After soldering thousands of jump rings I have learned that I always get a better join if you solder with the join held at the BOTTOM of the ring as the solder has nowhere to go but the join when it flows and not to one side if pulled by gravity
Glad you found a process that consistently produces good results for you. By the way, it isn't gravity that pulls the solder to one side; it's heat. That's why you want to heat the jump ring evenly. "Solder goes with the first piece of metal that gets hot for her." 😀
Hi Grace, You are exactly the kind of person I have in my mind when I film an OJA video. I love helping people with a passion for jewelry. Ultimately, that passion will help you to gain confidence in your technical skills. Glad you found the OJA. Thanks for your support! : )
Isn't pick soldering amazing Hilary? I use it all of the time at my bench. You might also want to check out the OJA's video on paste solder. That material has truly changed how I work. You can find all of the OJA's videos conveniently grouped by category on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com Thanks for your support! : )
Watching the jump ring grab that tiny bit of solder was a bit of a "Wow" moment, having never seen pick soldering demo'd before. Definitely want to give the tech a try. I did some shopping for a pair of solder cutting pliers and couldn't figure out which to order. None mentioned the size of solder wire it will cut. See I use a lead free solder for making soldered shadow box charms/pendants, more like the size of stained glass solder, so it seems the solders I have on hand are much thicker than what the pliers will accommodate. Are the pliers strictly for silver solder wire? I also recently rec'd an order of copper color-match soldering wire from Rio Grade and I'm wondering if the pliers will work for it. Thanks for the great tutorial.
Hi Michelle, Isn't cool the way the solder just jumps into the seam? The trick is to evenly heat both sided to the soldering temperature. I found my pair of solder cutting pliers on E-bay. I don't remember the name of the vendor. I just kept looking at the photos until I saw a pair that would cut wire solder too. I'm sure some will turn up soon. And yes, they are designed to cut silver and gold solder. The copper "color-match" wire solder will fit in the pliers. But, that copper solder is terrible in my opinion. It takes a really aggressive flame to melt it before it totally oxidizes. Be sure to use lots of flux. Also, it doesn't match exactly. And, it is harder than heck to cut. I'm not a fan of it at all. That's why there are videos on the OJA about how to use spent pickle to hide silver solder seams on copper. Thanks for your support! : )
Bummer, too bad I didn't know about the copper solder being so hard to cut before I bought it. Oh well. Will muddle through. Will you please give me the name or link for the video you referred to about hiding a silver seam on copper? Do your pliers have any kind of markings on them so I can know which you have? Thanks for your help.
Hi Michelle, Here's the link to the video that I mentioned: ua-cam.com/video/i-qEi7Q01iA/v-deo.html Here's a link to the solder cutting pliers that I have shown in the OJA's videos:www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058EDCIA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Thanks for your support! : )
After reading some comments, I found that you recommend using a laser welder to attach a jump ring to a spring ring clasp. Not everyone has a laser welder. Couldn't you apply paste solder to the end of pick and apply the flame towards the middle of the pick so heat transfers to the point and then touch the jump ring with the pick and solder when it starts to flow? I'm hoping this will work but I haven't tried it yet or actually my hands were too shaky to hold it steady since I don't have a proper work bench. It sounds like if you have steady hands, it "should" work but will it? Thanks so much!!
The short answer is no. Solder flows toward heat. You have to heat the metal that you want to solder. Fine chains are most often scraped when they break because they are too hard to repair without freezing a section. And, spring rings are never heated. They are merely closed shut. I know that not everyone can afford a laser welder. Just remember that sometimes it’s OK to turn over a repair (or an aspect of a project) to someone else. The goal is to do it right and make money at it. Good luck!🍀
@@OnlineJewelryAcademy Thank you so much for this valuable info. Although I'm a long time student of UA-cam University's Bench Jeweler program, I'm still pretty new to the practice of soldering. I learn so much from people like yourself so thank you for taking the time to teach. Have a blessed day!🙂
Nice, clear and eloquent! Could you just tell me: Is this method appropriate to put a small jump ring (with a diameter of about 4mm) on an existing silver chain (for example, to put or change a clasp)? Due to the direct heat of the torch, wouldn't there be a risk of oxidizing seriously not only the ring but also the chain and the clasp? Wouldn't this be a real problem on a very delicate chain? Due to the high temperature, wouldn't there also be a risk that the clasp mecanism be dammaged or worst, ruined? Thanks!
