I really love the depth at which you teach the various concepts of making jewelry. At first I assumed that you were entirely too wordy, but I have grown to appreciate the amount of information that you provide on each of the topics that you discuss. I especially enjoy the in-depth illustrations and examples. Thank you very much.
Question: Soldering to curved surfaces - Thanks so much for your videos. I have learned so much from you. I am now working on a cigar-band shaped ("saddle-shaped?") ring with an oval bezel-set stone in the middle. I am adding bead wire and cable embellishments around the outside of the bezel which all need to be soldered flush to the curve of the ring band (as well as to the curve around the bezel). I have figured out how to fit everything to the multiplanar curves, but now I need to solder everything (bezel, bead wire, smooth wire and cable) onto the ring band. What is the best way to hold everything in order to solder it? Can it all be done in one step, or is it better to begin with the bezel and then add the embellishments separately? I'd love a video about this. Thank you again for your instruction.
Great tip. I was having problems trying to solder silver balls. After watching your video several times. I followed your method with 100% sucess. Thank you
This is exactly the video I needed. I have been taking a jewelry and metal work class and didn't have any success soldering embellishments onto a round ring with the advice from my instructor. I am looking forward to trying this method on my project!
Hello Andrew, I stumbled across your channel accidentally. I just bought a soldering gun to repair a bird cage, but I do wire jewelry and some day, when I have the time (right now making masks is taking up most of it), I want to try something like this. Fabulous instructional video, thank you so much. I've subscribed because I know you'll be showing me new things to try. I'm almost 60 - so everyone should know, you're never too old to learn from pros!
Andrew, This is exactly what I needed to see right now. Dealing with some punched out 3/32 dots that need to be soldered to a base. How was I going to do that without the dots moving all over the base? Now I know how. You're one of the best teachers anywhere! THANK YOU.
Like all experts you make it look easy and if you follow your expert advise it is. This comes from your years of working the art and craft. As a teacher of art and craft I appreciate and learn from you and I highly recommend you to those wanting to learn the art form.
I have watched a lot of videos trying to learn how to make rings! You are the first person that makes it very clear and I can understand what you’re saying and you’re not going so fast that I have to rewind you 50 times a bit of an exaggeration but you know what I mean thank you again so much I love all your videos...
I've been toying with the idea of doing something like this for some time. I had a feeling sweat soldering before shaping was the way to go, but wasn't confident enough to give it a try. Your video has confirmed my 'gut feeling' and given me the confidence to give it a go. Thank you Andrew! :)
I absolutely love your videos. I'm just starting to learn how to make silver jewelry and your tips have helped me a great deal with my little projects. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!
Great video on what I should have done yesterday before ruining my piece and having the detail sitting in a pool of solder, in the wrong place :-). Thanks Andrew ! I’m learning a lot from you !
I am a beginner and this video was extremely helpful. Thank you for showing you should add the embellishments before forming a ring shank! I have added to a formed shank and although not impossible, it was difficult. Wow how this is going to make my life much easier.
Hi Andrew! I just love your videos. I am a self taught jewelry artist. I'm now working with solder and studying silver smithing. I would love your input or recommended literature to help me learn metal theory. I would also love to see a video on different tyoes of silver. What metals you can mix for instance using soldering techniques. Thanks!!
♡Could you do a video on adding decorative wire all the way arouns a bezel set cabachon??? Also, setting cabachon stones in bezels on rings, pendants or cuffs???
amymckinney2011 He has lots of bezel setting videos on atthebench.com as well as a plethora of other topics. A jeweler friend of 40+ years told me about At The Bench originally. After checking him out on TH-cam i went to his website and subscribed for a year. At The Bench has been more useful to me than a lot of the tools i have. The subscription is absolutely worth its weight in gold. (Pun intended)
I appreciate your detail while explaining what you're doing. I'm wondering if you would consider making a video of how to solder or fuse a silver ball onto a round wire ring? I know it's similar to this but I'm just not sure how to get it to stay in place since the ring is not flat. Thanks so much!
