Equipment:
1. Sandpaper
2. Small brush
3. Soldering gun
4. Methylated spirit
5. Power source
6. Piece of cloth
7. Water
Caution Before Using Soldering Flux:
While using this wonderful chemical cleaning agent, you have to adhere to a number of safety tips. Below are the most critical of these tips:
Put on the various essential protective gears like overall, apron, face mask, and a pair of gloves. Any direct exposure to the cleaning agent may often end up disastrous to you in the very end.
Do not ingest the chemical. That definitely would be a direct ticket to the grave. The chemical is strong and potent enough to inflict bodily harms within the shortest time possible.
Cordon off your work area and clearly label ‘Out of Bounds’ or ‘Work in Progress.’ You do not want to endanger the lives of passersby and small children within your vicinity.
Work at a generally fast pace. As stated, this liquid oxidizes faster. Any delays may mean it evaporating and leaving behind no meaningful impacts.
This cleaning agent comes in many shades and forms. It is hence necessary to match the right soldering flux with the right job to eliminate any unnecessary hassles and inconveniences.
While using this agent, ensure that your workshop has adequate ventilation. You should also complement this with an air conditioning unit. This is to keep the interior safe and breathable.
Step-By-Step Procedures:
Clean The Two Surfaces To Be Joined
Start off with cleaning the two surfaces to be joined. Your cleaning should be comprehensive and thorough. For these two feats to be achievable, you have to use a multi-pronged strategy. Start off by blowing off all dirt, dust, and debris. This is to make the surfaces ready for the water.
Thereafter, dip some clean piece of cloth in water and squeeze out all the water. Use this damp piece of cloth to wipe the two surfaces. Be sure to get rid of any stubborn stains which may interfere with the final outcomes. Leave to dry for easier applications later.
Apply The Soldering Flux
After the two surfaces have already dried, apply the soldering flux. You have to make use of a small brush to do the job. In most instances, this small brush is provided for and comes along the flux inside a cap. In its absence, you may make separate arrangements to acquire it.
Use only small droplets of the flux at a time. That is because the flux is generally very fluid. A small droplet will quickly spread out to entire surfaces. You also have to act fast to be able to deter any possible overflows of this cleaning agent.
Leave The Surfaces To Dry
After you have impacted the entire surface with the best soldering flux, you have to leave it to dry. Do not put the surfaces out in the open or in direct sun. As stated, this cleaning agent is very viscous. It as such takes shorter durations of time to dry.
By rushing the process, you limit the contact between this cleaning agent and the surfaces targeted. This might compromise its overall efficacy and slow down any impacts on the whole. You should hence insert this agent inside a workshop and let it dry for a longer duration of time.
Apply The Solder To The Surfaces To Be Joined
With the surfaces completely cleaned and dry, you may now proceed to apply the electrical solder. Use the soldering gun to heat the copper. Move on to apply the solder to the various surfaces which you intend to join and which you have also already cleaned.
You will observe that the solder is flowing to those portions of the materials onto which you have applied the flux. Do not interfere with this smooth flow. Instead, regulate it to ensure that each portion of the surface concerned has been appropriately targeted. This may require repeated passes and multiple impacts.
Strengthen The Joints
You now have to make your joints stronger. To do this, keep on applying the solder until such a time that you are confident that the joint is now truly strong. You will be able to note this when you hear some sizzling sounds arising out of the liquid flux.
This sound is as a result of the evaporation of the solution in the heat. Make some visual inspections of the joints to ascertain whether you might need to increase the solder or not. If such a need exists in your opinion, consider applying more of the solder until the outcomes are satisfactory to you.
Allow The Joint To Cool
At the conclusion of this exercise, you are now good to go. Before you go, you have to allow the joints to cool. As stated earlier, do not try to hasten the process. You want nature to take its course and for the outcomes to be as strong and can possibly be.
For this to happen, you are advised to keep the joints inside a properly ventilated workshop and out of the direct sun. Make no attempt to fan any air to the joints. The exercise might take longer but the quality of the joints will definitely be reliable.
