Glossary of Soldering Terms

Oxides

Debris on the surface of a metal which is the result of the reaction with chemicals in its environment. Oxides must be removed mechanically (with steel wool or a brass brush) and chemically for proper wetting to occur.

Pasty Range

The temperature range which is the difference between the solidus and the liquidus temperatures. This is sometimes referred to a the "working range".

QuickSet™

Another name for 63/37 solder. See decorative solder.

Recovery Time

The time required for a soldering iron to reach soldering temperature after it has hit a "cold spot".

Rheostat

The term applied to a soldering iron control which is used to vary the temperature of the heater in the iron.

Solder

An alloy of two or more metals with a liquidus temperature of less than 80000F.

Solder Bead

The term used to describe the look of solder when it has been properly applied to a copper foil seam.

Solidus

The temperature at which a pure metal or alloy goes from liquid to solid (or "freezes").

Temperature Control

An electrical or electronic device into which a soldering iron is plugged, or which is within a soldering iron. The device is used to vary the temperature of the soldering iron heater.

Tinning

Applying a thin layer of solder to a metal surface. Most commonly used in reference to the copper foil technique.

Tinning Block

A block of sal-ammoniac on which a soldering tip is cleaned and resurfaced with a layer of solder. It is not actually used for soldering.

Tip Tinning

The process of renewing a soldering iron tip using a sal-ammoniac (tinning) block.

Wetting

The term used to describe the proper flow of liquid solder, promoted by flux, on the surface of another metal. "Wetting" is necessary to form a proper soldering joint.

Wire Wound Heaters

Soldering iron heaters constructed with heating wires wound in a coil around Mica.
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