FAQ’s
Find answers to some of the questions we frequently get asked below. If you still need more help or are looking for technical advise specific to your application call our Sales Office on 01291 624 400.
General FAQ’s
Where do you ship to?
Currently you can only purchase from Solders & Fluxes if your delivery address is within the UK. For delivery to Northern Ireland, Ireland or other countries please contact our Sales Office for a carriage quotation.
When will my order be dispatched?
Orders placed, for stocked items, before 3pm, Monday to Thursday will be dispatched same day for delivery on the next working day (Standard UK addresses only). Orders are delivered via DPD or UPS.
Orders placed after 3pm will be dispatched on the next working day. Next working day delivery does not include delivery on a Saturday.
Please note we do not show stock levels on our website. If you would like to enquire about our current stock please contact us.
I need product advice, can you help me?
Our product range is supported by over 30+ years of technical expertise. If you are unable to find an answer to your questions in our Soldering FAQ’s or on our product/application pages, our technical team are happy to discuss your specific requirements and help you to identify the best product for your application.
Please contact us on +44 (0) 1291 624 400 or email us at sales@soldersandfluxes.co.uk
Can I collect my order?
We have added the option to collect your order from our Chepstow Warehouse, this is a free of charge service.
Collections are available Monday-Friday 8.30-4pm. Once your order is ready collect we will send you an email advising. We are closed on weekends from 4pm on Fridays and collections will not be available.
Our collection address is Solder Connection, Unit 5 Severn Link Distribution Centre, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6UN.
Do you supply your products in larger sizes?
Solders & Fluxes supplies products in small convenient sizes for hobbyists or small applications. If you require any of our products in larger quantities please visit our partner website, Solder Connection or contact our Sales Office.
Can I add to or cancel my order?
Changes or cancellations to orders, are dependant on the dispatch status of the order.
If you need to amend your order in any way please contact our Sales Office on +44 (0) 1291 624 400 and one of our team will be able to advise.
I have received my order but there is an issue.
Whilst we hope that you are always happy with your orders and that they arrive as expected, we appreciate that sometimes this is not always the case. In these circumstances please contact our Sales Office and a member of our team will be happy to advise.
Please contact us on +44 (0) 1291 624 400 or email us at sales@soldersandfluxes.co.uk
Will I receive an Invoice?
Orders placed through our Solders & Fluxes online shop must be paid for by Card. You will be sent a PDF copy of your VAT Invoice Receipt via email the morning after your order has been dispatched. If you do not receive this please contact us.
I had an account on your old website, can I still use this?
You may have noticed that our Solders & Fluxes website has undergone a makeover! This upgrade has been designed to make finding information and purchasing online easier for you, our customer.
Unfortunately accounts created on our previous website are not able to be carried across and you will need to create a new log in for the new website. If you experience any issues creating your account please contact us.
How do I leave a review?
All customer testimonials and feedback should be made on our Google Reviews page. We hope you have had a positive experience shopping with us!
Where can I download a Product Safety Data Sheet?
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s) may change regularly and as a result are not available for download on our website to ensure we always supply the most up-to-date version. If you require a safety data sheet please contact our Sales Office who will happily email you a PDF copy.
Technical Data Sheets for applicable products are available to download on the website.
To request a safety data Sheet please email us at sales@soldersandfluxes.co.uk
Will you have a stand at any Exhibitions?
Since 2016 we have been regulars at both the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition and London Model Engineering Exhibition (give or take a pandemic). Now that the world is returning to normal we have confirmed our attendance at the 2022 Midlands Exhibition to be held Thursday 13th October to Sunday 16th October.
Don’t forget to visit us at Stand S3!
Can I track my order?
Generally orders are sent via DPD or UPS. If you require the tracking number please contact our Sales Office on +44 (0) 1291 624 400 and they will be happy to supply this.
Soldering FAQs
Can I still use a leaded solder?
Yes you can for model engineering projects or restoration. However for pipe work that will subsequently be used for human consumption (i.e drinking, washing or cooking), it is a legal requirement to use only Lead-Free Solders.
Should I use Lead or Lead Free Solder?
Generally, this is personal choice. Both are available in a wide selection of alloys and melting temperatures to suit all requirements.
Please remember that when joining pipes that supply water for human consumption (i.e drinking, washing or cooking), it is a legal requirement to use only Lead-Free Solders.
How do I Solder?
Please see below brief guide for Soldering. For more in depth advice, or for advice specific to your application contact our Sales Office.
- Preparation – Ensure parts are dry & pre clean areas with an abrasive material (brass pad or similar).
- Tinning – Coat area with Solder Paint & heat until molten. Wipe to leave shiny finish using Workshop Wipes.
- Soldering – Apply flux & heat source. Load area with Solder & leave to set to make solder joint.
- Cleaning – Remove flux residue by cleaning the soldered area thoroughly.
Solder Wire: Solid or Fluxed?
For most industrial applications the use of a suitable flux to match the metal and a solid wire works very well.
However, these fluxes tend to be very active and could cause long term corrosion and subsequent failure when used on printed circuit boards. Therefore for electrical and electronic assembly or repair, we would recommend the use of fluxed cored solder wires. Fluxed wires typically have post solder residues that can be left on safely after soldering and do not require cleaning.
What is the difference between Soft and Hard Solder?
