But, do not be fooled by its size, this little board has the same capabilities of a desktop computer. 

A raspberry pi is essentially a small sized computer that you can connect to a computer monitor/ Television screen and operate it using a standard mouse and keyboard. 

It is a great way to learn about the world of computing, as well as programming using languages such as Scratch and Python. 

This board comes ready to use not requiring much physical setup.

But, do you need a soldering iron for a raspberry pi?

No, you do not need a soldering for a raspberry pi. When starting out using the raspberry pi for simple projects that do not require a lot of inputs or outputs, you will not need a soldering iron. Also, you can set up circuits on a breadboard which again does not require a soldering iron. 

However, there are certain instances when you might need a soldering iron as well as the skill of soldering. 

If you are using the Raspberry Pi Zero or Zero W, these two types of boards will require a soldering iron. As well as when your projects get a bit more advanced and include more inputs/outputs like buttons, lights, sensors etc. 

Reasons why you do not need a soldering iron for a raspberry pi

If you are just starting out on your journey with the raspberry pi, you might have plenty of questions and concerns as to what you need.

One of those questions is if you need a soldering iron. 

Here are a couple of reasons why you will not need a soldering iron if you are just starting out with a raspberry pi.

Reason #1 why you do not need a soldering iron for a raspberry pi: No physical setup required

If you have ever had the misfortune of having to assemble something when you buy it, like a dining table, or computer desk, you know how frustrating it can be.

It may look like an easy process, but it never goes as planned.

The less you have to do for setting up the better!

Lucky for you and me, if you have just acquired a Raspberry Pi, there isn’t any physical setup required. 

This means that you will not need a soldering iron when you first unbox your raspberry pi before using it.

All components and header pins are already soldered.

However, the raspberry pi does require some software setup. But, this is a less annoying process than having to solder.

Reason #2 why you do not need a soldering iron for a raspberry pi: Less complex projects

We all have to learn to crawl before we walk. 

I’m sure you have heard this many times before. 

Whether you are learning how to skateboard, play the guitar or program a raspberry pi, learning the fundamentals is key to building a solid foundation.

When you start out with the raspberry pi, the projects that you will be learning will mostly be software based and will not require many inputs/outputs. 

Therefore you will not need a soldering iron in the early stages of learning and creating with the raspberry pi. 

Connecting components to a raspberry pi without a soldering iron

What if you get to the stage where you need to connect some inputs and outputs so you can interface with the outside world? 

Will you need a soldering iron then?

No, even if you do need interface inputs and outputs to the raspberry pi you will not need a soldering iron.

The raspberry pi has 40 dedicated General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) header pins where electronic inputs and outputs can be connected to without the need of a soldering iron.

Connecting electronic components to the raspberry will require a few other things;

• Breadboard
• Female-Male jumper wires. 

Breadboard – a breadboard is a tool used to help set up temporary circuits during the prototyping phase of your project. 

Electronic components, inputs, outputs etc, can be connected to the breadboard without the need of a soldering iron. 

Female-Male jumper wires – You will need a way to connect the raspberry pi GPIO pins to the breadboard. Since the header pins are male, you will need a female to male jumper wire.

When you might need a soldering iron for a raspberry pi

While you can get away with no using a soldering iron in the early stages of using a raspberry pi, there will come a time when you will need one. 

As you get better, the projects you will undertake with your raspberry pi are going to get a bit more complex requiring many more wires, components, inputs and outputs. 

Also, using a breadboard is good for prototyping initial ideas but, if you need to create more permanent fixtures, the breadboard is not really ideal.

So, there is a point in time when a soldering iron might come in handy. 

Below are some possible scenarios where you will need a soldering iron when using a raspberry pi. 

Scenario #1 when you might need a soldering iron for your raspberry pi: Soldering wires to components

As mentioned earlier, as you advance in skill, the projects you undertake are going to get a bit more complex and require a variety of electronic components. 

While some of these components can be placed onto a breadboard without any hassle, there are going to be certain inputs and outputs that will have terminals that are a bit too big for the breadboard. 

To combat this, wires will need to be soldered to their terminals to make it easier to connect to the breadboard.

Sure you could twist the wire, but from experience this can get quite annoying as a permanent electrical bond is not created. 

Also, you might need to extend some sensors, or buttons away from the breadboard which will require soldering on longer wires. 

So opt for soldering them. 

Scenario #2 when you might need a soldering iron for your raspberry pi: Permanent stable setup

Say you are designing a project that has a lot of motion. The raspberry pi and other circuitry are going to undergo some forces. 

These forces could cause connections to come loose when they are set up on a breadboard (as the breadboard is designed more for temporary setups).

To avoid this, you will need a more permanent stable setup.

A Stripboard (or veroboard), is a premade circuit board with copper tracks where you can set up a more stable circuit. 

You will need a soldering iron to solder components onto the veroboard. 

Which type of raspberry pi might need a soldering iron

When it comes to the raspberry pi, you are not limited to one board.

Over the years the company has developed many different boards that vary in speed, weight, memory, Inputs/Outputs, networking and more.

Each type of raspberry pi will have its own advantages for different applications. So choosing the right raspberry pi comes down to the application as well your skill level.

The Raspberry Pi Model A and B are the boards you will typically use when you start out so you won’t need a soldering iron as you can set up circuits using its pre-soldered header pins and a breadboard.

However, there are two models of the raspberry pi that will require a soldering iron.They are the Raspberry Pi Zero and the Raspberry Pi Zero W models. 

This is because they do not come pre-soldered with header pins. 

So, header pins will have to be soldered onto them. 

Do you need an expensive soldering iron for a raspberry pi?

So, you can get away with not using a soldering iron when starting out. 

However, as you saw above there are certain scenarios where the soldering iron can lend a helping hand. 

But, do you need an expensive soldering iron?

No, you will not need an expensive soldering when using a raspberry pi as there isn’t a lot of soldering involved. 

Saying that, I wouldn’t recommend buying the cheapest soldering iron you get your hands on. Cheap soldering irons do not provide an even heat source to melt solder.

There are soldering irons which bridge the gap between quality and price which will a better option. 

Final thoughts

I hope this article shed some light on whether you need a soldering iron for a raspberry pi.

• If you are starting out your journey with the raspberry pi, you will not need a soldering iron as you can set up circuits using a breadboard, and jumper wires.

• When you advance in your skill, and your projects get a bit more complex, a soldering iron will come in handy especially when you need a more permanent stable circuit setup.

• Also, the Raspberry Pi Zero and Raspberry Pi Zero W will need a soldering iron as its header pins do not come soldered.

• You do not need an expensive soldering iron.

The post Do you need a soldering iron for raspberry pi? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

The main reason is to create an electrical/mechanical bond between these two metals (or more) to allow electricity to flow.

However, soldering is not limited to just electrical and electronic applications. It can be used for sheet metal, as well as Jewelry and stained glass work.

Solder is the metal alloy material that is used as the ‘glue’ that creates the bond between the two pieces of metal. 

