The Cardinal Rules of Soldering Safety

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Using the Tiffany technique to soft solder jewelry at home can be a fun, safe and profitable hobby. It’s important to keep in mind that you’re working with molten metal, as well as some supplies that can give off noxious VOCs and potentially dangerous fumes. Not to worry though! It’s easy to stay safe with a few specialty safety supplies and a general awareness of what you’re working with.

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Fire extinguisher
I mean… you’re working with heat, electricity, and the closest thing to modern alchemy I can think of… get a fire extinguisher. Everyone needs one–so few of us actually have one. This is one of those things every house should have anyway–so keep it close when you’re soldering.

Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate!
Use a fume extractor next to your work! If you were to only buy one safety-based item for soldering, this. is. IT. Whether you’re working next to an open window or not, it will pull the nasties out of the air that get released when solder and flux are exposed to high heat, trapping them safely in replaceable filters.

Keep it as close to your work as possible — the closer it sits, the more effective it will be. A fume extractor keeps you safe, but it also keeps anyone else in the space safe too. Errant particles will be trapped in the filter instead of settling on your furniture, counters, etc.

Also, do not solder anywhere near birds–there’s a reason they used canaries to know if there were poisonous gases in mineshafts–their fragile little systems give out easily in bad air. Cats may also develop respiratory issues more readily than other animals, so it’s best to keep them out of your soldering area, as well.

Wear a mask
The kind of mask that keeps sawdust out won’t cut it–you need a true vapor mask to keep the nasties out of your lungs. Buy one with replaceable filters–it’s a one-time investment that can save you from occupational asthma and even skin reactions (yes, I know it sounds strange, but breathing in certain fumes can make your skin more sensitive to them later).

Wear safety glasses
Seriously, they’re like $2. Don’t skip them. Please.

Give yourself a heat-proof work surface
Always work on a stone or ceramic surface. Plastic can melt, and wood is easily marked and scarred. Ceramic tile makes an excellent work surface that’s easy to clean and can be put away when you’re not using it.

Wear gloves
Once you get to the flux and soldering phases, it’s a good idea to wear gloves. Flux is pretty acidic, and can do yucky things to your fingers and cuticles. Also, your skin is the largest organ on your body, and preventing said yucky things from absorbing into it is generally a good idea.

Use an actual soldering iron stand
No, I don’t mean that flimsy, bendy piece of metal that comes stock with your soldering iron. I mean that lovely, stable coil that’s screwed securely into a metal base that sits securely at the edge of your workstation.

Any errant elbow-strike on your cord can send your iron rolling dangerously toward disaster. Second-degree burns can happen in just milliseconds with a 450-degree iron–especially if you absentmindedly reach for it as it rolls across the table. Make sure it’s stabilized in a secure, heat-proof stand.

Keep pets OUT
Whether you have an animal that’s more prone to respiratory issues or not, it’s best to keep pets away from your work surface. For starters, excited tail wagging can launch corded irons across the room or knock things over, and curious kittens can get all up in your business on a clean work surface–no bueno.

*And as I mentioned before, never EVER solder in a room with a bird of any kind.

Wear the right clothing
Long-sleeved shirts and pants that cover your legs (NO shorts!) may seem like overkill until the first time you drop a hot piece of pewter jewelry in your lap. Wearing a cotton or leather apron while you’re soldering is even better. Synthetic clothes can melt when they come into contact with molten solder–and hence melt to your skin–avoid them altogether.

Keep an ice pack ready in the fridge
Burns happen. It may not happen to you, ever, but it’s always a good idea to have an ice pack ready to go in the fridge. Because prepared people generally have things go their way. Just sayin’.

No food or drink
I feel like this goes without saying, but just in case you like to chow down while you’re doing craft projects, this is not the place to eat or drink. Airborne toxins and acidic/chemical materials can poison you if you consume them. So… eat lunch somewhere else. And wash your hands when you’re done soldering–dish soap with a pinch of baking soda works best.

That’s it!
Like I said, for the most part you just need to make sure you’re going about it the right way–same as any other hobby. With the right tools and the safe soft soldering bench setup outlined above, you’ll be good to go.  🙂

I’ve tried to list everything I can think of, but I’m sure there are some improvements to be made. Any suggestions would be most welcome–drop me a line in the comments below!