I am trying to make some wire sculptures with #8 copper wire but I
cannot seem to get the solder to stick to the wire. What is the proper
solder and soldering method to use?

If the wire is plain copper, it should be easywith most solders and
some flux.
You may be using wire from a wound coil that's laquered. If so, you
need to clean it thoroughly.

Clean with steel wool, use rosin flux sold for copper plumbing, 1/8"
diameter 60/40 tin/lead solder is fine since you are not going to ingest
it, and a LARGE soldering iron (at least 100 watts, 250 preferred) or a
propane torch. You could use rosen core electronic solder but you will
use a lot of it.

Pat wrote:

I am trying to make some wire sculptures with #8 copper wire but I
cannot seem to get the solder to stick to the wire. What is the proper
solder and soldering method to use?

"RoyJ" wrote in message
. net...
Clean with steel wool, use rosin flux sold for copper plumbing, 1/8"
diameter 60/40 tin/lead solder is fine since you are not going to ingest
it, and a LARGE soldering iron (at least 100 watts, 250 preferred) or a
propane torch. You could use rosen core electronic solder but you will use
a lot of it.

Pat wrote:

I am trying to make some wire sculptures with #8 copper wire but I
cannot seem to get the solder to stick to the wire. What is the proper
solder and soldering method to use?


Two parallel wire will solder well, but if they cross the solder joint may
be weak. You can use a fine wire to rope around, it will keep the parts
steady and provide more surface for the solder.

MG

Sounds to me like you need to use more heat. Heat the joint first,
apply solder, let it flow towards the area being heated. As others have
suggested, a bigger soldering iron or hot butane flame.
You can also braze copper with a brazing rod known as sil/phos. I like
to use it on copper because it is strong and does not require flux.
However it takes a lot more heat (almost red heat) to join the pieces.
Sil/phos is also a closer color match to the copper..
Good luck.
-Mike

If the copper is clean - no plating on it - 400 grit sand paper does wonders.

Heat the work - you can had a puddle of solder on the iron to help heat - but melt
the solder on the work when soldering - not on the iron. Work must be up to temp.

Very likely you don't have a large enough iron. I'd guess a 100 to 150 watt black beauty
would be the proper iron. Small pencil ones won't have the heat storage ability to
maintain the temperature.

Martin

Martin Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
NRA LOH & Endowment Member
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member


Pat wrote:
I am trying to make some wire sculptures with #8 copper wire but I
cannot seem to get the solder to stick to the wire. What is the proper
solder and soldering method to use?


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