomb Board and Pins to Hold a Bail for Soldering

USING A POTATO AS A HEAT PROTECTANT FROM @makeitkimtoday

Potatoes as Heat Sinks and Props for Soldering

USING A TRIVET TO SOLDER BEZELS AND HEAT FROM BELOW

Soldering Bezels From Below on a Titanium Trivet

USING YOUR TWEEZERS AS A HEAT SINK WHILE SOLDERING A CHAIN FROM @lumenrosejewelry

Shielding Chain With Tweezers While Soldering