Pick soldering is great for soldering operations like adding a jump ring to a chain. But, it may not be suitable for soldering your clasp (if it has a spring in it). : )
@@OnlineJewelryAcademy OK, thank you! What soldering method would you recommend to put a small clasp (with a spring inside) to a delicate silver chain? (The clasp itself will not need to be soldered, but the jump ring next to it will.)
Midiman IAC the best method for soldering an open ring attached to a clasp, that has a spring inside of it, is to use a laser welder. The laser will not transfer heat into the spring.
just what I needed. Thanks. Only problem, which you obviously also have, is to avoid blowing the small piece of solder away with the torch. Got any trick on that?
Nice video. I heard that when pick soldering, the melting temperature of the solder increases, because when applying it to the piece, its the second time it's heated. So would that affect choices of hardness?
Hey Huskyfluffy, The melting temperature of the solder only increases when it is applied to the piece. That's because the solder alloys with the parent metal. I always try to use hard solder whenever possible. Check out the selecting solder video for more information about solder. Thanks for your support! : )
Hey John, I have a question if that's ok? My soldering attempts have been disastrous to say the least but watching this video again has, I think, helped me sort out where I'm going wrong. First, I need to point out that I have an abysmal short term memory so it takes me a long time to learn new skills. I've just realised that, although I have kept the flame away from the solder and joint while I was heating up the whole piece, I was then moving the flame right onto the joint, causing oxidation and blackening the flux and solder and I'm now pretty sure that that is the cause of my problems: does that sound right? As its now 04.23 gmt I'll have to wait a few hours to give it a go lol. On a more positive note I've had good results from the pickle pot: I've used diluted kettle descaler from my local hardwear store, on the basis that if it can eat through limescale it can eat through oxides, and I keep it warm In an old baby bottle warmer, smaller footprint than a crockpot. Thank you for all the videos you post, I always look forward to the next one.
Hi Lynette, Be sure that you flux wherever you want your solder to flow. And, it's wise to not heat directly on top of the solder. But, you can apply heat outside of the joint to help pull the solder through the joint. Solder is attracted to heat. Learning how to solder takes practice. So, be patient with yourself and keep trying. You'll eventually get it. I've never used kettle descaler in a pickle pot. But if it's working without damaging your work, congrats on your inventiveness. Thanks for your support! : )
I don't make my own solder. But, I'm sure that you can find instructions for how to alloy various types of solder online or at your library. I admire you for attempting to make your own solder. Seems like a lot of work to me. Good luck. Thanks for your support! : )
Making your own solder is going to be a tricky metallurgical process, since two key ingredients--silver and zinc--have much different melting points--they vary by 1000 degrees, so it could be dangerous if done wrong. Even getting the alloy right to melt at specific temps will be hard. I'm no metallurgist, so easier for me to buy, unless unavailable to you.
Hi Gabby, A cold pick works better because it chills the meniscus of the molten sphere causing it to grab onto the tool. It essentially contracts the molten metal onto the tip of the pick. Sorry I didn't make that more clear in the video. Thanks for your support! : )
THAT is so excellent to understand! And, that explanation TOTALLY makes sense. Wow, I just love it when it comes together in my brain! As usual, excellence at the OJA!
Got right to the point, kept it quick, but remained very detailed. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! 😀
After soldering thousands of jump rings I have learned that I always get a better join if you solder with the join held at the BOTTOM of the ring as the solder has nowhere to go but the join when it flows and not to one side if pulled by gravity
Glad you found a process that consistently produces good results for you. By the way, it isn't gravity that pulls the solder to one side; it's heat. That's why you want to heat the jump ring evenly. "Solder goes with the first piece of metal that gets hot for her." 😀
I love all of your videos. Thank you so much! I'm relatively new to metalsmithing, and you are such an enormous help!
Thanks for the compliment. I always try to be the teacher I wish I’d had when I was getting started. Good luck with your creative pursuits. 🍀😀
Thank you yet once again!
