- Solder is a material used to join metal parts. It is most often used to connect electronic components together or to seal metal pipes in plumbing. Electronic solders usually contain iron, lead and a material called flux. Plumbing solder also consists of metal and flux, but modern plumbing uses lead-free solder. Partly because of health and environmental concerns, many electronic solders are also free of lead.
- Solder comes in a long strand, wrapped in a coil around a spool. It is easily bendable at room temperature. With electrical solder, the flux and the solder are rolled together. Electrician touches the hot tip of soldering iron to the two electronic leads you want to join together. When the leads heat up, he touches the solder to them. The flux immediately bubbles, burning off and taking any rust away with it. Soldering in plumbing works in a very similar fashion: The solderer first cleans the pipe connectors, then applies flux and heats them when the flux starts to boil, he applies the solder, which seals the joint.
- Melting flux serves several purposes.. In electronics, it helps to get a good electrical connection by cleaning oxidization off of the components. Any rust built up on the leads is burned off with the flux. It makes the solder flow better, causing it to not bead as much and to stream more consistently. Particularly in plumbing, it also has the advantage of strengthening the bond by taking away any impurities. The solder is more connected to the pipes, making it less likely to wear away and spring holes.
