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Take this month's product, Solder-lt.

It's a simple idea that for the last couple of weeks has had me saying, "Where have you been all of my hobbyist life?" I mean it, the idea is so subtly simple that you never realize just how much of a breakthrough it is for the hobbyist until you have used the product for a while. Imagine being able not only to solder things at lower-than-normal temperatures, but also soldering metals you never thought you would be able to solder, such as aluminum to aluminum, aluminum to copper and the like. You can do it with Solder-lt. Solder-lt, available from Solder-lt Co., Box 20100, Cleveland, OH, 44120, (216) 791-4600, is a series of specialty soldering pastes. There's a silver-bearing paste for normal electronics soldering; an "aluminum" paste that enables you to solder aluminum to aluminum or copper to aluminum; a "copper" paste that lets you work on copper piping or plumbing, and a "pot metal" paste that lets you solder to pot metal or pewter or other like types of metal.

The pastes are distributed separately or as part of a $59 kit that includes a nifty butane torch. You can purchase the pastes for $6 and the torch for $39.95. I think the kit is the better buy and since you'll use it a long time, the cost is very reasonable. You can also purchase different torch tips that include a blower-deflector combination that's great for heat shrink tubing.

The pastes allow you to join things at temperatures that are below standard soldering temperatures. Normal solder flows in the 600 degree Farenheit range, while Solder-It flows in the 395- to 430-degree Farenheit range. This means that for many purposes a simple butane lighter will suffice to solder somethlng. As a Radio Amateur, I like the lower-than-normal soldering. For example, look at the series of photos that accompanies this article. You can see a typical coaxial cable connector being put together. If you look closely. you won't see the traditional heavy duty, high-heat soldering iron or gun. Instead, you'll see a cigarette lighter and torch handling the soldering chores. Yes, that's right, a butane cigarette lighter.

The reason this is possible is that Solder-lt is a silver-bearing soldering paste that begins to flow with lighter heat. It's warm enough to get the solder to bond, but not warm enough to melt or distort the coax's dielectric material. That's quite a breakthrough, at least in my humble opinion.

Imagine being able to solder coaxial cable connectors and not having to worry about melting the inner dielectric material. Look at photos A-D and you will see the steps I needed to make a solid connector.

In Photo A, you inject -- it looks like a syringe for good reason -- the solder paste into the tip of the connector.

In Photo B, you heat the tip of the connector with a standard butane cigarette lighter (any-one will do) . The paste quickly flows and the center conductor and connector's center pin are securely joined The bond is at least as strong-if not stronger-than standard 60/40 rosin core solder.

In Photo C, you inject the solder paste into the connector, getting ready to bond the braid to the connector shell.

In Photo D, you bond the connector shell to the shield braid of the coax. The only difference here is that you need a higher heat pencil torch to do the chore. A quick blast with the torch and the connector is complete. It doesn't take long to accomplish.

Whenever I make up a new coaxial connector, using Solder-lt takes a load off my mind. When I have made up cables in the past, I have used the traditional monster, high-heat soldering gun and standard solder. The problem was that this setup almost guarantees that once in a while you will leave things cooking a bit too long and the inner dialectric will melt. Every time I have made up a cable this way this thought has been in the back of my mlnd, but, now with Solder-lt that has all changed.

Additionally, Solder-lt has let me enjoy my hobby in new ways. I have been an Amateur Radio operator for years and one of my passions has been fiddling with antennas. Like most hams who are interested in antennas, I have probably done more antenna-making than I have operating. And, if you know anything about antennas, you always need a soldering iron handy to complete a job.

There are times, though, when you can't solder the work and must have a torch available to do some braising to get things together. Solder-lt, I have found, puts a new perspective on things. I wish I had had it when I was working with some aluminum that I had to join together to complete a test ground plane.

Now, you know as well as I do that soldering aluminum to aluminum is next to impossible, if not totally so. So, you can imagine how frustrated I was when things wouldn't go together.

All of this was a few years back and the washout was that I put the project on the shelf and forgot about it. After using Solder-lt in a recent test, all I can say is where has this product been all my hobbyist life? A simple test has changed the way I do things: Joining two pieces of aluminum by spreading an even layer of Solder-lt between the pieces and heating it with a butane torch.

Of course, there is a learning curve with Solder-lt. It did take me a few tries to get things working correctly. But, it didn't take long, especially when I remember learning to solder so I could complete my first Heathkits back in the 1970s. More than one discreet device went up in smoke as I strong-armed the iron where a delicate touch was needed. It took some timebut, believe it or not, I did learn. Solder-lt would have made soldering boards much easier and safer for the devices from a heating standpoint.

Having used Solder-lt for a time, there are a couple of items that I found that you should remember.

First, even though there is no lead or antimony in Solder-lt, it still does sputter and give off some smoke, so l would recommend using it in a well-ventilated area. Solder-lt recommends it, too.

Second, if you can't use it in a well-ventilated area, be sure you have a fan or something else going to dissipate the fumes. They can get concentrated over your work area and can become annoying.

It is true that those are rather minor nits to pick, but, they do have to be mentioned.

If you are interested in finding out more information, you can contact Solder-It Company directly and they will be happy to send you some product information. NV

Nuts & Volts Magazine/December 1992

 
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