4 of Kelly’s Favorite Soldering Tools
I LOVE soldering. It is truly my favorite part of the metalsmithing process. We all know that skillful soldering is essential in jewelry making, but beginners often find it challenging due to its requirement for precision, control, and understanding of the science.
During my 20 years of experience practicing and teaching, I’ve run into some tools that I literally can’t live without. These tools help with some of the precision and control needed. This is by no means a comprehensive list, or even in order of importance, but it is a great collection of tools that I recommend every smith have in their soldering arsenal.
#1 Knew Concepts Titanium Strips
Form knew concept strips using ring bending pliers to create lots of different shapes
The strips can also be sawn, sanded, and filed as needed to further create modifications
Solder DOES NOT stick to titanium (unlike steel)
Titanium does not steal heat away from the piece being soldered (also unlike steel)
Kelly’s Use: to hold wire to flat sheet, to hold strips together for mixed metal designs, and to hold small details and rings - I find that this is often one of the first tools I pick up. I even like to use the strips flat as props.
#2 Anti-Flux: Yellow Ochre, Masking Mud, Water-Based White Out
Of the various Anti-Fluxes, I use Yellow Ochre most often
It literally prevents solder from flowing. This could either be an existing seam that you want to keep intact or an area of metal that you don’t want solder to flow into.
Kelly’s Use: when attaching chain ends or tabs and I don’t want to freeze up the chain accidentally. Another use is around a bezel with stamping/texture and I don’t want the solder to flow into the details.
#3 Ceramic Honeycomb Block (and T-pins)
Honeycomb blocks are super flat and durable soldering surface.
Easy to mark on and put pins into. - some boards come with pins but I’m cheap and just use T-Pins from the office store (these can also be used in other softer soldering blocks as well)
Hot Tip: Make sure that there is a fire proof surface underneath this board when soldering. The flame definitely travels through the holes.
Kelly’s Use: This is my go to block when I need to make sure that my pieces remain super flat and aligned
#4 Magnesia Soldering Block
Magna Blocks are VERY soft soldering surface. You can push just about ANYTHING into the surface
Kelly’s Use: easily position a ring or bail onto a pendant by slightly burring it into the block. When working on the back of a piece I often shove the bezel into the block, this protects the bezel while soldering but also provides a flat and supported back to work on. This block makes tasks that used to be sooooo difficult so much simpler. No longer do I spend hours fiddling with a third hand.
As I mentioned above, this is just a small sampling of some of the soldering tools I use regularly. Using these tools take practice and an understanding of the science, but hopefully they make your life as a smith just a bit easier.
If you want to learn more about soldering , I would love to have you in a private lesson.
If you want to support our little shop, you can buy all these tools and more HERE > https://www.alloymetalsmithing.com/the-store/soldering .
Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear about your favorite tools in the comments. - Kelly