Hello Andrew…….love your teaching method…. It works for me being fairly new. My struggle today is mending a small hole on the outside of my bezel in which the labradorite is already set. It is a pendant and it’s Silver. How to protect the stone and would sweating work in this precarious situation. Cheers
Very well done tutorial. However, I would like to have seen the finished rounded ring in close up. You were hiding it as if there was something wrong with it ! I am sure it was fine but I still like to see for myself the finished result.
Your work is AMAZING. Which soldering torch wld you recommend to soldering, silver rings, pendants, jump rings. Wld appreciate your reply. Thanks n hv a wonderful day
I jus love all your videos you are such an amazing teacher...ive learned so many new methods ..really just paying attention to a lot of your videos" thank you so much
Hi Andrew i like all ur videos, I am from Indian I would like to request u to make a video on how to make a bracelet / bangle,not flat but a half round Ur ring making technique is simply easy , which u told to cut the strip leaving 5 mm away, Thanks love from India
Hi, Andrew! I would like to improve the technic of soldering because I would like to solder many pieces together with the help of play dough and plaster. Can you make an episode to explain it please?
Hello Andrew. Thanks for these simple and educational videos. Can you please advise on how to replace gemstones on Turkish-styled men's rings (sterling silver)? Thanks
Would love you to go over safety in relation to oxygen generators. Especially how to turn off and on concentrator while doing intricate work where you need to stop and start your oxygen and propane to change tips etc
Grate job on all of your videos The watch pin holder/ tube broke off on one of my watch cuffs can this be repaired by soldering it back on? And what kind of silver solder to get /hard / easy flow /etc. Thanks Bob
Thank you! I would think if you were using a setting, say a tube setting, you would take care to measure your embellishments and then solder the tube to the setting after you bend the ring into shape, would that be the correct way to do it? Thank you again for sharing your wonderful knowledge!
Hi Andrew, New jeweler here. Just wondering why you don't elevate the ring to be heated from underneath. Thanks a bunch, Truly enjoying your videos, Jesse 🕊
I had that question a lot when I first started (back) to jewelry-making after the class I took at design school that made heavy use of a tripod with mesh on top of it, or holding things up in the air with third hands, and the short answer is that that actually makes it a lot harder to bring the piece up to temperature because it allows too much heat to dissipate. The metal in the tripod or the third hand acts as a heat sink and draws the heat away from the piece where you want it to be focused. I haven't got a whole lot of other experience, but I was amazed to find that most of the basics work perfectly well on either a Solderite board or charcoal block with a small butane torch, without all of the fuss and futzing with mixed gases, tripods, annealing pans, etc. In fact, it worked *better* for me, and was a whole lot easier - and thus a lot more enjoyable, so I've continued on with the craft when I had given up completely before. And with far, far better results. I'm sure there must be times when heating from underneath is still valuable, but at this point, I'm afraid I don't know enough to tell you what they might be.
I'm here revisiting this video. I finally got my 2nd ring made today and then I had an after thought... maybe I should've put both rings together and attempted to add little silver grain balls (I think that's what they're called?); however, that'll have to happen next time I try to make a ring. ❓I was wondering how to add the tiny balls when I'm using half round wire for my rings? The balls won't balance even if I tried to solder them on first because neither the shaft or tiny bead grains of silver are flat (and they're like pinhead tiny!) 😕 Thanks for any help! I'm like a sponge just ready to absorb anything you can teach about soldering and silversmithing. Cheers! 😊
Thank you for useful tips. Would like information about holding parts together for soldering. I'm thinking of an ad that said to set parts in soft wax, then form investment (like glue) around the parts. Then pull off the wax, and solder pieces. After soldering, investment will wash off piece. Is this method apt to work and useful? Or perhaps there's a better way to hold pieces together for solder.
Hello, can you post videos on soldering gold filled metal?!! I've been doing a little research and it appears to be more difficult than sterling. It would be much appreciated!