But, why do soldering irons get hot? Soldering irons get hot in order to melt the solder which is used to create an electrical and mechanical bond between two pieces of metal. The solder when not heated is a hard substance which will not be able to adhere to the metals being connected together. So, it needs to be heated until it melts with the help of a soldering iron. 

Main reason why a soldering irons get hot

I briefly mentioned above why a soldering iron gets hot, but let’s take a deeper look at what is involved with the process of soldering, soldering irons and solder.

Soldering is synonymous with Electrical and Electronic applications. 

It can be used to;

• Solder components onto a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
• Connect two pieces of wire together
• Connect components together
• Fix a broken PCB tracing 

These are just some of the many uses of a soldering iron with electrical and electronic applications. 

The main objective as we mentioned earlier is to create semi permanent electrical and mechanical bonds since electricity requires a conducting material to move through. 

I say semi permanent because it can be reversed using a process known as Desoldering.

Desoldering involves using a soldering iron and either Solder Wick or a Desoldering Gun to remove solder and thereby removing the bond. 

This can be helpful if you make a mistake (and many will be made), as well as when components that have failed and need replacing.

What is solder

Solder is a vital component and is the main reason soldering irons get hot. 

There are many different types of solder available that come in a variety of metal alloy compositions. 

Below are some of the most common solder compositions;

• Tin-Lead (Lead based)
• Tin-Silver-Copper (Lead free)
• Tin-Antimony
• Tin-Copper
• Tin-Silver 

However, each of these different compositions of solder does not have the same melting point.

 Due to their chemical makeup, and metals used, they vary in temperatures at which they will melt. 

Different types of soldering

There are typically three types of soldering processes used; Soft soldering, Hard soldering, and Brazing.

Soft soldering – this type of soldering involves using solder with the lowest melting point and which are typically alloys. Melting temperatures can range from 90°C (194°F) – 450°C (842°F). 

Hard soldering – in this process, Brass or Silver are the metals that are used as the solder to create bonds. The melting temperatures involved in hard soldering range from 450°C (842°F) – 600°C (1112°F). Blowtorches are sometimes used to reach these temperatures if a soldering iron is unable to do so. 

Brazing – Solder of much higher melting points are used in this process compared to the other two. Temperatures can be higher than 450°C (842°F). 

What is a soldering iron

Without a soldering iron, solder would be useless. So, while solder is a vital component, it is one half of the picture. 

A soldering iron is the other half that is required that helps unleash the superpowers of solder. 

It is an electrical tool which aids in the process of soldering by providing sufficient heat to melt solder in order to join metals together. 

Just like solder, soldering irons come in a variety of prices, shapes, sizes, temperature capabilities etc.

Depending on what type of soldering process you are using, as well as what type of solder you will be using, you will need to choose a soldering iron capable of getting hot enough to melt the solder.

But, the better the quality of the soldering iron, the more expensive it is going to be. 

So, deciding if you need an expensive soldering iron depends on a couple of factors.

If you need help deciding whether you need an expensive soldering iron or not, click here.

However, you want a soldering capable of a range of temperatures as we now know that different solders have different melting points. 

Cheaper soldering irons tend to have one temperature and low wattage which do not get hot enough to melt solder.

Other applications where soldering irons get hot

While its main use is in the electrical and electronic field, a soldering iron is not limited to just them. It has many other applications.

These include;

• Roofing
• Metal Gutters
• Auto Repair
• Jewelry
• Desoldering
• Plumbing
• Stained glass and Mosaics
• Wood burning

With applications like roofing, auto repair, plumbing, jewelry, etc solder is still used so the soldering iron needs to get hot in order to melt the solder.

With wood burning letters are engraved on wood using the soldering iron. Trying to do this with a cold soldering iron is near impossible.

So, again the soldering iron needs to be hot to be able to engrave on wood. 

What is the right temperature to set the soldering iron to get hot?

As you saw earlier, there are different types of solder as well as soldering processes which have a range of temperatures at which the solder melts.

So, determining how hot a soldering should be set comes down to the solder you are using. 

The ranges of temperature at which they melt should be included in the solder’s datasheet which can be obtained from the manufacturer’s website. 

Below is a snippet from a solder’s datasheet. As you can see, it specifies the temperature range at which you can set your soldering iron to get hot enough to melt the solder. 

If there is no information available, and the solder you are using is a metal alloy, 360 – 400°C is the general temperature to work with. 

How hot can a soldering iron get ?

This all depends on the complexity of your soldering iron. 

There are typically two types of soldering irons; ones that come as a single soldering iron, and the ones that come as a station with temperature control. 

The first type (just the soldering iron) tends to only have one temperature setting (on occasions you can get up to 3 temperature settings). 

The temperature output is largely determined by the wattage of the soldering iron. 

A soldering iron station will have temperature control which allows you to set a range of temperatures. 

Again, the temperature range will vary from brand to brand. 

How long does it take for a soldering iron to heat up?

Again, without sounding like a broken record, the time it takes your soldering iron to get hot will depend on the soldering iron itself, as not all soldering irons are the same.

The bigger brand soldering stations will get hot in about 20 – 30 seconds. 

Whereas, the soldering irons that are cheaper and have no temperature control can take much longer as they are unregulated. 

If you want to be sure of how long it takes, you can always use a timer to see how long it takes from when you turn on your soldering iron to when it starts melting solder.

How do you tell if the soldering iron is hot enough?

The last thing you want to do is burn yourself because you were trying to see if your soldering iron is hot enough. 

There are other ways to go about testing whether it is hot or not.

• If you have a digital display it should indicate when it has reached the set temperatures (some soldering irons have an LED indicator)
• Wet sponges are used to clean the soldering iron tip when soldering. Tapping the wet sponge should produce a ‘hissing’ sound indicating it is hot. Also, vapour should be visible.
• Touch solder to the soldering iron to see if it melts. However, if it takes time to melt and only melts a little bit, the soldering is not hot enough. It should melt instantly and turn to ‘liquid’.

What if your soldering iron is not getting hot?  

If for some reason your soldering iron is just not getting hot, there are some potential reasons as to why it is not getting hot. 

Check this article for more information 6 reasons your soldering iron is not melting solder.

The post Why do soldering irons get hot? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

You might have heard of these two terms before. 

But, are they interchangeable? 

While very similar, they do have their differences as both the processes are used to join metals together. 

Welding bonds two pieces of metal by melting them together, whereas Soldering uses a filler bonding material known as Solder to bond two or more pieces of metal together.

But, can you weld with a soldering iron? Using a soldering iron to weld depends on the application. If you do not require a high mechanical bond between the metals then using soldering iron is just fine. 

However, if you require a strong bond between the two metals, using a soldering iron to weld will not be applicable as the soldering iron will not provide a strong enough bond between the metals. 

It all comes down to the application where you will be using the soldering iron to weld. I will discuss these in more detail in this article. 

What is involved when you weld

To understand when soldering can be used to weld and when it cannot, it will help to understand the two processes a bit better. 

Let’s start with Welding.

