Soldering

What are soldering tools?

Soldering tools are specialized tools that use a filler metal with a lower melting point to join two pieces of metals together. The process of joining two metals in this way is referred to as soldering, which, unlike welding, doesn’t melt the metals themselves.

Soldering tools are instead similar to brazing tools. The only difference between them is that brazing tools use a metal alloy, whereas soldering tools use a metal that can melt faster than the base metal.

Types of soldering tools

There are different types of tools for soldering available in the market. The most common types include:

• Soldering iron: This pen-shaped tool is one of the primary types of soldering equipment. Soldering iron is used widely by both professionals and DIY enthusiasts for soldering PCBs and different types of electronic components.
• Solder: The filler metal that joins the two base metals by melting is referred to as the solder. It needs to have a lower melting point than the base metals so that it melts before them and binds them together.
• Solder flux: Solder flux is the chemical agent that strengthens the base metals and prepares them for soldering. Applying the solder flux not only cleans the surface of the base metals from oxides but also prevents breakage and further oxidation.
• Desoldering & reworking tools: These types of tools are used post-soldering on hand-held devices. Desoldering & reworking tools are widely used in PCBs, electronic components, or wiring.

Applications of soldering tools

The wide usability of soldering tools across a variety of industries makes them important components of every power tool, soldering & welding tool kit. Some common applications of soldering tools include:

• In the plumbing industry, soldering tools are used to seal leaks, repair radiator cores, fill joints between pipe & fittings, and so on.
• Soldering is used widely in the electronics industry to build PCBs and acts as the electromechanical connection that ensures electrical continuity.
• In the metalwork industry, soldering tools are used for precision works. They can be used to make and repair intricate musical instruments, pieces of jewellery, etc.