Beautiful technique! When you solder the completed ring together, how do you keep the small embellishments from sliding or shifting off from the additional heat? Thank you...Dr Bob
Hey Andrew, you need to think of a closing remark lol like...This is Andrew Berry saying...enjoy your projects at your bench. or something to that effect lol Another awesome video. I luv them all!!! ;-)
I frequently get request to include embellishments or stones onto my SR-71 Titanium rings. I have only once installed a nice CZ using a silver tapered bushing. I had to drill a hole and use a tapered reamer to match the diameter and depth. I then just simply pressed it in. I never attempted to solder the titanium but it is possible to add weld material to then shape it for a signet style.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge! I have a question about this method vs fusing metals. I get the solder is not needed for fusing right? Is the technique the same?
Make sure you have prepolished up the ring blank when it is a straight flat piece and then stamp. If you try and stamp when the ring is round then the stamps wont come out because of a flat punch trying to stamp on a curved surface.
I understand that it’s easier to solder the embellishments on while the surface is flat. However I like to embellish my rings with granules alongside my bezel setting. Most times I need to have my ring already in round form when doing that. Do you have any tips or tricks on how to keep the granules in place? I know they use hide glue when doing granulation work in the kiln, Can it be used when torch soldering?
Hi Andrew.. I'm an amateur but I want to learn all that I can. Can you tell me where you bought the punch set? I love your videos a lot. Thanks for all you do. Choctawman
Great video but I have a question that how long can we keep on using that burner or torch?I mean can we keep on igniting it for hours or do we need to give it a rest?it is dangerous to keep it on ignition for hours because it could get too hot or can we use it for as long as we want?
Thanks so much! I appreciate your explanations so I know the science behind how the metal and solder behave. I'm still practicing sweat soldering. I have a hard time keeping hold of those pesky silver balls, lol
I really love the depth at which you teach the various concepts of making jewelry. At first I assumed that you were entirely too wordy, but I have grown to appreciate the amount of information that you provide on each of the topics that you discuss. I especially enjoy the in-depth illustrations and examples. Thank you very much.
Thank you for this channel! I really respect your depth of knowledge and ability to share it so effectively and gracefully. You're a great teacher.
Question: Soldering to curved surfaces -
Thanks so much for your videos. I have learned so much from you. I am now working on a cigar-band shaped ("saddle-shaped?") ring with an oval bezel-set stone in the middle. I am adding bead wire and cable embellishments around the outside of the bezel which all need to be soldered flush to the curve of the ring band (as well as to the curve around the bezel). I have figured out how to fit everything to the multiplanar curves, but now I need to solder everything (bezel, bead wire, smooth wire and cable) onto the ring band. What is the best way to hold everything in order to solder it? Can it all be done in one step, or is it better to begin with the bezel and then add the embellishments separately? I'd love a video about this. Thank you again for your instruction.
Great tip. I was having problems trying to solder silver balls. After watching your video several times. I followed your method with 100% sucess.
Thank you
This is exactly the video I needed. I have been taking a jewelry and metal work class and didn't have any success soldering embellishments onto a round ring with the advice from my instructor. I am looking forward to trying this method on my project!
I know what you mean... I took a few classes too , but they didn't teach all the tricks.
lovely techniques to help the amatuer avoid problems, really appreciate the time saving info!
Not long started silverwork and I must say your videos are some of the most informative and explanatory I've come across, thankyou
My new favorite channel. Just love how smart Andrew is. Easy to follow because I am new to this and want to learn all I can before I start. Thanks
Hello Andrew, I stumbled across your channel accidentally. I just bought a soldering gun to repair a bird cage, but I do wire jewelry and some day, when I have the time (right now making masks is taking up most of it), I want to try something like this. Fabulous instructional video, thank you so much. I've subscribed because I know you'll be showing me new things to try. I'm almost 60 - so everyone should know, you're never too old to learn from pros!
You make it all so easy to understand! I'm learning so fast thanks to you and your amazing videos! Thank you.
Andrew, This is exactly what I needed to see right now. Dealing with some punched out 3/32 dots that need to be soldered to a base. How was I going to do that without the dots moving all over the base? Now I know how. You're one of the best teachers anywhere! THANK YOU.
