Soldering your stained glass piece is not difficult, but making nice clean solder lines is a talent that make take a bit of time to acquire. One key tip I can offer right off, is to make sure that you have new, quality supplies and a well made soldering iron. Don't try and use flux that is more than a few months old as your final project could suffer that dreaded lumpy look. Solder can be older, but don't use any that has a questionable age.

Here are some basic tips and guidelines to follow when you solder your project:

• Always work in a well ventilated area and to be extra cautious, install a fume extractor if possible.
  
  
• Make sure to keep solder away from pets and children as it contains lead and is therefore toxic.
  
  
• Don't work with solder if you are pregnant.
  
  
• Don't eat or drink when working with solder, again, it's toxic.
  
  
• Wear safety glasses! Solder and flux can pop and spit over long distances.
  
  
• Make sure to thoroughly clean your hands after soldering, and visit a site such as labsafety.com to find products that will help you maintain proper work hygiene.
  
  
• Make sure that the set screw on your iron is tight, this will make sure that the tip will be secure and that the iron will heat up properly.
  
  
• When assembling your glass, make sure to tack the pieces together first. This will hold the pieces together for the final soldering.
  
  
• Make sure to drag the soldering iron slowly over the solder lines to make the smoothest solder lines. Avoid any rapid motions when soldering. Think of your iron as a magnet pulling along a metal strip.
  
  
• Don't spend too much time on the back of a panel, just make sure the solder has covered all of the foil, but don't worry about making it perfect.
  
  
• To prevent burning your fingers, use needle nose pliers or heat resistant gloves to hold small pieces.
  
  
• Be careful when using your iron, you do not want the hot tip to touch the power cord for obvious reasons.
  
  
• Cut down on the time spent on tip maintenance by using a good quality solder. Use one that has a high tin content and high metal purity.
  
  
• Make sure to keep your flux clean and free of impurities. One way to keep your flux clean is to avoid dipping in and out of the original container. Try getting in to the habit of pouring out only the amount you will need for your current project into a separate, smaller container.
  
  
• Be sure to keep a small puddle of solder at the base of the tip as you solder. This will help make a smooth bead as you move along the foil or lead.
  
  
• You can purchase special tip maintenance kits, but these are basically nothing more then a sponge in a special metal container. Save your money and buy a quality sponge from your local mega-mart. Find an old soap container and cut the sponge to fit. When you are soldering, keep the sponge wet and wipe your soldering tip on it regularly to keep it clean. The sponge will spit a little bit as the hot tip encounters the water, but that's to be expected.