Torches - how do I choose?

If you're setting up at home it can be hard to know where to start, and nothing more so than your soldering set up.

Our ever popular Soldering Kits are a great place to begin, but if your serious about a decent set up, should you just go whole hog on our big soldering torch, the Sievert?

Well, this depends on your budget, and how much room you have to set up your jewellery studio. But if you are getting serious about your jewellery making the Sievert Torch is absolutely the way to go.

The Sievert torch kit comes with the hose, handle, neck adapter, medium torch head and a safety shut off valve that connects directly into a regular 9kg gas bottle.

The medium head is ideal for everyday soldering, and there are a number of other heads for delicate soldering right up to casting and lampwork glass. So really, this torch is the most versatile option for the at home maker, no need to hire and store oxygen tanks and wear UV eye protection when melting.

Our little micro torch is a great option if you're not ready to commit to a Sievert. It can solder up to around a 5mm ring, but anything bigger than that you may struggle to get the solder to flow nicely.

It is perfect for earrings, chain making, stacking rings and narrow rings. I absolutely love it for soldering on earring posts as the heat is very controllable so you can avoid accidental melts!

PRO TIP: for soldering larger items, you can build yourself a mini forge our of soldering blocks. Putting a back and sides (maybe even a top) around your piece allows the heat to refract back on to your piece, increasing the heat to get that solder flowing.

As always, feel free to email us your tool questions, we love to help!

On my bench this week:

I love gemstones, they are such a focal point in my work. I found a little time to play with some settings this week, some pounamu cabochons were first in line!

They will end up in big silver rings with maybe some gold highlights.

Annie