Soldering & Brazing ALWAYS USE LEAD FREE SOLDER!!!!

Soldering Soldering: process in which two or more metal items are joined together by a melting and flowing a filler metal, solder below 842*F, into the joint. The filler metal has a lower melting point than the adjoining metal. Soldering differs from welding in that soldering does not involve melting the work pieces.

Soldering Applications Plumbing, electronics, and metalwork Commonly used in repairs & joining of dissimilar metals Plumbing: Soldering provides reasonably permanent but reversible connections between copper pipes in plumbing systems Electronics: soldering connects electrical wiring and electronic components to printed circuit boards (PCBs). Metalwork: Jewelry repair, sheet metal objects such as food cans, roof flashing, rain gutters. Used to seal & repair automobile radiators. Small mechanical parts are often soldered or brazed as well. Soldering is also used to join copper foil in stained glass work.

Applications

Advantages of Soldering Low power & temperature Easily automated process Dissimilar materials may be joined (cast iron & steel) Thin material parts may be joined Moderate skill level

Disadvantages of Soldering Careful removal of the flux residuals is required in order to prevent corrosion; Large sections cannot be joined Fluxes may contain toxic components Soldered joints cant be used in high temperature applications Low strength of joints.

Soldering Equipment Guns, irons, torches, filler

Electrical Soldering Video Electrical soldering (4:46) – Procedure – Clean soldering iron tip – Allow iron to heat up – Apply small amount of ROSIN core solder to tip – Heat wire – Apply Solder – Unplug soldering iron

Torch Soldering Video – PROCEDURE – Cut pipes to size – Clean or all fittings with wire brush or sand paper – Apply flux to ALL joints – Heat metal – Apply solder (1” pipe = 1” solder)

Brazing / Braze Welding Brazing: high temperature soldering (above 842*F) Flux coated bronze or brass filler rod used to join work pieces The base metal does not melt. In the past, nearly all solders contained lead, but environmental concerns have increasingly dictated use of lead-free alloys for electronics and plumbing purposes

Advantages of Brazing It's easy to learn. You can join virtually any dissimilar metals. Repair cast iron The bond line can be very neat in appearance. Joint strength is strong enough for most non- heavy-duty use applications

Disadvantages of Brazing A poor joint/weak joint may be hard to identify Long-term effects of dissimilar metals Filler color may differ from base metal Low melting point…brazed parts may not be used in high temperature applications. (e.g. exhaust manifold)

Brazing Video Brazing Video (8 minutes) – Procedure – Thoroughly clean metal – Evenly preheat metal – Apply brazing rod to metal – Air cool – Remove glass slag