I would have appreciated to see a zoomed image of the ring right after you bent it around the mandrel
Thank you for the video! I melted two silver rings trying to solder the other day.. I’ll try this trick when I get home. Thank you
You're a great teacher, I feel much more confident trying this now. Thank you
This tutorial is so easy to understand. Thank you, Andrew for sharing your knowledge. I really appreciate it.
Like all experts you make it look easy and if you follow your expert advise it is. This comes from your years of working the art and craft. As a teacher of art and craft I appreciate and learn from you and I highly recommend you to those wanting to learn the art form.
It is a beautiful thing seeing the solder flow, I have to agree. Thanks Andrew.
Yh it was kind of relaxing 😅
I have watched a lot of videos trying to learn how to make rings! You are the first person that makes it very clear and I can understand what you’re saying and you’re not going so fast that I have to rewind you 50 times a bit of an exaggeration but you know what I mean thank you again so much I love all your videos...
I've been toying with the idea of doing something like this for some time. I had a feeling sweat soldering before shaping was the way to go, but wasn't confident enough to give it a try. Your video has confirmed my 'gut feeling' and given me the confidence to give it a go. Thank you Andrew! :)
I wish I’d watched this yesterday! It would have saved me a lot of time!!!
I absolutely love your videos. I'm just starting to learn how to make silver jewelry and your tips have helped me a great deal with my little projects. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!
Me too
I liked your detained step by step process of making jewelry… you’re the best teacher ❤
Great video on what I should have done yesterday before ruining my piece and having the detail sitting in a pool of solder, in the wrong place :-). Thanks Andrew ! I’m learning a lot from you !
I am a beginner and this video was extremely helpful. Thank you for showing you should add the embellishments before forming a ring shank! I have added to a formed shank and although not impossible, it was difficult. Wow how this is going to make my life much easier.
Exactly what I needed for my next project. Brilliant as always. Thank you.
Thank you so much these podcasts are great I am a visual learner so i get so much more that reading it
I'm a new jewellery design student and your videos are so helpful thank you
I love these videos and i have learned much from them. It is a delight to see an professional in his trade. Thank you, Andrew.
You're such a good teacher ‼️ thank you 😄
Really a big fan here, in the US, Andrew. Love the videos and I’ve leaned a great deal from you. Thanks!
Woo! Gorgeous! You make everything seem so simple. I wish I could do the same!
Thank you for this very informative video. I'm new to this and would like more videos from you. I like the detail and preciseness of your lessons.
Thanks for sharing! I fly by the seat of my pants too, but you discover some great stuff through experimentation. Love those stones!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Much appreciated 👏
Hi Andrew! I just love your videos. I am a self taught jewelry artist. I'm now working with solder and studying silver smithing. I would love your input or recommended literature to help me learn metal theory. I would also love to see a video on different tyoes of silver. What metals you can mix for instance using soldering techniques. Thanks!!
You are a such a great teacher!!
Your brilliant, makes me want to get a work shop and start soldering and creating.
I also appreciate very much detail of demonstrations
Great lesson , thanks so much. I can’t wait to try this.
Loved the video. Lots of points made clear.
Thank you Andrew! Very clear and helpful. 🙏😊🌟
Great Lesson Andrew, thanks.
The gods from quenching is so satisfying.
Thanks Andrew. You have help me bunch.
Great video Andrew , I appreciate what you do and your talents my friend
♡Could you do a video on adding decorative wire all the way arouns a bezel set cabachon??? Also, setting cabachon stones in bezels on rings, pendants or cuffs???
amymckinney2011 Sure thing Amy. Keep watching for the new films
amymckinney2011 I'd love to see this as well. Thank you
amymckinney2011
He has lots of bezel setting videos on atthebench.com as well as a plethora of other topics. A jeweler friend of 40+ years told me about At The Bench originally. After checking him out on TH-cam i went to his website and subscribed for a year. At The Bench has been more useful to me than a lot of the tools i have. The subscription is absolutely worth its weight in gold. (Pun intended)
Aubrey Laine thanks! i may check that out :)
amymckinney2011 m
Thanks Andrew! Wonderfully done!
Another good one Andrew, thank you!..
