- 1). Determine the metal composition of your photo charms. If the charms are made of copper and are relatively small (around an inch or so), you can solder them together using just a soldering iron. For larger charms, or charms made of different metals, you may need a butane torch to get the metal hot enough to melt the solder.
- 2). Test the meeting point of your charms. Make sure that you have at least a quarter of an inch of overlap where you intend to make a joint. Arrange the charms to be joined on the heatproof board, keeping the area clear of any debris.
- 3). With a small paintbrush, paint the liquid flux onto each charm, covering the area to be joined. The flux will boil away when you apply heat, cleaning the metal as it does so.
- 4). Melt a small amount of solder onto the tip of your soldering iron. When the solder has just started to melt, paint it onto each piece of the joint with the tip of the iron. Cover the joint area with a thin, even coat of solder---using too much solder will weaken the joint.
- 5). Heat the joint with the soldering iron. Apply heat to the two charms, rather than directly to the solder---the idea is to get the copper hot enough to melt the solder. Heat the metal until the solder melts and changes color.
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