Welding is the process where two pieces of metal are fused together using high heat and pressure. 

While mostly used with metals, welding can also be used with thermoplastics and wood. 

It can be performed outdoors, indoors (in certain areas), underwater as well as outer space!

How are metals joined together when you weld?

Welding uses high temperatures (up to 3500°C / 6332°F) in order to melt the metals which are then fused together. In some instances, there is a filler material used to help with the bond.

The pieces of metal that are joined together and known as Parent Material. 

The molten pool of the two parent materials when cooled, can be stronger than the individual materials themselves. 

Not all metals can be welded though. 

Weldability defines how easy or difficult it is to weld certain metals. The easier the process is involved in welding, it is said to have high Weldability. 

If the metals require special procedures like preheating, a specified heat input, controlled cooling, and postheating then they have low Weldability. 

Also, there are certain metals that just cannot be welded together. They include;

• Aluminum and Steel
• Aluminum and Copper
• Titanium and Steel

Different types of weld

Welding has been around for many years, and like most things has seen an evolution in its process in the 19th century.

Below are some of the most common welding processes;

• MIG Welding – Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
• TIG Welding – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Stick Welding – Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
• Flux Welding – Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Energy Beam Welding (EBW)
• Atomic Hydrogen Welding (AHW)
• Gas Tungsten- Arc Welding
• Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)

Unfortunately there isn’t a single welding machine able to perform each of these processes. Each of these processes requires a certain type of welding machine which can include; 

• Mig (metal inert gas) welding machines.
• Thyristor Control Mig welding machines.
• Tig welding machines.
• Spot welding machines.
• Shielded metal arc welding machines.

Common applications where you weld

Welding is a process used in many applications.

It can be used to make a fence in your home or used to build a tall skyscraper. 

The applications are endless. Below are some of the most common.

• Shipbuilding
• Automotive
• Construction
• Mechanical
• Sheet metal welding
• Fabrication
• Aerospace and Aircraft construction 
• Railroads

A deeper look at soldering

Now we have seen what is involved when you weld, let’s take a closer look at soldering.

Soldering is the process of joining two pieces of metal using a filler material known as Solder. 

Unlike welding, soldering does not melt the metals that are going to be connected together. It relies on the Solder to create a strong bond between them.

The solder is usually a metal alloy made of Tin(Sn) and Lead(Pb).

Soldering is most commonly used in the Electrical and Electronic industry for joining wires and components to Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). 

The main purpose being to create an electrical bond so that current can flow freely. 

How metals are connected when soldering

The process of soldering uses a tool known as a Soldering Iron, to melt the filler material (Solder), when connecting two conducting materials.

A soldering iron can be heated to temperatures up to 400°C (752°F). 

The temperature at which the soldering iron is set to, depends on the melting point of the solder and not of the metals being connected together. 

The metals (wires, components etc), are first placed together. The solder is then positioned at the intersection of the metals while simultaneously applying heat using the soldering iron. 

Once the solder cools, it creates a strong electrical and mechanical bond. 

With welding, you have many different types available. However, there is only one type of soldering and almost always uses a soldering iron. 

What metals can be soldered

Just like welding, not all metal types can be soldered. There is a limited range.

Also, the bond between the two pieces of metal depends on the solder being used. So, depending on the parent metals, the right solder alloy composition will have to be chosen. 

The common metals that can used in the soldering process are;

• Gold
• Silver
• Copper
• Brass
• Iron

Common applications of soldering

I mentioned earlier that soldering is most commonly associated with the electrical and electronic field. 

But, it is not restricted to just that. It has many applications which include;

• Jewelry repair
• Automotive
• Arts and crafts
• Plumbing
• Stained glass work
• Sheet metal work
• Computers

When you can weld using a soldering iron

Ok, so we’ve covered what is involved when you weld, and when you solder. 

I briefly mentioned at the start that using a soldering iron to weld really depends on the application. Let’s dive deeper and really understand what that means. 

Since both processes involve joining pieces of metals, you cannot be blamed for thinking they are interchangeable. 

But, of the two processes, welding creates a stronger mechanical bond.

So, if you need to use a soldering iron to weld, you will need to be aware that the bond created will not be as strong.

A note to be made is that if you use a soldering iron to weld, you are not welding, you are soldering.

The end result is going to be a bond that is less stronger.

For structures that are smaller in nature, and have less loads placed on them, soldering would be fine. 

Things like metal sculptures, plumbing, jewelry repair etc. Using welding in these applications would be overkill.

Also, using a soldering iron to weld comes is more advantageous when using non-ferrous metals such as copper and brass are being connected

When you cannot weld using a soldering iron

Imagine you are constructing a building that requires a very strong foundation as it will be subject to forces and stresses from things like weather and humans. 

Using a soldering iron to weld the structure would not be a great idea.

You need links between metals beams that can withstand these high forces and stresses, so welding would be the most suitable process to use. 

Also, if there are high temperatures involved, welding again is the better option as the solder has a lower melting point and the bond will be broken when temperatures exceed the solder’s melting point. 

I have learnt this from experience! 

So, the rule of thumb is to not use a soldering iron to weld when high forces, stresses and temperatures are placed on the bond between two pieces of metal. 

Advantages using a soldering iron to weld

If your application allows for you to use a soldering iron to weld, then it might be more advantageous.

This is because using a soldering iron is cheaper, has a faster learning curve, is smaller (so can be stored easier), can be done indoors (in your bedroom), only needs one kind of soldering iron, and requires less to set up.

But, again this only depends if you can actually substitute soldering for welding which is determined by the application.

Are they any other alternatives other than soldering if you cannot weld?

Brazing is another process that is used to join two pieces of metal (but not limited to just metals as ceramics can be joined as well).

Similar to Soldering, a filler material (known as the braze alloy) is used to join the metals.

The temperatures involved with brazing are above 450°C (842°F), so it sits in the middle of soldering and welding.

Similar to welding, the metals being ‘brazed’ together should be similar in composition to allow for a smoother and stronger bond. 

So, this can be another alternative if you need to weld and do not have the equipment necessary to weld. 

The post Can you weld with a soldering iron? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

It is predominantly used in Electronics and Electrical applications to solder components to Printed Circuit Boards (PCB’s) or joining electrical wires.

But, soldering irons are used for many other applications that include Jewelry, joining stained glass and wood burning (for design purposes).

The main purpose of a soldering iron is to melt the solder. 

However, sometimes the soldering iron might have problems melting the solder. 

So, what could be the issues that can prevent a soldering iron from melting solder?

Below are some possible problems:

• Heating element of soldering iron broken
• Soldering iron temperature not hot enough
• Soldering iron has not had enough time to heat up. Also, sometimes the soldering iron plug is not plugged into electrical outlet properly
• Low wattage soldering iron (especially cheaper soldering iron)
• Tip has been oxidized
• Using the wrong solder

For a more detailed explanation for each reason read on.

I will also highlight ways to fix the issue, as well as how you can avoid this happening again.

