5 Soldering Tips for Beginners: A Silversmithing Tutorial

[@janehoward5677]

Have you considered doing a video on your acetylene air torch? What kind of tank to use, how to put it together , what are the safety concerns?

[@chadssilversmithing]

I may do that eventually, but your best bet is to follow the safety protocols that the company suggests.

[@johnlittle241]

Having had year of soldering on circuit boards and copper wire I thought I had a head start on jewlery soldering. WRONG! Not even close to the same thing. I spend most of my "jewlery time" cleaning up my solder messes. Thanks for the tips, Chad.

[@chadssilversmithing]

It gets easier with practice John:). Keep practicing! Thanks for the nice comment!

[@meredithdavis5167]

As a beginner, I found this to be very useful! Info. I dig your mellow vibe too. The reminder to practice... That's essential.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Meredith! I appreciate your nice comment:)

[@dschiller52]

Thanks! The calm voice is great to follow!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You're welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful:)

[@susandunlap7754]

Thinking of starting copper and the video led me here good info ty

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@susandunlap7754 You’re welcome Susan! Thanks for the nice comment:)

[@sandywood8437]

Thankyou for this. I'm mainly self taught the hardest thing for me is polishing when I have raised elements on my designs. Any chance off a soldering tutorial

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re welcome!

[@bjones4097]

Thanks for this video Chad. Lots of good info for beginners. One word you used toward the end was “practice”. That’s the key, “practice”.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Bill! Practice makes perfect:)

[@lynnangst1035]

Lynn angste

[@jonpierce8342]

Great information... I have been slowly building my tools, and skillset working with silver. When i was younger I did a fair bit of fire assaying, and refining... I remember bothering my father, and his friends while they were casting bronze. I have always been obsessed with making things from scratch. I made my first batch of sterling silver using pure silver coins, and constitutional silver. I bought a cheap vevor rolling mill, anda draw plate so i can produce my own wire, and sheet materials. Then i made a batch of hard solder, and rolled it out into a thin sheet. It has always been a goal of mine to make jewelry from the things ive collected throughout my life... Ive got a lifetime worth of beatiful stones ive collected from the pacific northwest. My storage got broken into a few years ago, and much to my dismay they left all my big carpentry tools... Bandsaw, table saw, jointers, and chain mortiser... They took 5 buckets of rocks... Over 40 lbs of ellensburg blue agates that i had collected as a child, my collection of obsidian by itself was enough to make any rockhound drool... 20 lbs of electrum from the Wenatchee area... I lost close to 250k worth of raw stones... That was the moment where i decided it was time to start making things from what i have left. Your videos have been extremely helpful to me as ive been learning a new skillset. Thank you for putting in the extra effort to film your work, and share your knowledge. I know its not easy filming these things... Im working on my first commissioned pieces right now, and when i get them done i will be buying you a coffee for sure! 😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Jon! It heartbreaking when someone steals from you. I’m sorry that happened. I’m glad you are enjoying the videos:)

[@rogerharris8081]

Great tips and reminders to those more experienced.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Roger:)

[@NineFingerNative]

Awesome advice, I just finished a raw rock mount, turned out awesome following your directions. You rock Chad !!!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks! I'm glad I could help:). Thanks for the nice comment!

[@Loveyou-bb9bg]

You are one of those angels who help other people, just as God intended to!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks!

[@boomjewelrydesigns]

Great video! I have soldered a ton, but these remider videos are always great to refresh!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Benny! Looks like you are almost to 2K! Woohoo!!!

