Need help, looking at starting soldering?

[loveak]

I have been making jewelry for 3 years, now I'm ready to get into silversmithing.  Would like to know which soldering tool I should buy?  I want to learn how to solder I think I'm using the right word, to put metal around stones and such.  Any comments would be appriciated

[Metalman]

Please see my other reply to your question:
<a href="http://www.rings-things.com/forum/index.php/topic,2347.html" target="_blank">posting 2347[/url]

I would get the book and hopefully the workshop in hand before you spend money on tools - make sure you buy the right things that way.

Metal around stones is done with wire wrapping or with bezels.  Bezels are built by soldering them to a silver backer or design and the stones are cold mounted into the bezel.

There are methods for firing some stones into the metal clay materials like Art Clay Silver - but there are limitations and considerations for this - there is more information in the Art Clay Silver parts of this forum.
Hope this helps</font>

(edited to fix broken link)