Below is a list of the basic tools you’ll need to begin soldering your silver jewelry, in no particular order. These are my top choice tools and soldering must-haves. There are 5 absolute-need tools to begin soldering.
Torch, Solder Board, Solder, Flux, Pickle. These are my most used and ordered tools and supplies with links on where to purchase. If any links are lost or broken, please let me know and I will update for you. As always, please shop around to find the best deal for your budget and needs. I mostly order from RioGrande, CoolTools, Otto Frei and Amazon.
Torch
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.
Heat Surface
Honeycomb Ceramic Board (my #1 choice)
Annealing Pan with pumice get you one with a 3rd hand, mighty helpful.. (this one took me awhile to invest in, should have been one of the first tools I purchased when starting)
Charcoal block (wrap outside edge in dryer tape and binding wire (steel wire) to keep together, I use a small one and use every now and then for small projects)
Steel kiln shelf (can use for soldering on top of your piece, and move heat underneath. What I use to set my PMC on to fire in kiln.)
Holding Helpers
Third hand (great for holding bails or ring shanks in place while soldering)
Cross locking grip tweezers I can’t create without these, had them from my start. These are perfect to hold your silver pieces in place when they're too hot to handle. I chose to work with cross-locking fiber grip steel tweezers as they offer a heat-resistant grip and a curved tip, which makes picking up silver pieces off my soldering board a bit easier. Plus, I really enjoy the cross-locking feature because I don't have to keep a steady "squeeze" on the handle, they hold my silver for me.
Silver Solder Paste, Easy (I use mostly to solder jump rings closed, and small tiny projects) Silver solder paste is a marvelous product that includes both solder and flux. I started out using "easy" paste, which melts at a lower temperature and will be all you need to solder 20 gauge wire. Only using a tiny blob on each joint to be soldered, this stuff goes a long way. This paste is so easy to use, and doesn't create a big mess when soldering. Plus you don't have to add a separate flux when you're soldering, which makes it that much easier.
Solder sheet to be clipped up Solder wire to be clipped up.
Soldering pick (you need one, two or three) Titanium is best, holds up to heat well.
Silver Prep
Handy Flux A great flow flux designed to help the solder flow and coat your silver before soldering to avoid burns or fire scale. Use a natural bristle brush to apply this paste before soldering. Heat your piece until it bubbles and turns clear, then add your silver solder and watch the flash as it joins. All fluxes are designed to absorb oxygen and prevent oxides from building up. Which in turn helps the solder to flow.
Boric Acid (mixed with denatured alcohol) makes a nice silver barrier flux for your silver, barrier flux is designed to prevent fire-scale. Both are highly flammable. Keep in a glass jar with a lid and make sure to close after every use to avoid spills and unwanted flames.
Silver Prep Pickle Mix. This is my favorite choice as a natural mixture. Cleans your piece of flux residue after soldering. If soldering multiple embellishments to your piece, often helps to pickle a few times during the process to make sure you have a clean surface so solder will flow easier.
It is natural and non-toxic. Using 1 tablespoon per 1 cup distilled water, this powder goes a long way. Bring mix and distilled water to just under boiling temp in a small cooking crock pot that you'll use only for your silver prep pickle mix. Do not cook food in this pot after pickling. It’s forevermore a jewelry tool. After pickling, your piece may turn white or dull silver, but it can easily be polished up to a nice shine.