Soldering 101

by Judy Ellis

Soldering is the most common technique for joining two or more metals together. In the soldering process, two elements are used: heat and solder. A solder is a metal alloy that has a lower melting point than the metals do that are to be joined together. When the heat from a soldering torch comes into contact with the solder and metals, the solder will melt before the metals do, causing the melted solder to flow and connect the separate pieces together.

Solders are categorized into three types: hard, medium, and easy (soft).

These categories refer to their melting points.

Soft solders melt at lower temperatures than medium and hard solders.

Hard solders, on the other hand, are typically used for jewelry making and working with precious metals.

If a piece needs to be soldered more than once, start with a hard solder, then move to a medium or soft solder.

This prevents the first solder joint from remelting.

Recommended Materials

Solder

Flux

Flux brush

Tweezers

Torch

Soldering Block

Safety glasses/eye protection

Steps in Soldering

1. Fitting

2. Cleaning

3. Fluxing

4. Solder Placement

5. Heating

Pro Tip: It is important to take safety precautions when soldering. Wear protective clothing, eye protection, make sure the area is well ventilated, and don't touch the tip or element of a soldering iron. The three major hazards of soldering are heat, fumes, and the lead content of the solder. When possible, substitute lead free solder for leaded solder.

Just what the doctor ordered!
This article will now go in depth about the 5 steps of soldering.

Step 1: Fitting

Soldering gets challenging without a fitted join.

A fitted join means a smooth, built-in connection point between metal pieces.

Edges must match perfectly for a secure, lasting bond. Filing may be needed.

Ensure surfaces are free of dents, warping, or kinks.

For butt joins (flat edges), bevel the surfaces so metal overlaps.

This creates a strong joint.

Step 2. Cleaning

Metals must be clean and free of dirt, grease, oil, and fingerprints.

Solder won't flow on unclean surfaces.

Cleaning options: pickling or sanding.

Pickling, a chemical process, works best. You'll need pickle, a pickle pot, tongs, and tweezers.

Pickle is an acidic solution in liquid or powder form. Use an old coffee pot on a hot plate or small crock pot.

Once designated as a pickle pot, never use it for cooking again.

After pickling, wash metals in water with baking soda. Use copper tongs to avoid contaminating the solution.

Dry thoroughly.

A wet pumice stone and bristle brush or a clean piece of emery paper will also work for cleaning.

Use a clean pair of tweezers to manage the metals with after they have been cleaned.

Judy Ellis's Soldering 101 - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , Sparex

Step 3. Fluxing

All areas to be soldered need to be covered with flux (unless using paste solder).

Each piece of solder should also be fluxed.

Soldering flux helps dissolve and prevent oxidation of the base metal.

It also acts as a wetting agent allowing easier spreading of the solder around the join.

There are many soldering fluxes on the market available for use.

Judy Ellis's Soldering 101 - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , Aqua Flux

Judy Ellis's Soldering 101 - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Tools, , silver solder paste

Step 4. Solder Placement

Prepare a few solder snippets called pallions.

Use tweezers or a flux-moistened brush tip to place the pallion on the join.

Avoid extra pallions. They're hard to melt off and cause blemishes.

File away any excess solder that flows off.

Step 5. Heating

Use a torch to preheat the entire metal area evenly.

Do this carefully and quickly for good solder flow.

Heating only the solder first makes it melt into a ball that won't enter the join.

Equally heat the two or more pieces that are to be connected together.

Preheat until the piece begins to glow.

Solder will then flow and fill the seam.

Work in soft light to better see the glow.

Melted solder flows toward the hottest spot.

Move the torch to direct it as desired.

After the solder has melted to your satisfaction, cool, and place the piece in a warm pickle bath to remove oxidation.

It can also be boiled to increase the cleaning time.

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