eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Solder Jewelry Pendants

Contributor
By Aksana Nikolai
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

An alloy formed by a combination of lead and tin, solder is a material that crafters often use to join metals together. You may be surprised to learn that jewelry makers use the soldering technique to create glass jewelry pendants. While solder does not adhere to glass, crafters are able to solder glass pieces together with the help of copper tape. Some soldered pendants resemble stained glass art, while others take on the form of "memory pendants" decorated with meaningful images and text.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Colored glass pieces or glass microscope slides
  • Graphic and text cutouts
  • Wooden workboard
  • Copper tape
  • Soldering iron
  • Solder pieces
  • Paintbrush
  • Flux
  • Pendant bail
  • Cord or chain
  • Safety goggles

    Putting the Pendant Together

  1. Step 1

    Select the items you will make your pendant with. Ideas include soldering several pieces of different-colored glass together for a stained glass effect or placing a glued collage graphics and text between two microscope slides.

  2. Step 2

    Arrange the different pieces of stained glass on the workboard in the desired design. Take one of the glass pieces and cover all of its edges with copper tape. Press any tape that hangs over the edges down against the faces of the glass. Repeat with the remaining glass pieces.

  3. Step 3

    Plug in the soldering iron. As you wait for the iron to heat up, choose two glass pieces you wish to attach first. Prep the glass edges you will be joining together by brushing flux onto each edge. Place the two edges against each other.

  4. Step 4

    Hold a piece of solder in one hand and the iron in the other. Position the solder directly above the foiled edges. Touch the iron's tip against the tip of the solder piece. It will melt and fill in part of the space between the two glass pieces. Repeat this step until you have filled the entire space between the two pieces.

  5. Step 5

    Continue applying flux to the glass edges and soldering them together until all the pendant's parts have been attached.

  6. Step 6

    Hold the two slides together with your non-dominant hand if this is the pendant style you have chosen to make. Use your dominant hand to cover the edges of both slides in copper tape. The two slides should be attached together once you have covered all of the edges in foil. Use the soldering technique from step 4 to solder the perimeter of the glass. The goal is to create a frame of solder around the two slides.

  7. Attaching the Bail to the Pendant

  8. Step 1

    Hold the jewelry bail in your non-dominant hand with the help of pliers. Use your free hand to brush flux onto the bail. Press the bail against the middle of the top edge of the pendant. Use the soldering technique from step 4 to deposit a small drop of solder onto the bail as you press it against the pendant. Allow the project to cool.

  9. Step 2

    Dip a rag into glass cleaner. Wipe any glass not covered in foil to remove any grease or grime.

  10. Step 3

    Finish by threading a chain or cord through the pendant's bail.

Tips & Warnings
  • Several types of solder are available. The best choice for projects involving copper tape is 60/40 solder, which consists of 60% tin and 40% lead.
  • Protect your eyes when soldering by wearing safety goggles.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Hobbies, Games & Toys
Nate Chang, eHow Expert,

Meet Nate Chang, eHow Expert eHow's Hobbies, Games & Toys Expert.

Get Free Hobbies, Games & Toys Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

eHow Home and Garden
eHow_eHow Home and Garden