- 1). Clean the surface you plan to solder, the object you will attach and the tip of the soldering iron. Brush the area with a fine wire brush and wipe it all clean with a sulfur-free sponge moistened with de-ionized water. Check the composition because most composite kitchen sponges contain sulfur. Be careful to dry the surfaces afterward.
- 2). Clamp or position the parts you plan to join in the position you want them so you can touch them both simultaneously with the tip of the soldering iron. Plug in the iron and allow it to heat to full temperature.
- 3). Brush the two metals being joined with flux paste per the manufacturer's directions. If you use wire solder with flux embedded in the wire, you can skip this step.
- 4). Touch the tip of the soldering iron to the base metal and the object to be attached at the same time. Allow the metal to heat until the soldering wire melts when you touch the metal to be joined with it.
- 5). Feed the solder wire into the joint slowly, allowing the solder to melt and flow smoothly over the joint surfaces. Use needle-nose pliers to steady the solder wire if you have trouble holding it steadily against the joint as the solder melts. Hold the tip of the soldering iron steady as well. Do not rub it against the metal being joined. Allow the solder to melt thoroughly and fill up the open spaces.
- 6). Remove the soldering iron. Set it somewhere safe to cool. Wait until the joint cools and hardens before placing any pressure on it. Make sure the joint is secure.
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