For making, easy to learn videos.
For not over talking and confusing my fearful brain of the soldering process!
Hi Grace, You are exactly the kind of person I have in my mind when I film an OJA video. I love helping people with a passion for jewelry. Ultimately, that passion will help you to gain confidence in your technical skills. Glad you found the OJA.
Thanks for your support! : )
I want to learn this technique--and as usual your videos are both concise and informative--thanks John! :)
Thank you for your support Kurt!
Excellent tuition, as usual :-)
Answered all my questions!
very helpful! Thank you :)
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! 😀
It's magic!! Thanks for this :-)
Isn't pick soldering amazing Hilary? I use it all of the time at my bench. You might also want to check out the OJA's video on paste solder. That material has truly changed how I work. You can find all of the OJA's videos conveniently grouped by category on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com
Thanks for your support! : )
Thanks👍🏻 you are the best👌🏻
Wow! Thanks Camilla. I really appreciate the compliment.
Thanks for your support! : )
Watching the jump ring grab that tiny bit of solder was a bit of a "Wow" moment, having never seen pick soldering demo'd before. Definitely want to give the tech a try.
I did some shopping for a pair of solder cutting pliers and couldn't figure out which to order. None mentioned the size of solder wire it will cut. See I use a lead free solder for making soldered shadow box charms/pendants, more like the size of stained glass solder, so it seems the solders I have on hand are much thicker than what the pliers will accommodate. Are the pliers strictly for silver solder wire? I also recently rec'd an order of copper color-match soldering wire from Rio Grade and I'm wondering if the pliers will work for it.
Thanks for the great tutorial.
Hi Michelle, Isn't cool the way the solder just jumps into the seam? The trick is to evenly heat both sided to the soldering temperature.
I found my pair of solder cutting pliers on E-bay. I don't remember the name of the vendor. I just kept looking at the photos until I saw a pair that would cut wire solder too. I'm sure some will turn up soon. And yes, they are designed to cut silver and gold solder. The copper "color-match" wire solder will fit in the pliers. But, that copper solder is terrible in my opinion. It takes a really aggressive flame to melt it before it totally oxidizes. Be sure to use lots of flux. Also, it doesn't match exactly. And, it is harder than heck to cut. I'm not a fan of it at all. That's why there are videos on the OJA about how to use spent pickle to hide silver solder seams on copper.
Thanks for your support! : )
Bummer, too bad I didn't know about the copper solder being so hard to cut before I bought it. Oh well. Will muddle through. Will you please give me the name or link for the video you referred to about hiding a silver seam on copper?
Do your pliers have any kind of markings on them so I can know which you have?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Michelle, Here's the link to the video that I mentioned: ua-cam.com/video/i-qEi7Q01iA/v-deo.html
Here's a link to the solder cutting pliers that I have shown in the OJA's videos:www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058EDCIA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Thanks for your support! : )
Thanks so much, John!
After reading some comments, I found that you recommend using a laser welder to attach a jump ring to a spring ring clasp. Not everyone has a laser welder. Couldn't you apply paste solder to the end of pick and apply the flame towards the middle of the pick so heat transfers to the point and then touch the jump ring with the pick and solder when it starts to flow? I'm hoping this will work but I haven't tried it yet or actually my hands were too shaky to hold it steady since I don't have a proper work bench. It sounds like if you have steady hands, it "should" work but will it? Thanks so much!!
The short answer is no. Solder flows toward heat. You have to heat the metal that you want to solder. Fine chains are most often scraped when they break because they are too hard to repair without freezing a section. And, spring rings are never heated. They are merely closed shut. I know that not everyone can afford a laser welder. Just remember that sometimes it’s OK to turn over a repair (or an aspect of a project) to someone else. The goal is to do it right and make money at it. Good luck!🍀
@@OnlineJewelryAcademy Thank you so much for this valuable info. Although I'm a long time student of UA-cam University's Bench Jeweler program, I'm still pretty new to the practice of soldering. I learn so much from people like yourself so thank you for taking the time to teach. Have a blessed day!🙂
Nice, clear and eloquent!