How a soldering iron melts solder

Before we dive into the details of why your soldering iron is not melting solder, it will help to have a quick look at the different parts of a soldering iron.

While there are a wide variety of soldering irons that range in complexity, there are a handful of parts and components that each of them share.

Below is a list of the common parts of a soldering iron. 

• Cord
• Handle cover
• Handle
• Terminal Board
• Heating element
• Tip
• Tip enclosure

The two parts that we are concerned with are the Tip and the Heating Element, as these are the two main parts that could be the reason why the soldering iron is not melting the solder.

Heating Element – this part of the soldering has the job of heating the tip through the means of electricity.

Tip – The Tip is the part of the soldering iron that heats up and makes contact with the solder and surfaces to be adhered together. Soldering tips come in a range of sizes and shapes. 

6 reasons why your soldering iron is not melting solder

Ok, let us dive into the possible reasons a soldering iron is not melting solder. 

Reason #1 A soldering iron is not melting solder: Heating Element is broken 

So, we now know that the heating element of the soldering iron has the job of heating the tip which then melts the solder.

It is a crucial component as it converts electricity into high levels of heat. 

If for some reason the heating element has stopped working, it will not be able to heat up the tip and therefore will not be able to melt solder. 

Reason #2 A soldering iron is not melting solder: Not plugged in outlet properly 

This might seem like a silly reason why a soldering iron is not melting solder, but trust me it has happened to me many times.

It could be that you haven’t pushed the plug in far enough, or you possibly might have mistakenly knocked the plug causing it to not make full contact with the outlet.

If you notice that your soldering iron is not melting solder, first check to make sure that the power cord of your soldering iron is securely plugged into the electrical outlet. 

Many, if not all soldering irons have a status light (for safety purposes), that indicate that it has power. So another way to ensure there is a proper connection is to check that the status light is on. 

Reason #3 A soldering iron is not melting solder: Not enough time to heat up

It would be nice if a soldering iron could reach its maximum set temperature as soon as it’s powered on.

Unfortunately, this is not possible. A soldering iron takes time to reach its maximum temperature. Also, each soldering iron will have its own start-up time. 

So, if you are impatient like myself and try melting solder 10 seconds after powering the soldering iron, you might have some problems. 

Most manufacturers will specify how long it will take a soldering iron to reach a certain temperature which you can check and know how long you will have to wait for. 

If there are no specified times, you could always time how long it takes and eliminate any future anxieties.

Reason #4 A soldering iron is not melting solder: Wrong Solder

When it comes to the soldering process, there are typically three types of soldering ; Soft Soldering, Hard Soldering, and Brazing. 

Each of these types of soldering has its own specific application that it is used for. 

Also, each soldering process uses a specific solder that requires a certain temperature to be able to melt it. 

Soft soldering – typically uses temperatures between 90 – 450 °C ( 190 – 842 °F). The types of solder used tend to be an alloy that contain Tin and Lead. 

Hard Soldering – uses temperatures that are greater than 450 °C (842 °F). This type of soldering uses solder that is either Brass or Silver. Blowtorches are used to reach these high temperatures to melt the solder. 

Brazing – also uses temperatures that are greater than 450 °C (842 °F). It is very similar to hard soldering.

So, if you are using the process of soft soldering with solders that are used for hard soldering or brazing, your soldering iron will not be hot enough to reach those temperatures and melt the solder. 

Another issue could also be the thickness of the solder you are using. The thicker the solder the higher the temperature that is required to melt it. 

Reason #5 A soldering iron is not melting solder: Cheap soldering iron

Whether buying a new house, car, phone etc, we all want to save money and get the best bargain.

But, sometimes opting for the cheaper option can cause more harm than good. 

This holds very true for soldering irons. 

I had initially purchased a decent soldering iron which cost a decent amount. Unfortunately, it decided to call it quits after serving me for many years. 

Being the cheapskate that I am, I decided to buy a cheap soldering iron which has caused me many problems.

It takes a long time to heat up, does not get hot enough, has bad heat distribution and oxidises far too quickly.

So, to avoid these problems, fork out some cash and invest in good quality soldering iron. 

Reason #6 A soldering iron is not melting solder: Oxidation 

The last and most likely cause that your soldering iron is not melting solder is because the soldering iron tip has been oxidised. 

You will know when your soldering iron has been oxidised when the tip turns black.

Oxidation of a soldering iron happens when the iron plating of the tip becomes iron oxide. This process happens naturally with the metal used. 

It happens at room temperature at a very slow rate, but the heat of the soldering iron speeds up the process.

I will highlight how to reverse this process, as well as avoid it below.  

How to fix a soldering iron that is not melting solder

Just knowing the reasons why a soldering iron is not melting solder is quite redundant. Knowing how to reverse or fix the problem will be beneficial as well.

Also, having a plan on how to avoid this happening in the future will save you time, money and stress. 

The solution obviously depends on the problem. So, you will first need to identify what problem your soldering is having. 

Below are possible solutions to the reasons that a soldering is not melting solder as well as ideas how to avoid them happening in the future. Some of them are pretty self explanatory, but I thought I’d still give my input. 

Heating Element Broke – If your soldering iron tip isn’t black (not oxidised), is plugged in properly, has had enough time to heat up, and you are using the right solder, the heating element of the soldering iron is probably broken.

Unless you are comfortable with opening up your soldering iron and seeing what is wrong with the heating element, I recommend you take your soldering iron to a professional who can fix or replace the heating element for you.

Possible issues why a soldering iron heating element might stop working could be that water could have seeped in and short circuited it. 

To avoid this, do not use the soldering iron around water, or moist areas. 

Soldering iron cord not plugged properly – The best way to fix this problem is to plug the soldering iron cord back into the power outlet.

Here are some tips on how to prevent this problem from recurring. 

If the soldering iron cord is placed in a path where people walk by regularly, it is going to increase the chances of someone tripping on the cord (which is a safety hazard in itself), and disconnecting the soldering iron’s cord from the power outlet.

So, place the cord out of the path of constant foot traffic. 

If your soldering iron is placed on a desk but the power outlet is higher or lower, this can be an issue when connecting the power cord (especially if the soldering iron has a shorter power cord).

If the cord has no slack and has to reach awkward angles it is not going to make a proper connection with the power outlet. 

Where possible try to connect your soldering iron power cord to a power outlet that is not too far away, and allow for some slack in the soldering iron power cord. 

Not enough time to heat up – Fixing this problem requires a bit of patience ( I know sometimes it is hard!)

But, to avoid rushing to use the soldering iron before it has heated up, time how long it takes your soldering iron to reach the temperature where it starts to melt solder. 

That way next time you turn it on you will know exactly how long it will take eliminating your frustrations. 

Wrong solder – Buying the right type of solder for the soldering application will rectify this issue.

You will first need to know what kind of soldering you are doing (Soft, Hard or Brazing). Then accordingly when you are buying solder, you will have to check what kind of soldering applications it is used for and its melting temperatures. 

Also, try buying solder that is smaller in diameter which is easier to melt. 

Cheap soldering iron – Buy a good quality soldering iron! 

