Soldering Made Simple: Easy techniques for the kitchen-table jeweler

Great book to learn from very easy to follow directions.You wont regret buying it.

I just received this book and I am so excited to get started. I was really indecisive when trying to choose which books to get. I'm totally new and jewelry making and definitely wanted to get right to the metalworking part, I'm not interested in wire and bead type jewelry. This book lays out everything you will need to make fine jewelry from your own home. It clearly describes the tools, the methods, and it has a projects section with step-by-step instructions on how to complete each piece. The projects look really cool, not tacky and lame. And one of the final project involves making a bezel-set ring, which is really the main thing I'm interested in learning. I'm super happy that I chose this book, it's exactly what I was looking for. Update: This book really worked out great for me. This gave me the core knowledge I needed and I was able to build upon the techniques learned in this book. Through lots of additional trial and error and experimentation I am now creating pieces of sterling silver jewelry which sell for $100 to $300 in my etsy shop. So I was able to teach myself to become a true silversmith with the help of this book.

As a beginning jewelry artist, I have worked mostly with making my own chains and beaded pieces. Soldering is the obvious next step to be able to add to my skill set. This book came highly recommended, and it is rightfully so. If you're like me and won't buy the book due to the bad reviews, I beg you to change your mind. The good reviews really are telling the truth. The author has put an abundance of information into this book. From tools to step-by-step instructions, it has it all! No, he doesn't go over the basic pliers and everything, but if you've been making ANY kind of jewelry for even a small amount of time, you should know your pliers and already have some. However, he does have a very good list of the tools you will need to solder and to make the projects in this book. I do wish he had put more into the bit about tumble polishing, but there's more info in here about other types of polishing that it almost negates the need for a tumbler at all. As a person who googles and researches a project to death before taking the plunge and buying the tools and materials needed, I can't wait to get some torches and all the bench tools needed to make the projects in this book. I know one of the first things I will be doing is making my own head pins and charms. Thank you, Joe Silvera, for writing such a wonderful and helpful book. :)

I've read through this twice from cover to cover since I bought it (I know that's not exactly how this format is usually read) but I couldn't work the projects right away, sooo... that had to do! But I *have* done some of the projects, now, and I can't wait until I am able to do the rest! Mr. Silvera has put together a more in-depth book than I expected it to be, and while I read the reviews before buying I was still pleasantly surprised. It's more than just a "step-by-step". There are many projects; starting out from basic and working up to more advanced soldering techniques. They aren't all to my taste, exactly, but they do build knowledge & technique. I had an easy time working through the first few projects and really enjoyed it. I've really wanted to learn better solder techniques and I'm finding it to be exciting...(and a lot of fun!). There's also workbench & workshop setup advice, tools (not just what you need, but why & a discussion regarding quality) plus other requirements & 'needs' lists. He also explains the difference between torch types and why you'll need to work with one over the other(s). And you do need to use a torch, this is jewelry soldering, not electrical or utility soldering, so no solder "guns" or "irons", but torches. Something that I knew, but apparently some don't know.. thus my mentioning it here! <wink> The author is knowledgeable about his field and shares that knowledge in a very accessible way. I've learned *so* much already and am really excited and energized! My jewelry is gaining a stronger voice every day. This book and others like it have become so valuable for me, as a self-taught jeweler, and I can honestly say I wish I'd discovered this particular book sooner.. I've really loved adding this skill, it's not only necessary for me to move forward, but I genuinely enjoy the process of soldering! And in the end, isn't that really the most important thing? To love what we do? To continue to find and feel the joy in all forms and facets of our craft?

I really like this book. I have many books on jewelry making but this one has the most easily-digestable technical detail for the casual jewelry maker. The author breaks down all of the tools and details of flux, solder, the home set up, butane torches, etc. so that I understand what I am doing and introducing into my home. I want to say that I also have Kate Richbourg's book called Simple Soldering and I think they each have their own merits. I really like Kate's DVD which makes jewelry soldering seem very casual and simple but I also like the slightly more technical details included in this book. Both are good and I think that the novice/hobby metalworker would benefit from both. I am a person who likes to have all of the information in front of me before I dip my toe in the pool. Using a butane microtorch takes so much fear out of the equation for those of us who want to play a bit with metal before we decide whether this is the medium for us. I have used acetylene/oxygen and propane torches before and I am glad that these butane torches are a good option for those of us who want to do metalwork at home without fearing that we will blow up our homes or asphyxiate our families.

Great book for someone learning to create sterling silver jewelery.

Very helpful getting me started on soldering...explains everything and even has you do little projects to make sure you have the skills to go forward. This book will not disappoint if you are getting into metalsmithing/silversmithing, etc.

I have just started adventuring into Silver Smithing and this was the first book I bought to learn from - I have had no training yet this book taught me the whole process for each element of common techniques including trouble shooting. It is my bible and reference book while I work. Fantastic!! And the projects are great to learn each of the techniques as a whole piece combined instead of pointless 'dummy runs'.

very helpful full of good tips how to make and repair very good to be able to do small repairs and to make the odd item

The book arrived on time and was well packed. The condition is as described and I have already found it useful.