I’m trying to solder the backs onto a pair of cufflinks. I’ve got a soldering iron but it is proving a bit fiddly to work with. Does anyone know of specialist tools or techniques I can use to do this? Would I be better off with a torch?
It would be helpful to know the wattage of the iron you’re using. A 25W pencil iron is great for electronics, but not for your application. Are you sure that the cufflink materials are suitable for soldering? Is this new jewelry construction, or broken item repair?
They’re new silver cufflinks. The soldering iron seems to be 40 watt - it’s just a cheap one from a DIY shop with a tip resembling a flat-head screwdriver.
You need special solder, used by jewelers. It comes in several melting points, ask for the lowest melting point version. It comes as a thin sheet, use kitchen scissors to cut a small square and place it between the materials to be soldered, along with some flux. Jewelry supply store, talk to the guy behind the counter, ask questions.
Usually, jewelry soldering is done with a tiny oxy-acetylene torch rather than an iron, but for your purposes an iron should work. You’ll likely need more than a 40W iron, though, depending on the size of the links.
w.
Thanks for the helpful advice. This is something I plan to be doing more of so will probably invest in better tools. Any advice on torch models, wattages etc would be appreciated!
snorlax, one other thought. Community colleges often have classes, including night classes, in jewelry making. You might look around your area for a class, it could save you lots of time in the learning process.
Regarding torches, what you are looking for is something like this.
All the best,
w.