Oxidation – If your soldering iron is heating up and still not melting solder, oxidation has most likely occurred to the tip of the soldering iron (you might notice this visually as the soldering iron tip will be black). 

To fix this issue scrape or sand off the oxide off the tip (while it is off) using an exacto knife or 800 grit sandpaper till it has regained its shine. 

Once the tip is shiny, give it a good coat of flux (if you have some. If you don’t that is fine just skip this step), and turn the soldering iron on. Once the soldering iron has heated up, coat the tip with some solder. 

If for some reason you cannot reverse the oxidation process, you might have to replace the tip of your soldering iron.

Below are some good practices to follow to avoid oxidation of the soldering iron tip. 

• Do not leave your soldering iron idle for long periods of time . If you are not using it for more than 15 mins, turn it off. 
• Avoid high temperatures (340 – 380°C) (644 – 716 °F)
• After every use, wipe the soldering iron on a wet sponge, then coat the tip with solder. Do this before turning it off as well.

The post 6 reasons your soldering iron is not melting solder appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

It is also used for wood burning, jewelry, joining of metal pieces among the most common of applications.

You might be on the lookout for a soldering iron, and are wondering if you need to fork out a lot of money and buy an expensive one.

So, do you need an expensive soldering iron? Buying an expensive soldering iron all depends on your needs and the applications you will be using the soldering iron for. If you rarely use the soldering iron, then there is no sense in buying an expensive one. However, if you use a soldering iron everyday, or use it for complex soldering applications, then buying a more expensive  soldering iron is a better option.

A note should be made that just because a soldering iron is expensive, does not mean that it is good. There are soldering irons available that are in the moderate price range, which might be a better option for you than the more expensive ones.

Applications where soldering irons are used

Soldering irons are used for many different applications. You might be more familiar with a soldering iron being used in electronic and electrical applications, but it has other uses too.

The basic use of a soldering iron is to fuse two pieces of metal together using solder. 

Welding is also a well known process of joining metal pieces, however, the difference between soldering and welding, is that soldering is used for low temperature applications.

Knowing some of the different applications where the soldering iron is used, will give you a better indication if you need an expensive soldering iron or not.

Electrical and Electronics

This is the most common application a soldering iron is used for.

It is used to create connections between components on a printed circuit board as well as connecting two separate electrical wires. It creates a permanent connection that allows electricity to flow. 

Below are some of sub-applications in the electrical and electronics industry:

• Electricians
• Research and Development 
• Electronic Production (assembly of Printed Circuit Boards)
• Hobbyists 
• Do It Yourself applications
• Electronic Repair (Mobile Phones, Computers etc)

Roofing 

A soldering iron is used for roofing application to fuse metal for flashing. They are also used to joining separate components of copper in roofs. 

Stained glass and Mosaics 

You might not associate a soldering iron for this kind of application, but it is commonly used for creating stained glass windows and mosaic sculptures. 

Automotive 

Solder is used to fill cavities, smooth rough surfaces and secure joints.

The soldering iron can also be used for installation and repair of electronics in the Automotive industry. 

Jewelry

The process of soldering is used to join metal pieces in the Jewelry industry.

The solder used for Jewelry differs from other applications as it is made of silver. So, different soldering tips and temperatures are used for these applications.

Plumbing

Copper plumbing pipes are used in plumbing. While most of the time they are joined using a torch, there are cases where a soldering iron is needed to join these copper tubes in hard to get places. 

Buying an expensive soldering iron depends on your needs —

As you have seen from the examples above, the soldering iron can be used in many different applications other than electrical and electronics which we are more familiar with.

So, the question of whether you need an expensive soldering iron really depends on the applications it will be used for, as well as your needs.

Below I will list reasons where you would possibly need to buy an expensive soldering iron. 

After that I will list reasons why it is probably best to choose a less expensive option when buying a soldering iron.

Reasons why you would need an expensive soldering iron

The decision to buy an expensive soldering iron really depends on what application it is used for, as well as your needs and wants. 

Reason #1 why you would need an expensive soldering iron: Solder Regularly

You might own an electronic company, or work for an electronics company where Electronic products are put together daily. 

Electronics companies have a department (Electronics Production) dedicated to the assembly of electronic products. 

In this department a soldering iron is used regularly to solder components onto Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) as well as make connections between electrical wires.

Soldering components daily is a cumbersome process, and requires the best soldering irons. This makes the process of soldering much easier and smoother. 

I myself have worked in an Electronics Production department where I had to solder a lot of PCBs daily. I have used soldering irons that were on the cheaper side and trust me, it makes the job much harder.

Electricians also use the soldering iron frequently to connect wirings in different applications.

So, if you solder regularly, it is advisable to get a decent soldering iron that is higher in price range.

Reason #2 why you would need an expensive soldering iron: Make the process of soldering easier

Soldering can get quite frustrating at times. While it’s not a hard skill to master, it can be annoying for someone just starting out, as well as someone who has been doing it for years. 

I know a good carpenter never blames his tools, but having good tools can help make the process easier. If the soldering iron you are using does not help make the process smoother, trust me you will lose your patience.

Now, I am not saying that an expensive soldering iron is going to solve all your problems and instantly make you a master of soldering, but it will definitely aid you and make the soldering process that much smoother. 

Reason #3 why you would need an expensive soldering iron: Interchangeable soldering tips

A Surface Mounted Device (SMD) are components that are much smaller than you standard through hole components. 

There are many different techniques to soldering SMDs to a printed circuit board. One of the most common ways is known as Hot-Air Soldering. This uses a heat-gun (which looks like a hair dryer) capable of blowing hot air at temperatures up to 500 degree celsius. 

Another method is to use a soldering iron. However, soldering these small devices with a normal sized soldering tip is a nightmare. 

Cheaper soldering irons do not have the ability to change their tips to suit the applications. The more expensive soldering irons will allow you to change the tip to be able to solder Surface Mounted Devices.

On the other hand, Roofing and Plumbing applications will require larger soldering tips to join metals with greater surface areas. 

Expensive soldering irons have a range of soldering iron tips and the ability to change them.

Reason #4 why you would need an expensive soldering iron: Range of temperatures

If you are lucky, a cheaper soldering iron will have up to 3 different temperatures to work with. 

But, you might require a range of temperatures to be able to melt a range of Solder. Below are three commonly used solders with different metal compositions and their melting temperatures.

• Lead (300 degrees celsius)
• Tin-Silver (220 degrees celsius)
• Indium (150 degrees celsius)

A cheaper soldering iron will not be able to provide you with so many different temperatures to melt the solder applicable for the job at hand. 

If you are using the soldering iron for applications such as Roofing, Plumbing or Jewelry, where different types of solder compositions are used, the right temperature will need to be supplied to melt that particular solder. 

Reason #5 why you would need an expensive soldering iron: Low power idle

The first reason I mentioned why you need an expensive soldering iron is because of how often you solder. Reason number 5 is a compliment to it. 

