Simple soldered glass pendant tutorial for people with two left hands, like me
All my past soldering attempts ended up in me soldering my finger tips and making a lot of mess. This time I think I got it. I can finally use my undrilled glass and gemstone pieces without having to drill them for hours (even worst than soldering). All you need is a soldering iron, flux, solder and some copper tape.
First, remove any burnable or meltable items from your work area. Get a a fire extinguisher nah. I choose a cheap piece of glass for my first try, just in case it gets messed up. Make sure it's super clean. I cleaned mine with a paper towel.
Wrap the edges with copper foil tape, peeling off the tape as you go. Plug in the soldering iron and allow it to heat up for a couple minutes. Touch the tip to a damp sponge to see if it's hot, not with your fingers.
Apply flux to the copper tape with a clean brush
This is the flux that I'm using. I don't know if it's the best, but it does the job.
Melt the solder onto the tip of the iron and run it over the copper tape. It's just like painting, but instead of brush and colors, you're using the iron and solder. Make sure everything it's super clean: the iron, the solder, the piece you're working on. Not clean, the solder won't stick ~ simple as that. Speaking from my own experience.
Use a clip to hold your piece so you won't burn your fingers.
Apply more flux and add a blob of solder to the point where you’d like to attach your jump ring. Apply flux to your jump ring as well, hold it with your pliers right on the blob and reheat the blob with the iron. This is the tricky part, the blob melts fast and the jump ring sinks right into it, so don't hold the iron on the jump ring for too long. Just enough to met the solder bob, that's it. I couldn't take a picture while soldering the jump ring, needed my both hands.
And Stewie doesn't know how to take pictures yet.
Clean off the flux with rubbing alcohol, file any rough edges, oxidize it if you will and YOU'RE DONE!
Easy peasy...what's next?
This Agate slice, same way.
And this tiny piece of vintage glass with gold foil, that I adore, same way. And that's it for today. Hope you'll get something out of this hot mess. Have fun :)
First, remove any burnable or meltable items from your work area. Get a a fire extinguisher nah. I choose a cheap piece of glass for my first try, just in case it gets messed up. Make sure it's super clean. I cleaned mine with a paper towel.
Wrap the edges with copper foil tape, peeling off the tape as you go. Plug in the soldering iron and allow it to heat up for a couple minutes. Touch the tip to a damp sponge to see if it's hot, not with your fingers.
Apply flux to the copper tape with a clean brush
This is the flux that I'm using. I don't know if it's the best, but it does the job.
Melt the solder onto the tip of the iron and run it over the copper tape. It's just like painting, but instead of brush and colors, you're using the iron and solder. Make sure everything it's super clean: the iron, the solder, the piece you're working on. Not clean, the solder won't stick ~ simple as that. Speaking from my own experience.
Use a clip to hold your piece so you won't burn your fingers.
Apply more flux and add a blob of solder to the point where you’d like to attach your jump ring. Apply flux to your jump ring as well, hold it with your pliers right on the blob and reheat the blob with the iron. This is the tricky part, the blob melts fast and the jump ring sinks right into it, so don't hold the iron on the jump ring for too long. Just enough to met the solder bob, that's it. I couldn't take a picture while soldering the jump ring, needed my both hands.
And Stewie doesn't know how to take pictures yet.
Clean off the flux with rubbing alcohol, file any rough edges, oxidize it if you will and YOU'RE DONE!
Easy peasy...what's next?
This Agate slice, same way.
And this tiny piece of vintage glass with gold foil, that I adore, same way. And that's it for today. Hope you'll get something out of this hot mess. Have fun :)
Why thank you, glad you enjoyed it. :) Different? Good, that's a good thing. I wouldn't want them all the same ;) Thank you so much for your comment!
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