studio tips
Soldering Armatures
Sometimes there is no good way to solder something on a flat surface when the item you are trying to solder has multiple sides or dimensions. Using chunks of fire brick for propping sometimes helps but when it is just not enough then add a simple tool to your studio arsenal...
the soldering armature.
Easy to make yourself, it only takes a few minutes and is very inexpensive.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
I am using 14 gauge steel bailing wire that you can pick up at the hardware store. It will take the heat from your torch without changing its shape. Fashion a coil with needle nose pliers. Make little supporting “feet” with a loop at each end that sit flat on your surface.
There is no limit to the shapes you can make. Think of all the directions that you might need to prop up your work and style your wire accordingly. Have fun with it.
Here my Calder-like armatures function as a third hand or a tiny work of art!
Materials:
14 gauge steel bailing wire
side cutters
pliers (round-nose, flat-nose)
Keep in mind that the steel armature (like any other steel item) cannot go into your pickle!
New armature propping up a link in a chain.