Soldering Tips
A few easy to follow fundamental procedures to assure a neat, strong, and uniform joint.
First visible red | 900º F | Cherry red | 1400º F | |
Dull red | 1200º F | Bright salmon red | 1600º F |
Common Soldering Problems and Their Causes
The Solder Will Not Flow
The surface of the metal is not clean
The tip of your torch is too small
Not enough heat has been applied to the metal
The wrong spot on the metal was heated
Too much flux has been applied to the joint
The Solder "Balls Up"
There is not enough solder
The area arond the solder joint has not been heated enough
The solder has been heated too much
The Solder Runs Away From The Joint
The metal is not clean
There is not enough flux
The torch tip is too large
Uneven heat has been applied to the metal around the solder joint
The torch tip is producing too much heat
There Are Pits In The Solder Seam
The solder is not clean
The solder joint received too much heat
The metal is not clean
The alloy of the solder has broken down after being heated multiple times from different solderings
The Solder Joint Has Gaps
The metal is not clean
The solder is not clean
The to pieces being soldered do not fit together properly
The Solder Flows Unevenly
The metal is dirty