Excellent, Andrew! I only discovered your vids this morning.. so glad for that.
I appreciate your detail while explaining what you're doing. I'm wondering if you would consider making a video of how to solder or fuse a silver ball onto a round wire ring? I know it's similar to this but I'm just not sure how to get it to stay in place since the ring is not flat. Thanks so much!
i just love the videos that you have and details how you explain it. great job
Sir, you just inspired my new copper bracelet. My grandbaby will love it!!
Hello Andrew…….love your teaching method…. It works for me being fairly new.
My struggle today is mending a small hole on the outside of my bezel in which the labradorite is already set.
It is a pendant and it’s Silver. How to protect the stone and would sweating work in this precarious situation.
Cheers
Great tutorial. Thank you.
Still watching! ❤️
Thanks this is just what i needed to watch today.
I love your clear instructions!! I was wondering if you had any tips on soldering a new prong onto a broken setting? In sterling.
What if you want to solder gold onto a sterling ring? Same thing? Would one have to use gold solder, or will the silver solder work? Thanks!
Thank you for this video, I'm very grateful. Could this same technique be used to solder silver pieces into other metals such as copper?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge 👍
Thank you, Andrew. I'd like to know how to solder a decorative gold filled wire onto silver.
Very well done tutorial. However, I would like to have seen the finished rounded ring in close up. You were hiding it as if there was something wrong with it ! I am sure it was fine but I still like to see for myself the finished result.
Your work is AMAZING. Which soldering torch wld you recommend to soldering, silver rings, pendants, jump rings. Wld appreciate your reply. Thanks n hv a wonderful day
Hi Andrew! I would like to learn all the steps to polish a ring with the flex shaft elements. Thanks
I jus love all your videos you are such an amazing teacher...ive learned so many new methods ..really just paying attention to a lot of your videos" thank you so much
Hi Andrew i like all ur videos, I am from Indian I would like to request u to make a video on how to make a bracelet / bangle,not flat but a half round
Ur ring making technique is simply easy , which u told to cut the strip leaving 5 mm away,
Thanks love from India
Hi, Andrew! I would like to improve the technic of soldering because I would like to solder many pieces together with the help of play dough and plaster. Can you make an episode to explain it please?
Thank you. Question - if you were going to add a bezel, would you do it at the same time?
Extremely helpful thank you
Thanks Andrew your videos have helped me so much! Can I hammer my solder instead of rolling it to make it thinner
Yes of course you can
just great learning.... outstanding, thanks
where can i find the borat?
Hello Andrew.
Thanks for these simple and educational videos.
Can you please advise on how to replace gemstones on Turkish-styled men's rings (sterling silver)?
Thanks
That's great! What's the white tile on the bench called?
Awesome videos! Can you do one on packing thick bezels. I like the look of more silver. Thank you.
Would love you to go over safety in relation to oxygen generators. Especially how to turn off and on concentrator while doing intricate work where you need to stop and start your oxygen and propane to change tips etc
Gold bezel on sterling back plate, I SOOOO wish I could see that somewhere., Are you game? Thank you so much for your great quality teaching.
New subscriber, thanks Andrew. Great tips! And a very neat trick with the borax.
Excellent video great tips! Thank you.
Thanks Andrew!
Grate job on all of your videos The watch pin holder/ tube broke off on one of my watch cuffs
can this be repaired by soldering it back on? And what kind of silver solder to
get /hard / easy flow /etc. Thanks Bob
You make the best videos.
Thank you! I would think if you were using a setting, say a tube setting, you would take care to measure your embellishments and then solder the tube to the setting after you bend the ring into shape, would that be the correct way to do it? Thank you again for sharing your wonderful knowledge!
Debbie Minter Yes. As there is deformation of the small pieces I would always make the ring round and the solder on the tubing or settings.
Andrew Berry thank you!
