Soldering Basics for Copper Foil - Continued |
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 "Tin" the entire perimeter making sure to work some solder into seams that intersect the perimeter. (Tinning is the process of coating a surface with a thin layer of solder. Apply just enough solder to turn the foil to the silver color of the solder.) This creates a "dam" that prevents solder from spilling over the edge when you solder the interior seams.
Next, flux an area you can comfortably finish soldering before the flux can evaporate. Start at the top of the piece and work down. This prevents you from dragging your sleeves and hands through the flux. | |||
Running The Solder Bead | |||
 Hold your soldering iron in your writing hand. Position the iron comfortably so the face of the iron tip is perpendicular to the seam. If you hold your iron like a carving knife you will automatically put the tip in the best position for soldering. It will also keep you from "painting" with the iron. You will hold the solder in the opposite hand. Start soldering by placing the iron tip down on the foil seam with the wider face perpendicular to the seam and facing you. Touch the solder to the tip of the iron, just above the point where the iron tip touches the copper foil. Allow the solder to flow down the tip face onto the seam as you move the iron along the seam. Feed the solder at a continuous, even rate to create a consistent, rounded bead of solder over the seam. This takes practice!
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Fixing Imperfections | |||
 If you have too little solder, just add more, being sure to
re-melt the previous solder line as you apply another coat. If you applied too much solder the first time, it’s easy to remove the excess with the following procedure. Clean your iron tip thoroughly on a sponge. With the iron tip positioned with the flat face down, move it across the seam, "pulling" the excess solder onto the glass. Clean your tip and repeat the process until all excess solder is removed. Another method for removing excess solder is to wait until all the seams have been soldered. Then place your project up on edge and run the tip through the seam allowing the excess to run off. Lay the piece flat, reflux, and rework the seam, adding additional solder as needed.
When you solder, work slowly enough to produce a good bead, but not so slowly that solder melts through seams to the back side of the project. Here's a hint: one way to prevent this is to put damp paper towel under your panel before you start soldering. Moving too slow also increases the likelihood of causing heat fractures on your glass. | |||
Other Things to Consider | |||
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Always keep your tip clean by frequently wiping all sides of the tip on your damp sponge. Wait momentarily for the tip to reheat before continuing to solder. A clean tip maintains proper heat and removes impurities. | |||
If you apply too little solder or move too quickly, your seam will be flat. To correct this problem, allow the solder to cool, then
re-solder the joint applying more solder. On the other hand, be careful not to feed the solder too fast or move the iron too slowly, as this will cause the solder seam to bulge and flow out over the glass.| PAGE 11 | Continue | Back 1 Page | Solder Manual Index |