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Adhesives, Paints, and Varnishes: Solder

Soft Solder. - A solder suitable for the more fusible metals, as tin, pewter, Britannia ware, and zinc, is known generally as soft solder because it has the property of melting at very low temperature. The following proportions are recommended: For tin-common solder, 1 lead; 1 tin. Or 1 lead; 1 tin; 2 bismuth.

This solder is soft enough to melt in boiling water.

Coarse solder, 2 lead; 1 tin.

Fine solder, 1 lead; 2 tin.

For Britannia ware, 1 lead; 1 tin; bismuth.

For zinc or lead, 1 or 2 lead; 1 tin.

For pewter, 1 tin; 1 lead; 1 or 2 bismuth.

To Make and Use Solder. - Melt the metals together in any of the above proportions with gentle heat.

Apply soldering liquid to the parts with a pencil or with a feather; sprinkle the parts with powdered rosin. Apply the solder and smooth with a soldering iron. This is the usual method, but in the absence of a soldering iron a suitable solder may be made of shavings of solder melted in a large iron spoon, poured on the parts, and rubbed smooth before cooling with the bowl of the spoon.

Or, if necessary, a patch of zinc or sheet tin may be applied by covering the patch and the surface of the tin with soldering liquid and solder, and laying on the patch before the solder cools.

Or, in place of solder, tin foil may be used to apply patches or to solder two pieces of soft metal together.

Cut a piece of tin foil the size of the surface to be soldered. Apply soldering liquid with a feather to both metal surfaces and place them in position with the tin foil between.

Apply to the outer surface an iron hot enough to strike through and melt the foil.

Or, to apply a zinc or lead patch to soft metals, simply moisten both surfaces with soldering liquid, put the patch in place, and hold a kerosene or an alcohol lamp flame beneath it. This will cause the surfaces of the zinc or lead to run and fuse together.

To Mend Tin Pans Without Solder. Use soft putty. Push it through the hole from the outside. Smooth on both sides with a knife after the manner of a rivet, and let stand until hard. This is not only a quick and easy way to make temporary repairs, but one that will withstand all ordinary treatment and may never need to be repeated.