Soldering for newbies?

Question

I just got a soldering iron and want to use it to make jewelry (soldering around frames, etc.). What are the things that I MUST know to be safe and effective? Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thank you! KA

Answer 1

Since I haven’t done this before, I will just give you the sites.

Here is a great site for beginners with pictures –
http://www.instructables.com/id/E30LR180T4EWP872BS/?ALLSTEPS

Other sites:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/h2weld
http://www.ehow.com/how_376_solder-wires.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_15410_select-soldering-iron.html

After searching for you, I think I am going to try this myself. Thanks! ~-~

Answer 2

You will need a relatively heat proof surface (wood is ok, plastic on a card table is not.) A convenient place to plug in the soldering iron and a lamp is nice. You will need a saucer or holder to set the iron on.
You will need an acid based flux, a flux brush, and solid solder, ideally not too big in diameter. You will need a damp cloth (or special block) to wipe the iron on. Have some ventilation (don't work in a small enclosed space.)
If you have a choice, you want a flat tip (also called chisel tip) for wider soldering, a pointed tip only if you are going into really small tight joints.
Each time you heat up the iron, when it gets to heat, wipe it on the damp cloth and melt solder on the tip and wipe off the excess. This is called tinning the tip.
Brush a small amount of flux on the metal only where you want the solder to go. Hold the iron in one hand and the solder in the other, apply the iron to get all the pieces of metal hot and touch the solder to the hot joint and watch it flow where you want. If you are making a longer joint, like copper foil in stained glass work, draw the iron along and add touches of solder while you go.
It is considered bad form to apply the solder to the iron and let it dribble onto the metal as it can lead to cold joints that are not very solid, but sometimes it is the only way. Some times a touch of solder on the iron while holding it up above the heated joint will be all the solder needed to solder the joint and at times a bit of solder on the tip filling the gap between the iron tip and the metal will increase the heating rate a lot. Clean the tip on the wet cloth if solder builds up and produces blobs in tight spaces.