Selecting The Best Soldering Surfaces

Recommended Tools & Supplies:
Charcoal Block (Hardened);
Butane Torch;
Solderite Board;
Honeycomb Ceramic Block;
T Pins;
Magnesia Soldering Block;
Charcoal Soldering Block (Soft);
Fire Brick;
Stainless Steel Binding Wire;
Kiln Shelf; and,
Lazy Susan Base
Purchases made using the Amazon links on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com, help to financially support the OJA. On our website you'll also find links to products from Durston Tools that we have reviewed. Or, you can access Durston's website at durston.com/oja.
In this video, Prof. John Ahr of the OJA explains the various soldering surfaces available to jewelers. Knowing how to work with different heating surfaces can improve your craft and save you money.
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www.udemy.com/makingjewelry/?...
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www.udemy.com/articulatedhing...
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[@raghdelgamal1355]

hello John, thank you for your video and bubbly personality. i am a 23 year old jewellery maker, that is just starting to transition from wire wrapping to soldering elements to my pieces. thank you for your informative video

[@gerganashkodrova4251]

Thank you for this information, and thanks especially for writing the names of the blocks in the description - as English is not my mother tongue, it's sometimes difficult to catch the terms from speech

[@adhas]

What a delightful and informative video! I've been avoiding taking the plunge into soldering but your videos made it look less intimidating and more fun 😊 please never change!

[@joesmith1628]

Thank you for the Informative Video John. Another method we use to clean up old soldering blocks is to go outside and rub them on the concrete.

[@mikealman63tab]

Not only informative but made me laugh too, the wig part cracked me up as did the lil outtake at the end. ;-)

[@M00Nabove]

I haven't seen this discussed anywhere else. Very basic but super useful practical information. Thanks a lot!!!

[@sarawolfram6756]

Sooo helpful! I’ve been wanting to solder and anneal and dabble with all this stuffs but was so overwhelmed with what to use and esp what surface to do it on! So many vids cover all the other stuff but not this piece. Thank you thank you thank you! For the record, I couldn’t make a decent wire wrapped loop until stumbling onto one of your vids, always oh so helpful and amusing to boot! :)

[@lynettemckone918]

I had a lovely surprise in the post this morning: a beautiful badge and a 'Thank You' card from you! I'm happy to help support you through Patreon: I wish I could give more because I've learned so much from you over the last couple of years. Watching your videos is like meeting an old friend for coffee: I look forward to watching you for many more years to come, Lynette x

[@Der_Kleine_Mann]

Thank you so much for giving us all these useful informations for free. Really amazing👍

[@samuellaramsey5963]

Super useful info, thank you!

[@jude1515]

Very helpful video.

[@pijnto]

Another informative video, I use insulating fire bricks (about the size of a house brick) probably most similar to the magnesium block, they seem to last forever

[@whisperingeaglelanders2339]

Thank you for all the great lnformation!

[@ninibits]

thanks I really needed this!! 😍

[@mary-annkieckhaben5026]

Thankyou for shering.

[@MissNana1969]

Hi John, this is very nice you do addressing all kind of subjects in jewelry making. I wonder what about using pumice blocks as soldering surface.

[@TheTinaHarchysen]

Your bloopers made me joyous. xoxoxo

[@thomascorner3009]

I had trouble finding heat resistant surfaces in Montreal, so I followed the DIY approach instead. I used recipe of the king of random for his foundary:50% plaster of Paris and 50% sand. It gives a heat resistant surface but it does soak up heat and does not reflect heat very much. But it is cheap and can be molded in any shape like a brick, crucible, etc. Adding some furnace cement to the mix made it less porous and last longer.

[@nelsonx5326]

You cracked me up with that wig.

[@geofflotton5292]

Thankyou