Soldering

Soldering

• Soldering is a way of attaching two pieces of metal by melting a third piece of metal (called solder) to join them.

• The solder will have a lower melting point than the metals that are being joined. The metal pieces themselves should not melt.

#1 Requirement for soldering:

• No gap. Solder does not fill gaps.

• There must be pressure holding the metal together.

#2 Requirement for soldering:

• The metal needs to start clean.

• Solder will not stick to firescale or other coatings.

• Pickle• Rinse• Dry• Sand

#3 Requirement for soldering:

• The metal needs to stay clean

• As the metal heats up, firescale of soot could build up on it, preventing soldering.

• Flux• Flux will prevent

firescale for about a minute after it dries.

#4 Requirement for soldering:

• Evenly heat metal.• The entire piece or

metal needs to reach soldering temperature in order for the solder to flow properly.

• Heat the block, not the metal.

• Use the correct size flame.

• Once the block is hot, you can heat the edges of the metal.

Soldering Steps

• Pickle• Rinse• Dry• Sand if the piece

was not already filed

• Be sure you use the copper tongs!

Add Flux

Lay your metal on the big tile when you’re adding flux.

Keep the flux off the black block.

Choose the correct solder

The directions will tell you which kind to use

Put your solder right back into your bag so you know what kind it is

Flatten Solder

Flatten solder with a metal hammer before you cut it off

This will keep your solder from rolling around as you heat your metal

Add SolderPut the metal up on the carbon block

Always assume the block will be hot!

Add solder in a place where you can see it when it melts

Safety Gear

Put on safety glasses

Pull your hair up

Light TorchHold the striker at an angle just off the tip of the torch

Adjust the torch so you have a tight blue cone in the flame

Adjust TorchAdjust the torch so you have a tight blue cone in the flame

When you flip it over, be prepared to turn the propane down

Heat BlockMake slow circles around your piece

Keep the tip of the cone about 1” above the block

Heat the block, not the metal

Add piecesAfter the solder melts, add pieces

You can heat directly on the metal if needed after the block is glowing

Your whole piece should be this whitish-gold color

Let coolLet your piece cool until it is “room temperature”, which means until it is black.

Remember it is still hot!

QuenchQuench your metal and your tweezers into your water bowl.

Do not carry your hot piece of metal around looking for water!

CleanPickle, removing from the pot with copper tongs.RinseDry

Soldering Procedure & Safety Quiz

• What two pieces of safety gear are required for soldering?• Why do you need a bowl of water at your station before you

solder?• Where do you put your metal when you’re applying the flux?• What do you use for moving your metal to and from the

pickle pot?• Where do you find the extra flints for the striker?• When you start the blue torch, what do you do before

opening the gas valve?• When you turn your torch over, what do you need to be

prepared to do?

Soldering Procedure & Safety Quiz, p.2

• How far away from the metal should the inner cone tip be?• What do you do if your torch keeps going out?• Once your flux dries, about how long do you have before it

doesn’t keep your metal clean any more?• In order to heat your metal evenly, how do you heat up the

piece?• If your solder balls up but does not run or flatten out, what

two things could be wrong?• When you quench your hot piece of metal, what else do

you need to do?