How to Solder Jewelry With an Iron

Soldering jewelry with an iron is an integral skill for jewelry makers. A soldering iron is safer and easier to use than a blow torch, but it has its own techniques that differ from the traditional torch soldering. Soldering irons can only be used on base metals such as copper and tin.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soldering iron
• Metal jewelry to be soldered
• Solder
• Soldering tape
• Soldering block

1. Push the two piece of metal together so they are sitting flush against each other. You want to make sure the gap is as narrow as possible.

2. Place a piece of soldering tape on any pieces that are not metal, such as glass, that you will be soldering to the metal pieces.

3. Heat up the area to be soldered with the tip of your soldering iron for several seconds.

4. Press the tip of the solder against the gap where the two pieces join. Heat with the tip of your soldering iron until the solder flows into the gap. Allow the area to cool completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a damp sponge nearby to wipe excess solder from the hot iron. Soldering irons are readily available from most hobby stores and they do not require fuel as they are electric, which makes the initial investment less than that of a torch.
• Never use a soldering iron unattended. Work in a well ventilated area.

Resources

• More jewelry making techniques.