If you use the soldering iron for long periods of time you are no doubt going to use a lot of electricity which will be expensive in itself.

Expensive soldering irons have the ability to lower their power consumption when not being used, which is known as Low Power Idle.

This will tremendously lower the amount of electricity used.

Reason #6 why you would need an expensive soldering iron: Quick heat up

The last reason why you might opt for an expensive soldering iron, is because of their ability to heat up quickly. 

The higher range of soldering irons can heat up as quickly as 5-10 seconds.

I use a cheaper soldering iron which takes quite a long time to heat up, which can be a waste of time. 

When you would need a less expensive soldering iron

Now you know the reasons that you might consider getting yourself an expensive soldering iron, here are some reasons where getting a cheap soldering iron is totally fine.

DIY – If you are using the soldering iron for Do It Yourself (DIY) purposes at home, a cheaper soldering iron will be just fine. 

Also, if you do not use the soldering iron on a regular basis, there is no real need for an expensive soldering iron as you do not need all the bells and whistles.

If electronics is one of your hobbies, you can still get away with using a less expensive soldering iron. Electronics is one of my hobbies, and while I used a soldering moderately, I got away with using a soldering iron on the less expensive side. 

Temperature – If you do not need a range of temperatures, there is no need to fork out a lot of cash for an expensive soldering iron. A cheap one will do just fine.

Soldering tip – The purpose you are using the soldering iron for might not require different types of soldering iron. 

What’s the price difference between a cheap and expensive soldering iron

Prices for soldering irons will vary depending on what company is selling them, as well as where you live. 

But, there is a general price range for cheaper soldering irons compared to the more expensive ones.

The cheaper soldering irons price range is around $16 – $100.

Expensive soldering irons range in price from $119 – $430.

Advantages of choosing an expensive soldering iron

As you know by now, having an expensive soldering iron depends on the application it is being used for. But, it does have its advantages compared to cheaper soldering irons.

Below are some of the advantages:

• Tips last longer
• Interchangeable Tips 
• Better heat distribution at the tip (consistent temperature all over)
• Range of Temperature control 
• Makes the process of soldering easier 
• Fast heat up time
• Low power idle

If you opt to choose an expensive soldering iron here’s what to look for

If you choose to spend a bit more money and get yourself an expensive soldering iron, here is what to look for when you are buying one.

Wattage – All soldering irons come with a wattage rating. You should pick one that has a wattage rating higher than 30 watts. Lower wattage ratings take longer time to heat up. 

Temperature control – Make sure it has a range of temperatures. As we saw earlier, different solder compositions have different melting points, so having a range of temperatures allows us to use the soldering iron for different jobs.

Tip compatibility – Check to ensure the soldering iron has good tip compatibility. What I mean by this is, that the soldering iron should be compatible with a variety of tips which are suited for different applications. Also, make sure the tips associated with your soldering iron are not overly priced.

Holding stand – The last thing you want to do is place the soldering iron on your workbench and burn the whole place down. The soldering should come with a holding stand to place the soldering iron when not in use.

Final thoughts

So, when it comes to choosing an expensive soldering iron or a cheaper one, it all depends on how often you are going to use it, as well as the complexity of the work you will be undertaking with it

If you are using it on an irregular basis, for odd jobs and repairs around your home a cheap soldering iron will be just fine. 

But, if you use it consistently for jobs that are tedious, require a range of temperatures, need good heat distribution, etc, it is advisable to get yourself a soldering iron that is priced a bit more.

The post Do I need an expensive soldering iron? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

It is an open-source hardware and software company that manufactures many different single board microcontroller kits.

Different Arduino boards use a variety of microcontrollers, and include input/output pins as well. 

You might be considering getting yourself one and are wondering do you need a soldering iron for the Arduino? The Arduino is a development board that comes ready to use, with all components already soldered on, so you do not require a soldering iron for an Arduino. It is a plug and play device that is ready to use straight out the box. 

It has male and female header pins that allow you to connect expansion boards, and shields to further enhance its capabilities.

However, there are instances where you might need a soldering iron for the Arduino. While not essential, it can come handy in some places. I will discuss these later in the article. 

Reasons why an Arduino does not need a soldering iron

You might be just getting started in the field of electronics, or you might be a seasoned veteran who wants to get your hands on an Arduino. 

However, you might be concerned whether you need  a soldering iron when it comes to using the Arduino.

If you do not have a soldering iron, be rest assured as you will be able to use the Arduino to its fullest capabilities without needing to use the soldering iron. 

Reason #1 why an Arduino does not need a soldering iron: It comes assembled for you

You might be familiar with electronic kits that come disassembled, and you need to solder all these components to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

Unlike those electronic kits that come disassembled, an Arduino comes assembled for you. All the components come pre soldered onto the PCB

As you can see below, all the components have already been populated on the PCB.

It is a plug and play device that can be used straight out of the box, which saves you the hassle of going through the process of soldering which can be quite annoying as you might just want to get started working on your project.

Reason #2 why an Arduino does not need a soldering iron: Male and Female header pins 

The Arduino is a development board that comes packed with many different functions and capabilities which include Serial Communication, Analog to Digital Conversion, Digital and Analog input/outputs etc.

But, how do you interface inputs and outputs with the Arduino without a soldering iron?

The great thing about the Arduino is that it has male and female header pins that allow you to connect inputs and outputs without needing to have to use a soldering iron.

Much like a breadboard, which has holes for you to plug components into for quick prototyping, the Arduino has these header pins that allow you to interface input/outputs quickly and easily. 

Reason #3 why an Arduino does not need a soldering iron: DC plug for power

What about powering up the Arduino? Do you need to solder a connection onto the board to power it up?

No. The Arduino has three ways that it can be powered without needing a soldering iron. The three ways you can power it are:

• DC Power Jack ( 7- 12V)
• USB connector (5V)
• Vin female header pin (7 – 12V)

All these connections are already present on the Arduino Board and do not need any sort of soldering. 

As well as having dedicated ports for power, the Arduino has a port (USB) for programming it as well.

Are they any versions of the Arduino board that need a soldering iron?

Arduinos come in a variety of shapes, sizes and specifications. Depending on your expertise level and application need, there is an Arduino board that will suit your needs. 

They vary in Memory, Micrcontroller, Digital input/outputs, and analogue input/outputs.

Below are some of the most commonly used Arduino boards today.

• Arduino Uno
• Arduino Due
• Arduino Mega
• Arduino Leonardo
• Arduino Micro
• Arduino Nano

All these versions of the Arduino come with components soldered, so you do not need a soldering iron. 

However, there is a note to be made. When buying an Arduino board, you have the option of buying one without any male headers. In this instance, you will need a soldering iron to solder these header pins.

Do you need a soldering iron for expansion boards/shields of an Arduino?

While the standard Arduino board is capable of many functions, sometimes it lacks certain abilities. 

The good news is that this is not the end of the story. Arduinos can upgrade their capabilities using something known as Arduino Shields.

Arduino Shields are boards that ‘expand’ the functionalities of a standard Arduino.