Within our website you will see the terms ‘Soft Solder’ and ‘Hard Solder’ referenced. These are two of the standard types of solder available.
Soft Solder is commonly used within electronics and plumbing within applications bonding components to PCB’s or joining copper pipes. Soft solder alloys generally have a lower working temperature, typically around 250°C, but this can be up to 400°C. Soft Solder is supplied in a range of formats, including wire, bar, tinman stick, blowpipe, pellets and bar.
Hard Solder, also known as Silver Solder, is a type of brazing which uses silver filler metals that have a melting temperature between 600-900°C. Silver Solders are ideal for joining joining dissimilar parent metals ) ie. stainless steel, mild steels, brasses, bronzes and copper) due to its high joint strength and free-flowing properties. Due to its higher melting temperature Hard Solder generally has higher tensile strength than Soft Solder and creates stronger bonds for joints.
Can I still order Silver solder with Cadmium?
It may still possible to buy online from some websites. However due to health concerns cadmium is now a banned substance and as a result many reputable suppliers will no longer supply products containing it.
Can I solder two dissimilar metals?
Yes, you can use a solder paint to create a tinned finish of both metals. Then bring together, lightly secure and then reheat, adding additional solder where necessary to create the bond. Cool and wipe clean with a damp cloth to remove residues.
What Soldering Iron should I use?
This will be dictated as to the type of application you have. Small 240V soldering irons are fine for electronic soldering, but will not have enough heat energy to allow for larger joining processes. There are large 500W output irons for more industrial projects or you can consider blow torches which can cover both small and large jobs.
If you choose a Soldering Iron or Blow Torch will depend on the type of application you have and the size of the piece. For small intricate work soldering irons work better, however modern torches have very fine jet settings, so could easily be as much use. For larger pieces needing a larger heat source than a blow torch would be better.
Do l need to use a fume extractor when soldering?
Even when using lead free solders, we highly recommend the use of some form of local exhaust ventilation or fume extraction, to remove the fumes away from the user.
For advice on Fume Extraction give our Technical team a call on +44 (0)1291 624 400.
How should I prepare the metals before soldering?
Fluxes will not remove grease or grime from the metals surface. Initially wipe the surface with IPA or Workshop Wipes (or similar) to dissolve oils. Then remove any rust from steel parts with wire wool or light abrasion with wire brush.
How do I clean the Solder Residues?
Most industrial fluxes can have their post soldering residues removed with warm soapy water, followed by a clean rinse. You can use a 10% diluted citric acid soak to fully neutralise any activity before painting.
How do I remove excess Solder?
By reheating the solder joint area and wiping away the excessive material. Alternatively we provide a range of Solder Braid (or Wick), which uses the capillary properties of the braided wires to draw away the excessive solder.
Application Specific FAQs
Soldering Stainless Steel: What Solder & Flux should I use ?
For this application we would recommend either A8 Stainless Steel Flux, or if the nickel content is high, S26 Stainless Steel works well. 96S solder alloy will wet well to stainless.
For more guidance on which products suit certain metals, download our ‘Soldering of Metals Flux Guide’ below.
My solder does not flow.
A number of factors can lead to solder not flowing correctly (the solder simply drawing back on its self and forming a sphere).
Poor preparation is the most common factor that influences solder flow. Check that you have removed all oils and greases and, in the case of mild steel, any rust patches. Secondly consider if you have chosen the correct flux for your metal. You will need a flux that will react correctly to the metals oxide layer, for a guide of which fluxes work best for each metal download the guide here.
Finally is the substrate you are soldering hot enough to maintain the heat required to allow the solder to melt, then flow or wet the surface? Different alloys have different melting points and will not flow correctly without meeting these ranges.
If you are still experiencing issues contact our Technical team to discuss your application on +44 (0) 1291 624 400.
Which flux should I use for motorcycle brake and throttle cables?
These cables are now generally stainless steel, our suggestion is A8 Stainless Steel Flux and 96S Solid Solder Wire.
I need to repair my radiator which fluxes, and solders should I use?
Assuming the radiator is made of copper and brass, we would recommend Bakers Soldering Fluid alongside a 60/40 leaded solder alloy, either in blow pipe or tinmans stick format.
I need to fill some dents in my car body wing what should I use?
In most cases dents will need to be filled then smoothed prior to painting. Generally the panel will be manufacture red from mild steel. First lightly clean the area to be repaired, then use TSC Solder Paint to create a tinned finish once melted with a blow torch. Once the surface has been tinned, apply Grade D 30/70 Body Solder, supplied in 1/2 KG bars, melt with blow torch and work into the panel.
The use of a wooded smoothing tool and tallow is recommended to create a smooth finish. Once cool the surface can then be sanded and a finish created suitable for painting.
I have a small leak in my locomotive boiler can I repair it with soft solder?
Yes, you can use Comsol (Supplied in Tinman Sticks or Rods), which has a higher melt temperature of around 300°C, compared to common soldering alloys which have a melting range of around 179 to 190°C.
Unsure which alloy you need?
Download our Solder alloy Chart below for an outline of Solder alloys, temperature ranges and the standard applications they are used for.
Need Some Help?
Our product range is supported by over 30+ years of technical expertise. Our technical team are happy to discuss your specific requirements and help you to identify the best product for your application.