[@Zen_Modeling]

Excellent Video💯 You’re content delivery style connects perfectly with my 65 yr old ADHD BRAIN 🧠…🤓 I wish your instructional videos included working with Brass… In the past year I’ve taught myself a dozen different skills related to my hobby, with the current one soldering Brass chassis for 1:25 scale Autos. I understand your a Silver Smith but I’m sure your work has included working with Brass soldering… . I feel like I’m back in 80’s studying at Texas State, but now it’s “KZbin U” 😉 I’ve found that there is a definite content delivery style that engages that ADHD 🧠 of mine, and you’re style is the perfect example! So if you ever decide to put out an instructional video for “beginners soldering brass” , I’d be forever grateful…. 🙏Thank you Sir🙏 Lee

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Lee! That is a really nice compliment. I haven't done that much with brass, so I'm probably not the best source of info on that. That being said, it might make for an interesting video experimenting with soldering different metals.

[@ambkbero2]

What great info for us new to silver smithing. Could you also add links to where you get some of your equipment, in particular the needle tipped flux bottle.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Ambkbero! I think the dropper is from Amazon. Here is a link to PepeTools: pepetools.com?aff=47.

[@yvonnejohnson51]

I loved this video. You covered every mistake I made as a beginner . I actually stopped trying. Ready to get back at it now!’ Thank you

[@chadssilversmithing]

I'm really glad Yvonne! I made a lot of mistakes as a beginner too:)

[@LynnLB-ry4zq]

Hi Chad. Your videos are very helpful. Question? How would you heat the entire wire when making a bangle with a pearl? Thanks

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Lynn! Can you elaborate a little more about the particular situation?

[@janehoward5677]

Great video. Had trouble last night soldering the geometric cuff. I thought at the time that my propane torch was not enough for the piece. I also had one piece not quite touching and it wouldn’t solder. It is a lot to think about. This video helped a lot! Thanks Chad!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Sure Jane! Glad it was helpful:)

[@v65sabreking]

Thank you for this video I tried to explain it to a friend but you do it way better

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks SabreKing!

[@jay8353]

Another awesome tutorial, thank you so much for sharing knowledge

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Jay!

[@Dippedinsilver1974]

All great tips. Thank you!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Johanna!

[@marywolfe3018]

Thanks Chad. My soldering skills has been quite rusty these days. I've been working with copper and am starting a men's bangle out of sheet. Trying to solder on the hammered twisted wire, but it won't stick. I'm writing down your tips so I can refer to it as needed until I get the hang of it. Thank you.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I'm really glad I could help Mary! Thank you for the nice comment:)

[@NVScrapper]

Thank you Chad, great tips!!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello NVScrapper! Glad you found it useful:)

[@aramayicart27]

Thank you!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You're very welcome!

[@pugsaway746]

Great tips thanks 😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you pugsaway!

[@rebeccahaen570]

Thanks a bunch

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re very welcome Rebecca!

[@eb1138]

Great video. Thanks!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re welcome eb! I’m glad you found it useful:). Thanks for the nice comment!

[@gisella1350]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I'm glad you found it useful Gisella!

[@MarthaErb]

Thanks so much!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You're welcome Martha! I'm glad you found it useful:)

[@andreabutcher6807]

very helpful thank you

[@chadssilversmithing]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks Andrea:)

[@charhousky7705]

Thanks!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you for your kindness charhousky!

[@charhousky7705]

@@chadssilversmithing A little thanks for a wonderful lesson.

[@megustaelsol]

thank you!

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re welcome:)

[@anmolkhanna4759]

Nice💖👍

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Anmolkhanna!

[@sannywicca7504]

Thank you so much i really appreciate it thank you

[@chadssilversmithing]

Glad it is useful to you Sanny!

[@denisecoyne6447]

Really nice video.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Glad you liked it Denise!

[@tahomyjo]

Thanks chad

[@chadssilversmithing]

You are welcome!

[@charhousky7705]

Thank you for the tips. They were very helpful to me and I’m going to try them right away. I am a beginner and have had all the mistakes you addressed. May I ask what sort of device you are using to squirt on the flux? I have a spray bottle.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Lately I’ve been using a dropper bottle that was given to me by a follower. They can be purchased on Amazon pretty cheaply. Search for flux dropper bottle:)

[@charhousky7705]

Thanks.

