Posted by Gary Dodge on December 15, 2002 at 11:10:46:
In Reply to: 3d soldering posted by Karen on December 12, 2002 at 12:53:11:
Hi Karen,
You need to learn how to build an edge bead. this technique is the answer to both of your problems. The glue on foil is just to hold it until it gets soldered. You need to build up solder to give foil the strength of a real metal channel on the glass.
Edge beading is best accomplished with 50/50 solder and requires careful control of your temperature. If you get the solder too hot it will just run like water. You need to use a temperature control and keep the iron a bit cooler so the solder stays a bit thicker and can stand up higher. Then you need to use just the corner of the tip to apply the heat to small areas at a time so you just don't melt everything off.
Use a lot of flux, stand the piece up on edge so you are always working on "top" and bring solder up to the edge you are beading one dab at a time.
Gary Dodge
: Hi, I have been making 3 d stars as gifts. I copied one I purchased a long time ago. My problem is the soldering. When the 4 edges are together and I solder it, theirs seem to have a very even "glob" of solder in the middle where it all meets. I can never get that same effect. Is there something I am missing? Are there forms that the glass is placed into and then soldered over? Like little braces or something? Any help I can get would be greatly appreciated.
: Also, how can I make sure the foil I use stays on after I solder it.
: Thanks!