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So I took a "basic" soldering class at a semi-local bead store last night. A two hour class, cost $20, and they supplied all necessary equipment.
The funny thing is that I learned more in that two hour class than I did in a semester at MCTC (for SIGNIFICANTLY more thant $20). We covered a bunch of different techniques and solder types and practiced soldering on jump rings. I'd found the class at MCTC to be intimidating and the teacher wasn't really good at providing alternative methods for achieving "good" soldering technique. We used only sheet solder and were shown only ONE way to solder jump rings.
I've made some attempts on my own since, but the class last night focussed on de-mystifying the process and gave me a lot more confidence. Plus, we tried six different types of solder and learned several methods. So I've now found the type of solder I prefer, and several possible methods based on the type of project I'll be doing.
So, if you live in the Twin Cities area and are interested in a cool-ish bead store that offers some killer classes, I suggest you check out Bead Me Up in Apple Valley. Their classes are amazingly reasonable (far more so than Bobby Bead, or even Insomniac Bead in Plymouth). I'm taking another chain class (Helm Chain) there in a couple of weeks and then a bezel setting class in September. Their web site is: www.bead-me-up.com. :)
The funny thing is that I learned more in that two hour class than I did in a semester at MCTC (for SIGNIFICANTLY more thant $20). We covered a bunch of different techniques and solder types and practiced soldering on jump rings. I'd found the class at MCTC to be intimidating and the teacher wasn't really good at providing alternative methods for achieving "good" soldering technique. We used only sheet solder and were shown only ONE way to solder jump rings.
I've made some attempts on my own since, but the class last night focussed on de-mystifying the process and gave me a lot more confidence. Plus, we tried six different types of solder and learned several methods. So I've now found the type of solder I prefer, and several possible methods based on the type of project I'll be doing.
So, if you live in the Twin Cities area and are interested in a cool-ish bead store that offers some killer classes, I suggest you check out Bead Me Up in Apple Valley. Their classes are amazingly reasonable (far more so than Bobby Bead, or even Insomniac Bead in Plymouth). I'm taking another chain class (Helm Chain) there in a couple of weeks and then a bezel setting class in September. Their web site is: www.bead-me-up.com. :)
