How to Silver Solder - Getting The Conditions Right For The Solder To Flow 

Even with perfectly clean metal, hitting the surface with a bit of emory introduces nice little micro 'sips'/ grooves that aid in pulling the solder through the piece. When brazing copper pipes for plumbing this is taken very seriously, even adding a cross hatch between the two surfaces to get better multidirectional flow. Watching solder seemingly defy physics as it wicks multiple inches between tight copper pipe fittings is a mesmerizing thing to behold. I'm kinda obsessed with your videos, thank you for putting out the content!

I’m a professional instructional designer and I have to say that your tutorials are so well done. You tell us what we’re going to learn, you demonstrate the correct way and employ best practices and give tips for avoiding errors, and summarize at the end. Nice job 👍

I am a woodwind repairer and we do quite a bit of fine silver soldering. Andrew Berry has given me confidence to do this successfully on a small piece, for the first time. Thank you!

I’ve soldered electronics for my career. You hit it on the head. Same principles. Your demo showing how the process works was very helpful. Love your videos.

Thank you Andrew. I love your style of tutoring. I'm new to silversmithing and find your tutorials are easy to follow and very clear. This soldering technique is second to none. 🙏🏼

Mr. Berry you are an addictive instructor , I can't get enough .

You’re a great teacher! I’ve been binge watching your videos all day. This is why I love RU-vid, you can learn almost anything for free!

Thanks Andrew for your clarity and willingness to share your expertise. Love it.

soldering has always been my barrier that prevented me from taking that next step in my passion. thank you for explaining in detail and simple terminology, you have been a great help.

More excellent instruction! It's nice to have the reasoning behind the directions explained. I never tire of the reminders!

Knowing the correct conditions, makes all the difference. Thanks Andrew.

You have just confirmed my memory from the 70's about Borax as a flux, I haven't used silver soldering since then, but need to do a small job, that only hard soldering will do. Many thanks- I am not a jewelry hobbyist, but your advice about clean joints works across the board for soldering, and especially if gas welding aluminium-, or even brazing and bronze welding, the principals are all the same, but the main thing is preparation of the joint and cleanliness - removing oxides and fluxing asap - if your students follow this , then they will always succeed in perfect joints.

I really like Andrew's manner of giving confidence around this subject. Thank you!

From now on... I ll not be looking for any other tutorial anymore, anywhere... This is it... Thanks Andrew

Navy Training classes on painting aircraft taught you to prepare the surface to pass what was called a "Water Break Test. It was not ready to paint until the water flowed over the whole surface. Enjoyed this immensely .

Everytime when i watch your vids i go ahead and try what you just demonstrated and every single time i become much better at what i do thanks to you Andrew.

Absolutely fantastic video. This is exactly what I was looking for and couldn't find a long time. Great teacher, thank you so much!

wow. I am eager to go to class today and see if I have better success than I did yesterday! I appreciate the clear and upbeat message, I was really frustrated. It's interesting, my teacher has us pick up the solder hot, ball it, then try to place it, which I find very difficult. I will try it this way when no one's watching!

I was about to silver solder successfully after watching this video. Thank you for making it 🙏

I am a BEGINNER! Thank you so much for your DETAILED instructions! AMAZING!

Andrew thank you so much. You saved me money, I was using way too much solder.

Clear, beautiful and professional teaching lesson, thanks to everyone contributed in this video, and many thanks to this trainer.

Even after a couple years, I never get tired of your instructional videos. This video in particular has helped me more than I can say, thank you soo much for all the hard work you put into your videos. I am a member of At The Bench and recommend everyone who isn't a member should join.

Thanks for the tutorial leavened much about it, it is my first time watching this kind of tutorials on Jewries, liked it very much. From the Dominican Republic Guillermo.

It's been 5 years since I've been at my bench, thank you for these wonderful refreshers!

After watching your video, I made about 30 jump rings and followed all of your tips, they all soldered together. FINALLY after several years of frustrated soldering, I'm good to go! You're great, thank you!

Thank You so much for this tutorial, I fully understand now why my soldering of jump rings was always beading even though I fluxed the joint, Many Thanks, Highly Appreciated 👍

Fantastic tutorial. That info was vital for the perfect solder! I am new to silversmithing and this was priceless. Thank you Andrew.

I love your tutorials. I am learning as I get the tools needed. I love some day to be doing beautiful jewelry for a living. Thank you for your contribution.

I’ve melted enough good work to absolutely believe everything your saying here. Thank you Andrew for the timeless lessons. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge. 👍

I could have saved a lot of time if I had looked at your video first. I have looked at many videos on soldering but yours was the only one that explained in a way I could understand! Thanks so much! I now use Borax for the flux, and it is a lot cheaper! I am using an old stone soapdish that I had, and found a flat rock in my yard to use as a grinder. Works great. I had a problem because I purchased thin wire silver solder - hard and medium - it doesn't rest easily on the joint to make a ring. So I fired it into a ball, and it was much easier to handle. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and making life easier for me (and others too) Donna R.

Andrew, you are a talented jewelry teacher. I appreciate your efforts and detail.

i always wanted to become a jewelry maker, which i did, but i wil finally take the next step and really start to create silver pieces with the help of your vidoes! Thank you so much!

I’m a new subscriber and I have to thank you I’ve been having problems with my soldering for a while even on my electronics work I have used your method on both and boom perfect joints and perfect soldering on electrical boards thank you very much sir enjoying your videos 1 by 1 god bless

Thank you so much for this video. Just started doing jewellery and could not get the jump rings to solder. After watching this video, 1st jump ring soldered perfectly A++

Thank you Andrew, you make an excellent video. You take the time to slowly explain each step and that is a great way to learn. I will be back for more.

