🐈 Here is a soldering tip from
@marciavidaljewellery - "I love a budget tool hack in this super spendy industry I’ve found myself in. One of the main things I love about jewellery making is that I get to use my left and right brain in pretty equal measure. There’s so much technical problem solving involved in making a new piece, alongside the creativity. I soldered this ring shank onto the backplate in just sliiiiiightly the wrong position so the design on top wouldn’t sit in the most aligned position. I needed to heat the piece and get the solder to flow and quickly, with ninja hands, turn the ring shank by the teeniest degree clockwise. I couldn’t think of the best tool to hold the top of the ring in place while I moved the shank. (I am definitely way more right brained so the problem solving part of my job is the most mental effort!). Some other helpful jewellers told me I could use fullers earth cat litter as a holding clay and it wouldn’t draw heat away from the silver. I just mixed the cat litter with some water into a clay ball and flattened it onto my soldering sheet and pushed the top of the ring into it. The top of the ring didn’t move at all when I adjusted the band. I’m sure there are many other ways I could have secured this but it’s introduced me to the wonders of cat litter in jewellery making! Thinking of all the awkward things I can prop up in it and solder together! It’s only £10 for a massive bag and reusable so, if you’re a jeweller in London, come get some of mine as this bag will last me ten lifetimes! Thank you Marcia for sharing. Cat liter is also used by some to pour neutralized, spent pickle into for proper disposal. * * * * *
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