[@bulldogtonyyt1116]

Hello, I'm new to your channel! Couldn't help notice a strong resemblance to the guy on the Coinhelpu channel! Remarkable 😮

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Tony! Interesting:). Hadn’t heard of him before.

[@SusanCase]

Should you hold torch in right hand if you are right handed and left if left handed?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello susan! I mostly hold it in my non-dominant hand so I can use my good hand to hold a tool:)

[@roxannebennett1143]

Hi Chad, What tip do you use on your torch?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Roxanne. I use a number 1 for almost everything. If I’m melting a quantity of silver, I put the number 3 on:)

[@hosannaliving]

What are you using to drop that flux? I love how it can drop right where needed 😊

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Christine! It’s a little syringe dropper bottle given to me by a follower:). There are similar ones on Amazon.

[@merisandlin6872]

Do you have any demos on fusing sterling silver?

[@chadssilversmithing]

I do not Meris. I honestly haven't had a lot of success with consistent fusing. I probably just haven't learned the tricks:)

[@annjessup1670]

Back to say I soldered the most perfect bezel join today after watching this video! Hope it wasn’t a one off fluke 😅. Wish I could add a photo!

[@chadssilversmithing]

That is awesome Ann!

[@lafamillecarrington]

Why does silver for soldering not come as wire (as is the case with electrical soldering)? It is much easier to heat the metal and then position the solder with wire. I watch videos before deciding if I like them. Please ask towards the end of the video (I did like it!).

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello lafamillecareington. You can get wire solder as well if you prefer. Pick soldering works exactly the same but gives you the added bonus of being able to precisely control how much solder flows onto the piece:)

[@lafamillecarrington]

@@chadssilversmithing Thanks for the information.🙂

[@relvafrancis7581]

How to use the powder flux

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Relva! I've never actually used a powder flux, so I wouldn't be the best source of information about that.

[@sheila3845]

I do not see the jewelry for sale on website Were they removed for special ordered items?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Sheila. We are changing the website around. If you are interested in a particular piece I made for the channel, contact me through Instagram and we can talk:)

[@Dippedinsilver1974]

Can you recommend a good torch? I’d like to get one but I don’t know where to start. Thanks!

[@chadssilversmithing]

What are you using now Johanna?

[@jimconacher104]

Chad I have a question for you. Ok Now I get silver things and I eat them up in acid and then turn it back into 999 silver. Now with my safe fill of silver would it be good to use that silver for making jewelry or should I turn it back into 925 silver? Thank you for the info in this video. Take it easy

[@chadssilversmithing]

The reason Sterling is used from my understanding is that adding the 7.25% copper makes it quite a bit harder, which makes it hold a polish longer. If you use fine, it works ok, but will stop being shiny much more quickly.

[@jimconacher104]

@@chadssilversmithing Thank you. I did not know it affected the shine. The strength I knew about. Thank you for your answers, They do help me big time. Take care man

[@dustinmiller2775]

By the inch it's a cinch. But it's hard, by the yard. 🙂

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hehe!

[@nkaetchen]

I used to be able to get 90’ angles on bezel pieces to solder and now I can’t seem to do it easily. 😮

[@chadssilversmithing]

You might try getting a mitre vise jig. Those work great for that:)

[@nkaetchen]

Thanks! I have ordered a dental metal clipper that hopefully will help! Thank you so much for all of your videos!

[@SoleilMagica]

For me, i mostly struggle how to keep things in place while soldering. I use a charcoal block, and it tends to become uneven after a while. I waste a lot of time trying to place metal together, only for them to fall apart when i'm firing. Sooooo annoying, and the third hand barely helps. Another problem i have is when i try to solder prongs to a bigger metal piece without melting the prongs because of how small they are.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello SoleilMagica! Try getting a magnesia block. It allows you to push things into it a bit and they stay in place better in some situations.

[@SoleilMagica]

@@chadssilversmithing thank you :)

[@johnjewell219]

👏👍😎🇦🇺🐈‍⬛

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks John!