Beginners Welcome: 5 Need-to-Know Soldering Tips

What do jewelry-makers, stained glass artisans, electronics, and ancient Sumerians have in common? They are all masters in the craft of soldering, and with practice and these soldering tips and tricks, you can join their ranks.

Soldering (pronounced like soddering) is an ancient technique that’s been around for thousands of years. It is believed that it first came about as early as 4000 B.C.E., and over the millennia it has been essential for making metal tools, jewelry, and crafts.

Nowadays, solder is commonly used to connect electrical wiring and electrical components to circuit boards. It has evolved from an ancient art form into a crucial element in the most high-tech devices.

Here are five soldering tips that will help improve your soldering work and give you the confidence to pick up that soldering iron.

What Is Solder?

First things first, let’s talk about what soldering actually is. It’s a method of joining two elements together using a melted metal alloy and a heat tool called a soldering iron or soldering gun. This alloy is actually also called solder, so the word refers to both the action and the materials.

Usually, the solder is an alloy of tin, copper, silver, or lead. The type of alloy used is dependent on what it’s being used to create. Silver solder is used mainly for jewelry-making and stained glass. Copper and tin are often used for plumbing soldering, and for electrical work, rosin-core solder is standard.

Historically, solder was a lead alloy. And believe it or not, lead solder is still commonly available (and often used for beginner projects!) Due to health concerns, many people who work with solders are making the switch to lead-free variations.

The key that makes soldering work is that the solder alloy used has a lower melting point than the material it is fusing together. This makes it possible for the solder to connect the metals, wires, or whatever else needs connecting without damaging the metal itself.

Solder alloys also come in three different levels: hard, medium, and easy. While they sound more like terms you’d find in a video game than in an age-old crafting technique, these levels are a simple shorthand used to describe the melting temperature of each solder, usually for jewelry.

Carefully Choose Your Solder Alloy

The first tip to becoming a successful solderer is to be sure that you choose your solder alloy with care and know why it’s used. Different alloys have very different purposes.

If you use hard solder on a metal with a low melting point, you wouldn’t even be soldering at all — you’d be welding! Not to mention that using a hard solder on electronic wiring could completely destroy delicate electronics.

Hard silver solder is used for semi-precious and precious metals — like gold, silver, and platinum — making it perfect for jewelry. Soft silver solder is used to fuse stained glass panes together.

Rosin core solder has one of the lowest melting points of all solder alloys, making it the standard for working with electronics. It’s perfect for connecting two coating wire conductors or fusing components with a circuit board.

Some other common terms to know when it comes to choosing your solder are:

• Flux core — a core inside solder wires that makes your solder joints stronger and more conductive of electricity. There are two main types of flux cores: rosin (used for electronics) and acid (used for plumbing).
• Wires, sheets, and paste — these are the different forms that solder is sold in. Typically, wires are used with electronics, while sheets and paste are used for jewelry and other craft.

It’s vital to know the difference between different alloys so you can ensure that your soldering doesn’t accidentally become welding, or destroy the project you’ve put so much work into.

Know Which Soldering Iron Tip Is Best for You

Now that you’ve chosen your solder alloy, it’s time to choose your soldering iron tip.

Much like a paint or makeup brush, soldering iron tips come in a variety of shapes for different purposes.

The most common shapes are conical, chisel head, flat-sided, hoof tips, and knife tips. Conical tips are great for precision but can be high maintenance, making them far from beginner-friendly.

Chisel head tips are the workhorses of the soldering iron tips. The thinner tip is perfect for precision, and the flat side provides enough surface to spread solder over a large project.

Whichever one you prefer to use, knowing the difference between your iron tips will make you the best solderer you can be.

Tin Your Tip

Tinning your tip helps to make the soldering process smoother and easier and protects your soldering iron from damage.

To tin your tip, simply dip a small amount of solder onto your iron tip and wipe away the excess on a sponge. This coats the tip and protects it from oxidation, and it helps your solder melt and spread more easily.

Your soldering iron tip should be tinned as soon as you get it, and retinned at the end of every soldering session.

Monitor Your Temperature

Soldering irons can get very, very hot, which is perfect for hard soldering but not so perfect for your circuit board or stained glass.

Double-check the temperature your alloy requires and also which temperature your material can withstand. Accidents happen — keep an eye on your temperature reading to make sure everything is a-okay.

Also, make sure that you don’t hold your soldering iron near your project for too long. Exposure to heat for more than a few seconds at a time can cause damage to electronics or glass.

Clean Your Soldering Tips As You Go

Cleanliness is key, especially when soldering! A soldering iron tip oxidizes as it is exposed to air, so it’s essential to keep it clean and protected.

Now, you may be wondering how to clean your soldering tips. Thankfully, you don’t need any fancy products. As you solder, you should use either a metal sponge or a damp sponge to clean the tip of your soldering iron and remove any excess solder accumulating on the tip.

Metal sponges, like steel wool or metal shavings, are a bit better for your tips because they aren’t as cold as a damp sponge and won’t affect your hot soldering iron as much.

Regularly cleaning and tinning your soldering iron tips prolongs their lives and makes your job much easier.

Ready to Start Soldering?

With these essential soldering iron tips in mind, you’re more prepared to start soldering yourself. Always remember that safe crafting is key, and to use protective equipment like eyewear and proper ventilation.

Keep in mind that every time you pick up your soldering iron, you’re continuing a technique that’s almost as old as civilization itself — although it’s got some much-needed modern upgrades.