Torches
You need a heat source to solder silver. I started my journey with soldering with a butane torch with refillable butane fuel which handles smaller soldering needs when you’re first starting out, such as ear wires and jump rings. I chose the smallest torch I could find when I first started out (called a pencil torch) as it was easier for me to handle, lightweight and easy to store. Not to mention I was nervous to purposefully start an open flame in my house, but with some practice and my kitchen extinguisher close by, I lost my fear rather quickly. I purchased a bit larger butane torch after some frustration with my small pencil torch, and then upgraded again with a Smith Little Torch (using propane and oxygen) and I’m happy to say the upgrade has changed my work for the better.
Butane torch and butane fuel. This is an easy to use kitchen torch, a great starter choice for beginners. It’s relatively cheap to buy and not as scary as the big torch if you’re just starting out. When I first started, I chose a pencil torch with refillable butane fuel. I chose the smallest torch I could find as it was easier for me to handle, lightweight and easy to store.
*Smith Little Torch with propane and oxygen tanks. Definitely a more expensive choice, but if you’re serious about upping your soldering game, I can’t recommend this option more. I choose propane as it burns cleaner than acetylene. It still scares me, but I love the versatility I have with all that heating potential. I haven’t come across an idea it won’t accomplish for me.
My most used torch tips: Tip #4 for tiny flame
*Tip #6 for medium flame (most likely these will come with the Smith Little torch setup)
Rosebud tip for casting. If you need to melt down scrap silver or gold for casting or making ingots, you can use a #6 tip for about 2 oz or under. If over 3 oz, you’ll most likely need the rosebud tip, which has a long tubing with 6 flame orifices at tip for propane, 4 for acetylene.
Fear of the flame is the number one issue holding most people back from turning their average jewelry creations into spectacular pieces of art - valuable art! When I first started making jewelry, I knew I wanted to eventually learn to solder. But for the longest time, I never took the plunge because I was afraid. I was fearful of the unknown, and scared to death of the flame. But now that I’m on the other side of my fear, I wish I had bitten that flaming bullet so much earlier so I could have reaped the benefits of my success faster than I did!
Practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes fun.
The day I bought my first torch, I was so nervous to light it that I read the directions 4 times, then took it outside on our deck to start it up for the first time - even though the directions said DONT DO THAT. Needless to say, the directions were right... the light breeze kept blowing out the flame, and I got more frustrated than I was scared. After a few minutes, I was over the fear I had been dreading for literally years! I packed everything up and headed back indoors to my studio where I was determined to get the thing to light. Lo and behold, it lit and I sat and watched the flame for a few minutes... so pretty! Then I commenced to melting stuff... And that’s when I discovered I had stumbled into a world of endless possibilities!