A gift from the school
A free lesson from a master jeweler: how to solder a silver chain
At his bench, Stanislav Volskyi shows how to solder a chain link by link, and which tweezers to use. Two full lessons from our paid mini-course, free and with no sign-up.
2 video lessons9 minutesfree
The lessons were recorded in Russian. Here you watch them dubbed into English, with subtitles; you can switch to the original below the video.
Lesson 01 · 6:48
How to solder a chain
First the master shows on his fingers how a chain is put together, then he solders a real one: he opens a cut link, slips the next one in, closes the joint with no gap, brushes on flux and places a tiny piece of solder.
What to watch for
The cut in the link faces up, and the solder must not run onto the next link: two links soldered together are a defect.
A big flame burns a chain at once. The master sets the torch to a thin “needle” and heats only the joint.
Flux protects the metal from oxidation, and a fine pick nudges the solder when it won't go where it should.
Stanislav Volskyi — Jeweler-artist, enamellist, Honored Artist of Ukraine
Lesson 02 · 1:53
Which tweezers you need for soldering
Not just for chains, for any soldering: fine-point tweezers to place solder and links, and self-locking ones that hold the piece by themselves. The master shows branded pairs and ones he made himself, and explains why he prefers his own.
Want to keep going?
No rush: watch the lessons, give it a try, and come back whenever you like.
The full course
Jeweler Profession: Beginner
Stages 2 and 3 of the method, step by step: from soldering and rolling to rings with a stone, earrings and a pendant — your first 6 pieces. The course also has recorded reviews where Stanislav goes through other students' work in detail.
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