Posted by Rick D on February 06, 2003 at 16:38:22:
In Reply to: Re: flux posted by Gary Dodge on February 04, 2003 at 02:01:43:
: Hi Rick,
: Flux does three main things.
: 1) Cleans metals to prepare them to accept solder and keeps oxidation off the molten solder.
: 2) Changes the surface tension of molten solder so that it stands up in a tight little ball when heated rather than just laying in a flat puddle. Try melting some solder onto a clean flux-free surface. Push it around with your iron a bit, then add a bit of flux and push it around a bit more. You'll get the picture.
: 3) Flux forms a bridge between your iron and the solder and underlying metals to more efficiently transfer heat.
: As for the dull patches, that can come from using the wrong solder or flux, contaminated flux or sometimes working in a very cold room.
: GaryD
: : I've done about a dozen stained glass projects so far, each more complicated than the last...but nobody ever told me much in-depth about flux, other than I need to use it. What, specifically, does it do? Also, I have found that sometimes I get what look like air bubbles in my soldering or discoloration (flat, dull look when done as opposed to bright and shiny). Is this related to flux? Thanks
: : Rick
Great, thanks. Sometimes I also get what look like little burst bubbles in the solder, resulting in little holes that look like dormant volcanoes (OK, so the imagery is weird), same causes, contaminated flux?