Below is a list of the most common Arduino Shields:

• Ethernet Shield (allows the Arduino to connect to the internet)
• Relay Shield (gives Arduino ability to control high voltages)
• Motor Shield (control motors with ease)
• LCD shield (add a display to your next project with a Liquid Crystal Display)
• Capacitive touchpad shield (add a capacitive touch interface to your project)
• Smoke detector shield (need to detect a gas or smoke, this is your shield)
• 64 button shield (add up to 64 buttons to your shield)

There are many more shields available, but here are some common ones.

These shields come assembled just like the standard Arduino. It has male header pins which slot into the Arduino board’s female header pins. So no soldering is necessary.

Scenarios where you might need a soldering iron for an Arduino

I have mentioned why you do not need to use a soldering iron for an Arduino. 

However, there are some scenarios when you might need a soldering iron. 

Scenario #1 when you might need a soldering iron for an Arduino: No headers

When buying an Arduino board, you have the option of buying it with or without headers. 

While the price difference is not that much, the Arduino board without headers is a cheaper option. So, you might opt to choose one without headers as you have some lying around at home. 

In this scenario you will need to solder the headers onto the Arduino Board. 

Scenario #2 when you might need a soldering iron for an Arduino: Replace components that are not working

We all want things to go perfectly with no problems. 

However, things are not perfect. Sometimes you might have components on an Arduino board that stop working and need replacing. 

To replace these parts, you will need a soldering iron and use a process known as ‘desoldering’. 

Scenario #3 when you might need a soldering iron for an Arduino: Protoshield

I have talked about shields that enhance the capabilities of a standard Arduino. There are many different shields available for different applications.

You might want to create your own custom shield that enhances the Arduino according to your needs and specifications. 

This is where the Protoshield comes in. It is a board where you can create your own custom circuit on. It is great for prototyping and testing ideas you may have.

In this instance you will need a soldering iron to solder components onto the protoshield. 

Scenario #4 when you might need a soldering iron for an Arduino: Connecting external components

As you now know, the Arduino has female headers pins where you can connect external input and output components such as LED’s, buttons, motors, sensors etc.

Most of the time you can connect these input/outputs with no issue as they have leads that can plug into the female header pins. 

But, sometimes you might want to extend the leads of these input/outputs so you are not restricted to placing them on the Arduino.

Here you will need a soldering iron to solder wires to extend the leads of the components so you can place them away from the Arduino.

Do i need an expensive soldering iron for an Arduino?

You might not have a soldering iron and have run into one of the scenarios above where you need a soldering for an Arduino.

So, you might be wondering if you need an expensive soldering iron to do the job.

If money is not an issue for you, it is advisable to get a decent soldering which will cost a bit. This is because it will benefit you in the long run. 

A decent soldering iron will have a range of temperatures and provide good heat at the tip of the soldering iron that will make the soldering process much easier.

However, I myself have got a $30 soldering iron that I have owned for years and it has done the job just fine.

Due to the fact that an Arduino does not really require a soldering iron, you can get yourself a cheaper one which will be just fine.

How do you connect external components to the Arduino without a soldering iron?

If you have many components to connect to the arduino and are cramped for space, you can use a breadboard along with jumper wires.

You can place the components on the breadboard, and use the jumper wires to make connections to the Arduino female header pins without the need for a soldering iron. 

There is also a breadboard shield (as seen below) that you can place on top of your Arduino.

Arduino Basics

Below is great video explaining the basics of an Arduino

The post Do I need a soldering iron for Arduino? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

It is the process of joining metals together which provides a permanent hold which is also reversible.

In plumbing it is used as a connection between copper pipes, electronics to secure components and connection purposes in jewelry.

Flux is like solering’s sidekick. It is a cleaning agent used to clean surfaces to remove oxidation, to provide a better means of soldering. 

But, is it essential? Can you solder without flux?

Yes, you can solder without flux. While it is helpful in the process of soldering as the flux helps break down the oxides on the metal, it is not needed. Also, most solder nowadays come with a rosin core which does the job of flux helping breaking down oxides.

It depends on many variables such as, what the application is, whether the solder you are using already contains flux or not etc. I will also cover the benefits of using flux.

Soldering and Solder

Before we dive into whether you have to use flux when soldering, let us learn the basics of soldering.

Learning the basics behind soldering will help to better understand the importance of flux later on.

Also, I will cover solder and what it is made of, as well as different types of solder.

What is Soldering?

Soldering in its most basic definition is, when two or more items are joined together. These items are commonly metals.

A soldering iron is a piece of equipment used in the process of heating solder (a metal alloy usually made of tin and lead) to join these metals. 

The soldering iron is heated to temperatures ranging from 200 – 600 degrees Fahrenheit ( 95-315 degrees Celsius) in order to melt the solder. 

Soldering irons come in  a range of prices and qualities. When buying a soldering iron, it is best to spend money on high quality ones, as lower quality soldering irons sometimes have trouble melting the solder. 

Welding is sometimes confused with soldering. However, these two processes are quite different. 

The main difference between them is the melting process. In soldering, the metals involved are heated but never melted. With welding, the base metal is melted.

Types of Soldering

When it comes to soldering, there are three categories or forms of soldering ; Soft soldering, silver soldering, and brazing.

As we advance from one form to the next, the temperatures increase as well as the strength of the joints. The lowest temperatures start with soft soldering, then silver and finally brazing.

The temperatures increase due to the melting point of the filler materials.

Soft soldering uses a tin and lead alloy as a filler. Silver soldering uses an alloy containing silver and brazing uses an alloy that contains brass. 

It was common in the past for solder to only be lead based. But, due to environmental and health concerns the use of lead free alloys is more common.

Applications of Soldering

As we saw the soldering and solder are used in order to join metals. 

It is utilized in many jobs. The most common of them which you might be more familiar with is in electronics. 

Apart from just electronics, soldering is used in plumbing, metalwork, flashing and in industries involving jewelry and musical instruments. 

In electronics soldering provides connection between electronic components also allowing the flow of electricity. It is an essential part of electronics. 

Plumbing requires a secure, permanent but reversible connection between copper systems. Soldering provides exactly that. 

Jewelry and musical instruments use a combination of silver soldering and brazing in their assembly as well as repair. 

So you can see soldering plays a crucial role in many areas.

Solder

As I briefly mentioned, solder is a filler material used in the process of soldering.

To create permanent but reversible bonds between metal pieces, solder is used. It is a fusible metal alloy. It is a key element in the process of soldering. 

Having a great mechanical joint is crucial and having a great electrical joint in electronic applications is a necessity. Without a strong electrical joint, electricity will not be able to flow rendering the circuit and those components useless. 

 Solder traditionally was used in the electronics industry. It used a blend of Tin and Lead.

Types of Solder

However, as I mentioned the different applications, there also exist different types of solder. 

With many things there comes an abundance of choice. The same goes with the choices of solder. So picking the right solder can be confusing. 

Fortunately for you and me, there are three main categories that solder falls into.They are Lead based, Lead Free and Flux Core solder.

