Pencil torches

[BonnieB]

I saw a picture of a small pencil torche using butane and wonder if that could be used for silver jump rings? Can StayBrite be used?

[Metalman]

The pencil torch will work to solder jump rings with 'hard' solders.  I wouldn't use it for StayBrite, which is a 'soft' solder because the torch will probably be too hot for the temperature range of thet StayBrite. The last pencil torch I had did not work as well as the little butane Micro Torch you can get [R&T# 69-180].

[Luann Udell]

My son and I have been trying our hand at soldering with a Weller electric soldering tool, with abysmal results.  He wants to solder "stuff", I just want to solder sterling silver jump rings.  We just can't get things "hotted up" enough to work right.  

Should I just give up on the electric rig and switch to the butane torch you mentioned?  Is a torch more straightforward and/or easier to use?

thanks--I know by now Russ is probably pounding his head gently against the wall re: my asking yet another soldering question....  
Luann

[Metalman]

Hey Luann,
You didn't say but since you are trying to use an electric soldering tool, I am going to assume you are using Staybrite or some other form of lower tem[perature 'soft' solder.  If you are using 'hard' solder then you will need a torch of some sort. I trust you have a copy of the Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight and have read the section on soldering?

For jumprings, a Weller soldering gun should get hot enough.  I suspect and clean metal and fluxing problem.  If you do a search of the forum for soldering, you will pull up a lot of additional discussion regarding the foibles of soldering.
Hope this helps