What are cold connections?

What Is A Cold Connection? A cold connection is the term given to different ways to attach metal or mixed media without the need of any heat. This is great if you don’t have access to soldering tools or soldering just isn’t possible for you or your design.

What is cold connection in jewelry making?

Cold connections are a method of attaching pieces together using rivets, lashing, screws, tabs and any other method that does not include soldering.

Can you cold solder silver?

Experienced jewelers and manufacturers know that typical “cold soldering” is more accurately described as “resistance soldering.” Cold soldering tools, like the popular ColdHeat Soldering Pen, have a split tip with electric current running through each point.

What is Chainmaille?

Chainmaille (also known as chainmail, or simply maille) is typically armor or jewelry made by connecting metal rings to one another. The word maille derives from the French word maille (mesh), which comes from Latin macula (mesh of a net).

What are the different types of cold connections in jewelry making?

Types of Cold Connection Jewelry Making. Screws, Nuts, and Bolts. Threaded connections are the most forgiving of the cold connections for jewelry making. All you have to do is drill an appropriate sized hole, insert the hardware, and tighten the nuts and screws or bolts.

What are cold connection jewelry tabs?

Tabs are an often overlooked cold connection jewelry technique. Think of paper dolls-those little rectangles of paper that you fold around a sleeve or shoulder are tabs, and they work great in metal, too. Tabs can also be curved.

Where can I learn riveting and other cold connection jewelry making?

To learn more about cold connection jewelry making, check out Susan Lenart Kazmer’s DVD, Metalwork: Making Cold Connections with Rivets or my DVD, Metalsmith Essentials: Riveting & Cold Connections. They are both great ways to learn riveting and other cold connection jewelry making.

Do you love soldering or cold connection jewelry?

I love soldering just as much as I love cold connection jewelry making. Luckily, I’ve got the equipment and knowledge to go either way when it comes to jewelry construction. Depending on what kind of work I am making, I can choose a join that not only does the job, but has the right aesthetic for the piece.