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Solder Savvy: A Deep Dive Into the Art + Science of Soldering - Part 1
Soldering is a fundamental metalsmithing skill, but arguably one of the hardest to master. Nothing is more frustrating than having a joint fail or worse – melting a piece you have spent hours on. Don’t let your designs be limited by intimidation! Through this intensive course, students will learn what is needed to achieve consistently strong, seamless joints and gain confidence to tackle their toughest projects!
This six-week course is split into two parts, at three sessions (weeks) per part. Each part will focus on a specific aspect of soldering, from choosing the right equipment and supplies to cleaning up once the solder job is done (see below for a list of topics covered in each session). Be sure to register for both parts for an all-inclusive soldering overview. Safe practices and safety equipment will be addressed throughout.
Each part comprises a combination of lecture, demo, and Q&A, with opportunities for those already using torches to share their trials and triumphs. Color handouts will be provided, but notetaking is highly encouraged throughout this information-packed course.
Whether you are thinking about buying your first torch or want to take your soldering to the next level, this comprehensive curriculum has something to offer makers at all levels.
Click HERE to read up on Solder Savvy: Part 2
Part 1 Topics:
Session 1 - Choosing the Right Torch + Safe Operation
- What is soldering, and how is it different from brazing, welding, or fusing?
- Safety Overview (ventilation, PPE, fire, explosion, leaks)
- Choosing the right ventilation for your space
- Torch Types & Tips
- Fuel Gases & Compressed Air/Oxygen
- Transporting & Storing Bottled Gases
- Strikers
- Regulators & Hoses
- Torch Holders
- Demos:
- Torch Setup
- Leak Testing
- Turning the System On & Shutting it Down
- Flame types and applications
- Demos:
Session 2 - Soldering Station Supplies
- 3 Things Solder Needs to Make a Good Joint
- Oxidation & Firescale (and how to avoid them)
- Pickles (traditional formulae and citric)
- Fluxes, Pre-Fluxes & Anti-Fluxes (which is best for which metal or application)
Session 3 - Soldering Props and Fixtures
- Furniture, Fixtures, Props and Jigs
- Tweezers and Picks
- Clamps and Bindings
- Demos:
- Soldering Station Setup
- Side-by-Side Torch Comparisons\
- Side-by-side Flux & Pickle Performance
- Customized Setups for Specific Tasks
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.
Meet the instructor
Kristin Mitsu Shiga (she/they) is a maker, educator and small business owner with more than 30 years of experience currently living and working in rural Oregon.
Throughout her career, Kristin’s desire to balance her individual studio practice and working as part of a larger team allowed her to build an unusual skill set that includes everything from nonprofit arts administration and bookkeeping to armature-building for stop-motion animation studios. From a long line of educators, Kristin is passionate about teaching and has shared her knowledge with students at venues all over the US including Penland, Arrowmont and Haystack Mountain schools of craft, along with programs she established in New York, Oregon and Hawai’i.
Kristin believes that service is a crucial component of any career and has served in a variety of volunteer roles and on numerous nonprofit boards since 2001. She currently serves on the boards of the Hawai'i Artist Collaboration and Frogwood Artist Collaboration, and is in her second term as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the American Craft Council (ACC).
Kristin has shown her work internationally, and is included in several notable collections, including the Kamm Artful Teapot Collection and the Permanent Collection of the White House. You will find her work published in numerous books and magazines, including Art Jewelry Today, The Art of Enameling, Metalsmith’s 2017 Exhibition in Print, and several of Lark’s 500 Series books. Learn more about Kristin’s past work on Oregon Artbeat (segment originally aired in 2010).
Materials & Tools
This course will be demonstration focused and does not require student to get supplies prior to class. The instructor will provide an extensive document highlighting all the tools and supplies that will be covered in class, which will sent to students during the class. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required.