Reader Question: Is there a difference between all the different types of solder available?  And any soldering tips would be appreciated.

Answer: There are a few different kinds of solder.  The type of solder you need will depend on what you’re planning to do with it.  Some varieties of solder, like those used to make stained glass work, often have a small amount of lead in them…so you want to be careful when and if you’re using solder to make jewelry.

When you’re in the market to buy solders, make sure you check on the lead content, especially if you’re planning to make jewelry with it.  I highly recommend the Walnut Hollow Designed for Her Creative Soldering Tool.  It’s easy to use and can be used for anything from jewelry making to stained glass crafting.  It comes with the perfect soldering iron, assorted tips, and lead-free solder that doesn’t need any additional flux (flux is a liquid used in soldering to help adhere to the solder to the copper tape).  For jewelry making, this is your best buy.

You can find a Soldering Iron Kit and additional lead-free/no additional flux needed solder on CutRateCrafts.com.