Thank you Andrew you’re talented teacher, you explained everything and detailed, I learned a lot from your tutorials ❤

A detail that I did not know about the flux that perl. Very good teacher.

Awesome! I'm just about to resize a silver ring which is a little too big - I plan to simply cut and shut it. Now I feel more confident it will go as planned.

Thanks a million. I've had so so results in my previous attempts. You've just cured me of a "lifetime" of mistakes .Nice tutorial

You're an amazing teacher and you shared your skills and knowledge that created so many skilled jewelry makers around the world. With knowledge and passion determines the quality level one can do. You opened the door for maximum potential and I appreciate you. Thank you for making these videos for us.

Thank you for taking the time to put this video together .

MY kind of instruction video, the emphasis on preperation comes through , its not going on at all, its teaching to a high standard. There are many sloppy tutorials around but not many that are akin to sitting in a classroom and having the correct procedures taught to you. Thanks Andrew, your tutorials are a big help for me it is like been in a classroom having a one and one .

Thank you Andrew for your video. You really make, jewelry students like my self, understand the process of soldering.

Thanks' Andrew!I understand that the metal has to be clean and the joint tight fitting!🥂

Hat sich gelohnt das Video nochmal zu schauen danke

Andrew, you teach the Master Class of best soldering practices. I learned some huge concepts.

Though it is important to flux the entire surface where the solder needs to flow and adhere, it is just as important to keep the flux off of any areas that One needs to appear as pure clean silver, after the polishing of the completed work. Sloppy soldering overflow is a sign of inferior workmanship. Thanks Andrew! This is a Great tutorial, very well done!!!

Love your ❤❤video teaching us how to solder perfectly . This is very basic technique but they are very importance steps !!

I'm an ex welder, I never saw this type of soldering done, very interesting 😃

Thank you for posting these videos. Absolutely invaluable.

you are a great teacher so detailed and articulate thanks .

I love your videos Andrew. Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to teach the world. I learn so much from you

thank you so much for teaching us how to solder, i so appreciate actually learning on youtube, i thank you for your knowledge and sharing,you are an excellent teacher.

Hey Andrew thanks for your videos they really help , keep up the good work :)

Andrew you didn't go on.. You just drummed it in me what I need to do to get my terrible soldering to work, Thank you.... Regards Antony Warrington Cheshire..

Just started learning, thanks for a very clear tutorial, Excellent

Thanks for this very informative video! It never hurts to repeat things that are important. I had no idea how versatile borax really is. I think I like that method. I started making wire wrap jewelry last year and have decided I want to learn to do simple silver soldering such as chain repair, replacing clasps, or making earrings, etc., for example. I will definitely watch more of your videos. Cheers! 😊

I'm a plumber and as you said, copper/brass are the same. Clean, clean, and clean again. The type of flux you use is important and the heat as well, but not more so than being clean.

very informative video, a great teacher, thanks very much

i been struggles with rod lamphead that two days ago how stick both rod i seem give up then i found your vlog and thank you great teacher so i can learn more then work stained glass thank you very much !!!

What a fantastic teacher!

Very good explanation

THis is wonderful class. even though I'm studying art jewelry at the college, my professor didn't teach well like this.

EXCELLENT video Andrew!!!

I love this man, great teacher.

Thanks mate, I've got it boxed now, I do exactly as you do, and my joints are bang on every time.

Very nice video, very clear and well explained, thank you so much

Grazieeeeeee! Thank Thank Thank🙌😀🙌 Paolo (Genua-Italy)

Love watching your videos, do helpful...,and funny bloopers!

Andrew is a very good theatcher, I am very happy with the video's

Thank you! You are the best teacher! You make everything very clear!

Thank you, once again, for another excellent video! You are definitely the best explainer on all of RU-vid! (See? You inspire me so much, I'm making up my own words :)! )

Tbhank u andrew so much am watching the whole series , am just starting and I'm sure I'll join your classes

I've been having some serious issues at the moment with getti g my solder to flow, because of you I've realised my third hand is soaking all the heat away, thanks for the heads up and troubleshooting technique, I've literally had my pickle boiling to clean my jump rings right down to the molecular level to no avail, turns out its a heat issue

Excellent explanation thank you

Is there a particular grit for that Emery paper?

Love your videos very informative thank 😊

Thank you so much for this excellent tutorial. Very well explained.

Thanks for the demonstration... You have motivated me...

Great video, very informative! The title to your new book? You guessed it..... "the solder likes."

Very informative, thank you

Your an amazing teacher! Thank you!!!

Amazing video. Loved it. Incredibly generous.

Just found you ... very well explained. Thank you ..great advice..

Hi Andrew, I am a coin ring crafter and I just ruined a 1972 coin containing .620 silver. I have solder sticks 50% silver . I have the right flux for the solder but is the combination of silver composition going to be a problem? Love your work Cheers Paul, Coin Rings Aotearoa

Hey Andrew, absolutely love your videos! what brand is the smaller torch you use?

Another great video. I started watching your videos after RU-vid recommended me. Loved it, how you explain things easily. Thank you!! Could you please share what acid we should be using to clean up? The acid you used to clean the rings here. I believe this acid can be used while working with gold as well?? And does acid has to be warmed all the time?

I mean soldering block. ...thanks a lot again..learnt valuable steps of soldering..

Thank you for this super Video.

Thank you for these great videos

Thanks for sharing your knowledge Very much appreciated 👍

Which acid is the best one for different metals ? Which concentration the acid ?

Man your great,I'm new to soldering and you were excellent......

Great tutorial, Andrew!

important info for beginners very important thanks.

Andrew you are the equivalent of a Professor of Medicine but in jewellery making.

excellent presentation!

Ou Andrew Berry, thank you much very very!😊

Excellent video, very thorough, just what I was wanting to know , fabulous 🧐