How to Make Soldered Microscope Slide Art Jewelry

Soldered glass jewelry and microscope slide jewelry is becoming increasingly popular. Several artisans and crafters on the internet sell these unique items, including myself. Though the startup cost is high, you can make these soldered pieces of art jewelry yourself from easily obtained supplies.

You will need a box of glass microscope slides, a glass cutter, copper ribbon (purchase from a stained glass supply store) about 1/8" wide, lead-free jewelry grade solder (also can be purchased from a stained glass supply store or art supply store), pictures to use in your jewelry, silver tone jump rings, glass breaking pliers, a small, wire cutters, a lump of modeling clay, a flattened cardboard box, cheap craft paintbrush, pliers, a wet rag or sponge, a good soldering iron that heats at the same temperature that the solder melts at, and non-toxic flux.

As a warning, you should know that using a soldering iron releases extremely toxic gasses that are known to cause several types of cancer. Work only in a well-ventilated area and if you can, set up a fan to blow the gasses away from your face while you are working.

Many types of solder are also extremely toxic and should not be used for jewelry. Your solder should not only be labeled "lead-free" but it should also be labeled "non-toxic" or "jewelry grade." Never use any type of solder that is not labeled as safe for jewelry or for use on skin.

Begin by creating the piece of jewelry itself. Cut out the image that you would like to use in your pendant and place it under one of the microscope slides. Use the glass cutter to cut along the glass to the size of the image underneath. This may take several tries before you learn exactly what pressure to use to make a clean score without breaking the slide. You will need two pieces of glass of the exact same size for each pendant, so be sure that your cuts are straight.

Break your glass pieces along the scored lines using a pair of glass breaking pliers. Be very careful not to cut your hands. Breaking glass can also get into your eyes when snapped apart, so wear protective eyewear if you can.

Wipe off your glass pieces so that there are no fingerprints and enclose your image between the two slides. Carefully cut pieces of copper foil tape to go around the edges of your squares and peel off the sticky backs. Stick the tape firmly around the glass edges and smooth them with your fingernail so that there are no bubbles or wrinkles. Be sure that the edges are completely covered with copper foil tape. Even the slightest hole or crack in the tape will cause a hole in the jewelry where your solder will not stick.

Next, prepare your soldering area. Lay out a flattened cardboard box to protect your work surface. You will also need to have on had at least one pair of pliers, a wet rag or sponge, your soldering iron (plug it in for 10 minutes to let it heat up), your metal jump rings, a small cheap paintbrush, and your flux.

Next, use the wire cutters to cut several pieces of solder in various sizes from ¼ inch long to pieces the size of a pomegranate seed. You will need ten to twenty pieces in varying sizes. Set them in a small pile on your work surface.

Use the paintbrush to coat the copper foil tape on your pendant with flux. Solder will not stick to any part of the copper foil unless it has been coated with flux. You will need very little, but be careful not to miss any spots. It is okay if you get the flux on the glass.

Use the pliers to gently hold your pendant in one hand and pick up your soldering iron in the other. Lay the tip of the soldering iron on one of your cut pieces of solder until it melts. You should be able to pick up the melted solder drop with the tip of the soldering iron. Sometimes, this can take a few tries to learn to master.

Place the melted solder on the glass pendant along one edge of the copper foil. Use the soldering iron to guide the solder along the foil so that the entire edge is covered. Again, this will take a lot of practice before you learn to master it. Gradually turn the pendant until all sides are coated evenly with solder. When the tip of the soldering iron begins to look dirty, wipe it quickly on your wet rag or sponge.

To fix a bail to the top, press the bottom edge of your pendant into a lump of modeling clay so that it will stand up straight on its own. Use the pliers to grasp a metal jump ring. Dip the tip of the ring into the solder and place it on top of the pendant where you want it. As you hold it, pick up one of the tiny pieces of solder with your soldering iron and press it to the spot where the jump ring touches the pendant. Remove the soldering iron, but hold the hand with the jump ring still until the solder has hardened and fixed the ring to the top of your pendant.

Use the wet cloth or a clean cloth to thoroughly wipe the pendant clean of any excess flux. Be very careful not to burn yourself as the pendant will be quite hot for a few minutes. You can cool it quickly by using the damp cloth or sponge for a few seconds.

That's all there is to it. Soldering jewelry takes many hours of practice before you will start to get it right, but once it is learned, it is very easy to do. You can use these soldered pendants as Christmas tree ornaments, gifts for friends and family, or you can just enjoy them yourself. They can be made into necklaces, earrings, and even bracelets. Have fun crafting!