Applying flux for stain glass
When I put my flux on it will not take the solder? In places it will but others it won’t. Help! Robin
Milly’s reply:
This could be a couple of things, but more likely to be number 1. below.
1. You need to keep reapplying flux, as it drains away or dries up if you don’t get to it quickly enough.
It’s best to flux a few seams at a time, as you go along, and it’s much better to have too much than too little flux.
2. Your soldering iron might not be holding temperature, and you might be experiencing ‘cold spots’, when it doesn’t melt the solder.
If you have a dial, turn it up a fraction and see if that makes a difference.
3. The tip gets gunked up with residue from the solder and flux. Make sure you keep it clean by wiping it on a wet sponge every now and again.
If it’s not any of the above, have you thought about the simplest soldering fix of all…
… a regular maintenance routine for your soldering iron. I bet you didn’t know that a well-maintained iron actually improves your soldering?
To help keep your iron in peak condition I have a mini $14 course for you. It gives you the correct procedure for both a daily and a more thorough occasional deep clean.
The course also includes some crucial not-often-spoken-about soldering tips.
Let me know if that helps, best of luck.
My solder will not stick to the lead it just rolls off what should I do?
This normally happens for 3 reasons Richard; your foil isn’t clean, you don’t have enough flux or your iron isn’t hot enough. I hope that helps you sleuth it out.