The Diagnostic Framework Course
The Diagnostic Framework Course is for the home-based jewellery maker who is tired of inconsistent results and wants to understand what's actually going wrong — not just be told what to do differently.
This is not a technique course. It's a diagnostic course. Four self-study modules that teach you to read what your solder, flux and metal are telling you, so you can identify the cause of any failure and fix it yourself. It's the diagnostic skill that usually takes years of bench time to develop — taught as a system you can apply from session one.
By the end you won't just know what to do. You'll know why your solder isn't flowing, what your flux behaviour is telling you about your heat, and how to work through any problem systematically — every time you sit at your bench.
Built specifically for makers using handheld torches at home.
What's included
Module 1 — The Diagnostic Mindset Why following instructions isn't enough, and how to shift from guessing to diagnosing. Includes a real student diagnosis so you can see the framework in action.
Module 2 — Prep Diagnostics What 'ready to solder' actually looks like. The flush join standard, clean metal, getting your ends square, annealing, and the final clean most people skip.
Module 3 — Materials Diagnostics What your flux and solder are telling you. The four stages of flux behaviour, what burnt flux looks like, why solder runs the wrong way, and what a balling solder is actually telling you.
Module 4 — Heat Principles Your torch, your flame, and how to read your metal. Flame zones, flame movement, underheated and overheated metal, and how thickness affects your approach.
This is for you if
√ You're a home-based jeweller working with a handheld butane or propane torch
√ You know the basics but your results aren't consistent and you don't know why
√. You've tried tutorials, forums, and different tools and none of it has made the difference you expected
This is NOT for you if...
ｘ You've never held a torch — this course assumes you have some basic familiarity
ｘ You work in a professional studio with a fixed torch setup — the conditions are different and this course is built around handheld torches specifically
ｘ You want a new set of instructions to follow — this course gives you the ability to read what's happening, not a better checklist
ｘ You want a new set of instructions to follow — this course gives you the ability to read what's happening, not a better checklist
ｘ You're expecting results from watching alone — the diagnostic skill builds at the bench alongside your practice
√. Your solder works sometimes and fails other times and you can't find a pattern
√. You want to stop accumulating random tips and start working from a system that tells you exactly what's happening at your bench
√. You'd rather spend a few focused hours learning to diagnose than another year of hit-and-miss practice
What students say
"I have realised that preparation is all important. I had not understood that. It has stopped being a matter of good luck now." — Annette H, Beta Student
"Working with Linda is like having a soldering coach who actually understands what's going wrong and how to fix it." — Hayley W, Beta Student
What happens after you buy
You'll receive instant access to all four modules. There are no scheduled sessions or calls — you work through the content at your own pace, at your own bench. The course is yours to keep with no expiry date.
If you want personalised 1:1 diagnosis of your specific problem after completing the course, the next step is the 90-Minute Breakthrough Session at £297.