Soldering Made Simple Easy Techniques for the Kitchen-Table Jeweler

Soldering made simple shows how you can make professional quality jewelry right at home. The key to author Joe Silvera's approach is a handheld butane torch that is safe to use in any home or apartment. Joe demonstrates how this easy-to-use torch can solder nearly any small-scale jewelry project with success.

Start small, making earrings and simple shapes, and progress to challenging constructions including a box clasp and rings. You will be amazed at the jewelry that you can make!

Part ONE
Learn all about the tools and materials you will need for a home setup
Read about and practice fundamental soldering techniques, from the basics of fueling to key skills such as pick-soldering
Review related metalworking techniques - drilling, polishing, using a jewelers saw, and more

Part TWO
Learn by doing as you make 12 charming jewelry projects
Create earrings, charms, pendants, rings, and a clasp
Get bonus information on bezel setting and ring sizing

Some of the soldering skills you will learn:

• Making head pins
• Basic soldering
• Sweat soldering
• Melting metal
• Pick soldering
• Soldering with jump rings
• Soldering thick and thin parts
• Soldering near beads
• Attaching charms and clasps securely
• Soldering seams
• Using a soldering tripod
• Using a third hand
• Forming, soldering, and resizing a ring
• Shaping a hallow bead
• Fabricating a small box
• Making and adjusting a clasp
• Adding a soldered pin back
• Adding color to metal with the torch
• Making a bezel setting for a cabochon

About the author: Joe Silvera has more than 20 years of experience in metalworking as a goldsmith, wax model-maker, and jewelry designer. He now devotes all of his time to teaching, passing on the traditions and techniques of his craft and sharing the joy with his students.