Household Repairs Soldering is an easy way to mend metals permanently. Small soldering jobs are best done with an electric soldering iron of the conventional type or of the faster gun type. Large jobs are done with a torch (a conventional gasoline blowtorch or the more convenient propane torch). The tips of soldering irons must be kept smooth, clean, and tinned (coated with a thin layer of solder). Torch tips must also be kept clean and undamaged if they are to give a steady blue flame of the proper size and shape.

Solder is a mixture of tin and lead. It is available in the form of wire, bars, or paste. Wire solder may be solid solder or contain a core of acid or rosin flux. Bar solder is solid. Paste solder comes mixed with acid flux.

Whenever solid solder is used, a flux which cleans the metal must first be applied to the metal. This is available as a liquid or paste. Rosin flux is used only in making electrical connections and on terne metal. Acid flux is used for all other work. Galvanized iron and stainless steel require especially strong acid fluxes.

Aluminum is soldered without fluxing, but a special solder called Chemalloy is required.




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November 20, 2008