Could you just tell me: Is this method appropriate to put a small jump ring (with a diameter of about 4mm) on an existing silver chain (for example, to put or change a clasp)?
Due to the direct heat of the torch, wouldn't there be a risk of oxidizing seriously not only the ring but also the chain and the clasp? Wouldn't this be a real problem on a very delicate chain?
Due to the high temperature, wouldn't there also be a risk that the clasp mecanism be dammaged or worst, ruined?
Thanks!
Pick soldering is great for soldering operations like adding a jump ring to a chain. But, it may not be suitable for soldering your clasp (if it has a spring in it). : )
@@OnlineJewelryAcademy OK, thank you! What soldering method would you recommend to put a small clasp (with a spring inside) to a delicate silver chain? (The clasp itself will not need to be soldered, but the jump ring next to it will.)
Midiman IAC the best method for soldering an open ring attached to a clasp, that has a spring inside of it, is to use a laser welder. The laser will not transfer heat into the spring.
just what I needed. Thanks. Only problem, which you obviously also have, is to avoid blowing the small piece of solder away with the torch. Got any trick on that?
I sure do. Hammer your wire solder a little to flatten it. Then, it will stay put when the torch hits it.
Thanks for your support! : )
Make some small holes in your charcoal block
Nice video. I heard that when pick soldering, the melting temperature of the solder increases, because when applying it to the piece, its the second time it's heated. So would that affect choices of hardness?
Hey Huskyfluffy, The melting temperature of the solder only increases when it is applied to the piece. That's because the solder alloys with the parent metal. I always try to use hard solder whenever possible. Check out the selecting solder video for more information about solder.
Thanks for your support! : )
Hey John, I have a question if that's ok? My soldering attempts have been disastrous to say the least but watching this video again has, I think, helped me sort out where I'm going wrong. First, I need to point out that I have an abysmal short term memory so it takes me a long time to learn new skills. I've just realised that, although I have kept the flame away from the solder and joint while I was heating up the whole piece, I was then moving the flame right onto the joint, causing oxidation and blackening the flux and solder and I'm now pretty sure that that is the cause of my problems: does that sound right? As its now 04.23 gmt I'll have to wait a few hours to give it a go lol. On a more positive note I've had good results from the pickle pot: I've used diluted kettle descaler from my local hardwear store, on the basis that if it can eat through limescale it can eat through oxides, and I keep it warm In an old baby bottle warmer, smaller footprint than a crockpot. Thank you for all the videos you post, I always look forward to the next one.
Hi Lynette, Be sure that you flux wherever you want your solder to flow. And, it's wise to not heat directly on top of the solder. But, you can apply heat outside of the joint to help pull the solder through the joint. Solder is attracted to heat. Learning how to solder takes practice. So, be patient with yourself and keep trying. You'll eventually get it. I've never used kettle descaler in a pickle pot. But if it's working without damaging your work, congrats on your inventiveness.
Thanks for your support! : )
pls sir tell me combination of metals to produce silver solder??my combination is getting wronge such that it doesn't spred when heated..
I don't make my own solder. But, I'm sure that you can find instructions for how to alloy various types of solder online or at your library. I admire you for attempting to make your own solder. Seems like a lot of work to me. Good luck.
Thanks for your support! : )
Making your own solder is going to be a tricky metallurgical process, since two key ingredients--silver and zinc--have much different melting points--they vary by 1000 degrees, so it could be dangerous if done wrong. Even getting the alloy right to melt at specific temps will be hard. I'm no metallurgist, so easier for me to buy, unless unavailable to you.
okk sir.. thx 4 reply... i really love ur vdos,art,tech and all...
Why does a cold pick work better than a hot pick? Thanks
Hi Gabby, A cold pick works better because it chills the meniscus of the molten sphere causing it to grab onto the tool. It essentially contracts the molten metal onto the tip of the pick. Sorry I didn't make that more clear in the video.
Thanks for your support! : )
THAT is so excellent to understand! And, that explanation TOTALLY makes sense. Wow, I just love it when it comes together in my brain! As usual, excellence at the OJA!
im not a beginner. but this has helped... :)
Glad you found the video helpful to you in your work.
Thanks for your support! : )