The first type of solder was the traditional solder used for electronics and  contained 60% tin and 40% lead. This type of solder has a low melting point ranging from 356 – 374 degrees fahrenheit (or 180 – 190 degrees celsius). This type of solder is often referred to as soft solder and is commonly used with soft soldering. 

Second on the list is a Lead Free Solder. After a while, the health risks and environmental effects of lead in consumer electronics was known to be negative. So having lead based solder was not the ideal situation.

Due to this, a Lead Free solder was created and Lead based solder banned from being sold commercially. 

Lead free solder usually contain 99.3% tin and 0.7% copper with higher melting temperatures around 422 degrees Fahrenheit (217 degrees Celsius).

The final solder, and most important to the question at hand (can you solder without flux) is Flux Core solder. This solder has the flux embedded in the solder and does the job of what flux does without needing to apply it externally. 

I will cover the benefits of this type of solder later when I discuss whether you can or cannot solder without flux. 

I mentioned above about two other techniques of soldering which included silver soldering and brazing.

For silver soldering, silver solder is used which is an alloy that contains silver and another metal ranging from copper, zinc, nickel , manganese, cadmium, tin, silicon and many others.

Brazing uses solder that contains metals including gold, silver, copper, brass and iron.

Solder Sizes

With different types of solder also comes different solder sizes. The size of the solder is determined by its gauge. The gauge is effectively determined by its diameter.

Different gauges of solder will be beneficial depending on the application.

When it comes to electronics work, the smaller the gauge size the better. 

Applications involving plumbing on the other hand would require a larger gauge solder. 

So, depending on the application you are using solder for will determine what size solder you will need. 

Flux

As we saw that soldering plays a vital role in many applications and solder is an essential part in the soldering process. We cannot have one without the other.

But, where does flux come in? What is its role? And is it really needed when you solder?

Let’s learn a little about flux.

What is flux?

Flux is a water based solution that contains a cleaning agent, activator and wetting agent. 

It has many functions that are used when soldering. It has to spread on the metals being soldered, it has to clean the surfaces and help spread the solder.

For a flux to be effective it has to satisfy all these three criteria. 

The first being a spreading on metals is known as wetting. Fluxes contain a wetting agent that allows the flux to flow better. The flatter the wetting the better as this will cover more surface area. 

Consequently, the better the wetting agent will result in the flux being more efficient. The more efficient a flux results in less solder having to be used and thus less cost (because you will have to buy less solder).

Next is cleaning of the surface. 

Most metal surfaces have a lot of build up of oxides, oil and dirt. Trying to solder metals that are dirty will not create a secure long lasting bond. 

So, fluxes also have the added benefit of cleaning these metal surfaces. The activator package of a flux is a specific chemical designed to remove oxides, oil and dirt.

The flux is acidic in nature because acids are great at removing oxides by converting them to soluble salts.

A great analogy here is the use of detergent in removing grease and grime from your dirty dishes. 

Detergent’s were created to do a job that water by itself would not be able to do. Imagine having to wash your dishes with just water alone. It does not have the chemical attributes of a detergent to remove all that dirt.

Dissolved oxides and dirt are then moved away by the flux leaving the metal surfaces clean. 

Another important role a flux plays during the cleaning phase is to protect the metal from re-oxidizing. After the metals are cleaned they are exposed to oxygen in the air. 

The activator package (which is rosin based) stays active throughout the entire process thus protecting the metal from re-oxidizing.

Finally, flux should promote a good flow of solder. You will know if you have ever tried soldering how annoying it is when the solder just does not stick or flow well and create good joints.

A good flux allows the solder to flow well by lowering the surface tension between the metal and melted solder.

Different types of flux

The flux you use will depend on the application. There are two main applications which include Industrial, and Electronics.

Industrial Applications include  plumbing, roofing, automobile, where metals like copper, brass, steel, stainless steel, Aluminum and Aluminium alloys are used.

Electronics Applications use three standards of flux ; rosin, water soluble and no clean fluxes.

Rosin Flux  is a natural based resin that is derived from the pine tree. There are three types of rosin flux. They are divided up based on how active they are (resulting in a cleaner surface and more residue). 

Rosin (R)  is the least active followed by Rosin Mildly Active (RMA) and finally Rosin activated (RA) being the most active.

Water Soluble fluxes are composed of organic materials and are also sometimes referred to as an organic acid flux. It has good flux activity and a great wetting agent. 

A No Clean flux has its description in its name. It does not require any cleaning after soldering.

Can you solder without flux?

So, we have covered the process of soldering as well as solder (filler materials) used to bond metals together. 

Knowing how the soldering process works will give you a better understanding of whether you need flux or not when soldering.

So can you solder without flux? The best way to approach this question is to give you all of the advantages of soldering with flux.

Also, different applications will demand the use of flux more than others.

The first and most important advantage is, better solder joints. As you saw in the section about flux, its main purpose is to clean and remove oxide as well as any other impurities from the metals being joined. 

If you have weak solder joints, the metals being soldered are prone to damage overtime.With electronic soldering having a weak solder joint results in poor electrical conduction.

Next is a better flow of solder. Flux enables a better flow of solder. This has many advantages. Having a better flow of solder means having to use less solder. Using less solder has the added benefit of lowering your cost as you will be using and buying less solder.

Also, soldering at lower temperatures, solder does not melt, flow and adhere well. Using flux will help promote a better flow and alleviate your frustrations.

Lastly, allow for desoldering. If you have ever had the misfortune of having to desolder a solder joint without flux, you know how hard it is. Desoldering a solder joint that has oxidation is near impossible. Since flux removes this oxidation, desoldering will be much easier.

Also using a lead-free solder without flux is quite a challenging task. It is best practice to use flux here.

Like I mentioned above, the application will dictate if you really need flux.

If you are a hobbyist dealing with soldering electronic circuits, it will not really be much of an issue if you solder without flux. 

Industrial applications involving electronics, plumbing, automobiles, or construction and repair of jewelry will need better and more secure bonds. These can only be achieved with the use of the right flux.

If you are using a flux, make sure it is matched to the solder you are using.

Solder that contains flux

The good news is, there is a solder out there that has flux embedded in its core. This is known as Rosin Core Solder. As you saw before, Rosin Flux is a widely used natural flux.

The Kester Rosin Core Solder is a great solder which contains flux. It is the difference between good and great soldering joints.

So, for smaller electronic applications you can use this solder without having to externally apply flux and still get the same benefits. 

Plumbing solder however, does not contain flux. So, flux will have to be applied externally. 

Using flux has many benefits and will only make your life easier during the soldering and desoldering process. 

However, if you are not wanting to use flux and are soldering electronic components and circuit boards you have the fortune of having a solder that contains flux.

Soldering Flux Alternatives

Flux in its simplest definition is a cleaning agent. It’s earliest form was carbonate of soda, charcoal, borax, lime etc.

There are many options of cleaning agents you can use with common everyday house items.

If you ever want to make your own flux check this tutorial out. It’s great for the environment too!

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