Hi Andrew, New jeweler here. Just wondering why you don't elevate the ring to be heated from underneath. Thanks a bunch, Truly enjoying your videos, Jesse 🕊
I had that question a lot when I first started (back) to jewelry-making after the class I took at design school that made heavy use of a tripod with mesh on top of it, or holding things up in the air with third hands, and the short answer is that that actually makes it a lot harder to bring the piece up to temperature because it allows too much heat to dissipate. The metal in the tripod or the third hand acts as a heat sink and draws the heat away from the piece where you want it to be focused.
I haven't got a whole lot of other experience, but I was amazed to find that most of the basics work perfectly well on either a Solderite board or charcoal block with a small butane torch, without all of the fuss and futzing with mixed gases, tripods, annealing pans, etc. In fact, it worked *better* for me, and was a whole lot easier - and thus a lot more enjoyable, so I've continued on with the craft when I had given up completely before. And with far, far better results.
I'm sure there must be times when heating from underneath is still valuable, but at this point, I'm afraid I don't know enough to tell you what they might be.
I'm here revisiting this video. I finally got my 2nd ring made today and then I had an after thought... maybe I should've put both rings together and attempted to add little silver grain balls (I think that's what they're called?); however, that'll have to happen next time I try to make a ring.
❓I was wondering how to add the tiny balls when I'm using half round wire for my rings? The balls won't balance even if I tried to solder them on first because neither the shaft or tiny bead grains of silver are flat (and they're like pinhead tiny!) 😕 Thanks for any help! I'm like a sponge just ready to absorb anything you can teach about soldering and silversmithing. Cheers! 😊
Thank you for useful tips. Would like information about holding parts together for soldering. I'm thinking of an ad that said to set parts in soft wax, then form investment (like glue) around the parts. Then pull off the wax, and solder pieces. After soldering, investment will wash off piece. Is this method apt to work and useful? Or perhaps there's a better way to hold pieces together for solder.
Hello, can you post videos on soldering gold filled metal?!! I've been doing a little research and it appears to be more difficult than sterling. It would be much appreciated!
Nice work Andrew, good upload.
Beautiful technique! When you solder the completed ring together, how do you keep the small embellishments from sliding or shifting off from the additional heat? Thank you...Dr Bob
Hey Andrew, you need to think of a closing remark lol like...This is Andrew Berry saying...enjoy your projects at your bench. or something to that effect lol Another awesome video. I luv them all!!! ;-)
I frequently get request to include embellishments or stones onto my SR-71 Titanium rings. I have only once installed a nice CZ using a silver tapered bushing. I had to drill a hole and use a tapered reamer to match the diameter and depth. I then just simply pressed it in. I never attempted to solder the titanium but it is possible to add weld material to then shape it for a signet style.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge! I have a question about this method vs fusing metals. I get the solder is not needed for fusing right? Is the technique the same?
Success first time sweat soldering thanks to this video. Thanks so much 🥰
Could you do a tutorial on the difference between fusing and sweat soldering?
Love your videos! This would not be good for bezel cups eh?? Thank you so much! 🙏🏻
Please make a video about soldering wires with pearls 🌹🌹
When stamping letters on the outside of the shank, do you recommend stamping before or after rounding the ring? I’ve been reading about both methods
Make sure you have prepolished up the ring blank when it is a straight flat piece and then stamp. If you try and stamp when the ring is round then the stamps wont come out because of a flat punch trying to stamp on a curved surface.
I understand that it’s easier to solder the embellishments on while the surface is flat. However I like to embellish my rings with granules alongside my bezel setting. Most times I need to have my ring already in round form when doing that. Do you have any tips or tricks on how to keep the granules in place? I know they use hide glue when doing granulation work in the kiln, Can it be used when torch soldering?
Hi Andrew.. I'm an amateur but I want to learn all that I can. Can you tell me where you bought the punch set? I love your videos a lot. Thanks for all you do. Choctawman
Great video but I have a question that how long can we keep on using that burner or torch?I mean can we keep on igniting it for hours or do we need to give it a rest?it is dangerous to keep it on ignition for hours because it could get too hot or can we use it for as long as we want?
Thanks so much! I appreciate your explanations so I know the science behind how the metal and solder behave. I'm still practicing sweat soldering. I have a hard time keeping hold of those pesky silver balls, lol