Is it supposed to spark??

**Now I See** · 03-20-2009, 03:53 PM

OK, I finally decided on and purchased a new (to me) electric soldering machine...

Today, I have time to try it, so I filed and cleaned a broken frame to practice on...I used a prefluxed silver solder paste (small amount) then started to solder...during the process, I touched the carbon tip to the metal and got a little spark and some smoke??? Yikes, is that supposed to happen??

After the spark, I waited a little bit and examined my "handi-work" (insert sarcasm here!

) solder/flux melted, but not in the area I wanted it to go, so no repair has been made....YET...but I don't want to try again till I find out if sparks and smoke are good things when soldering with an electric solder machine...:D

**Dave Nelson** · 03-20-2009, 03:59 PM

You can get spark by putting the power on while holding the metal parts away from the carbon piece, allowing the power to arc. Try making sure you have good contact before hitting the power. Smoke is quite normal too, depending on what you are trying to solder. Be careful not to inhale any, since the stuff can be toxic. A lot of metal frames use epoxy or other plastic coatings so file the parts well. Keep practicing, and good luck.

**Now I See** · 03-20-2009, 04:01 PM

Thanks, Dave...

So I should put the power on and heat the tip up, then release the power and touch it to the area to be soldered? Is that right?

**Jacqui** · 03-20-2009, 04:20 PM

Doesn't yours have a foot switch to activate the unit??

**Now I See** · 03-20-2009, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Jacqui

Doesn't yours have a foot switch to activate the unit??

Yes, it does have a foot switch.

**Dave Nelson** · 03-20-2009, 05:30 PM

Have the work pieces actually touching the carbon rod before putting the power on. One of my favorite techniques was to heat only one of the frame pieces while touching a solder rod to it, making sure it has good contact with the carbon, until a small bit of solder melts onto it, then mate the two pieces together, a bit of flux, then hit the power again, and watch the bit of solder flow from one piece onto the other for a good strong joint.

**Jacqui** · 03-20-2009, 05:36 PM

Thanks Dave, that was going to be my next suggestion :D

**gunner05** · 03-21-2009, 02:52 AM

First time I tried to solder, the frame caught fire. Literally. Smoke alarms went off and we evacuated my section of the mall. Congrats, you're starting off better than I did!

**DragonLensmanWV** · 03-21-2009, 07:35 AM

I use an electric soldering unit too. My tips:
1. If your Third Hand jig has silver colored alligator clips, they're too flimsy. Replace them with solid copper ones. Solid copper will hold the amperage better and also have a stronger spring to hold better.
2. When heating, try to place the tip of your hand carbon so that the piece you're attaching is between the carbon tip and what you're attaching it to.The heat will flow through the piece, heating it better.
3. When heating, blow slightly on the area to blow the nasty heated gases away from you.

And once I had a friend break his Artoptic Partner,s nose pad arm off. So I asked him to come watch me solder it back on. At the first touch of the carbon, the plastic coating on the frame burst into flame. "So that's how you do it." he said. Uurgh!

Hmmm, I MUST get Sergei to make that soldering instruction video.

**Jacqui** · 03-21-2009, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by DragonLensmanWV

Hmmm, I MUST get Sergei to make that soldering instruction video.

Doesn't someone like Vigor (they make most of them) or Hilco or a jewelry supplier have a ready made video about this??

**Now I See** · 03-21-2009, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by gunner05

First time I tried to solder, the frame caught fire. Literally. Smoke alarms went off and we evacuated my section of the mall. Congrats, you're starting off better than I did!

LOL! Scary at the time, I'm sure....but funny now that someone else is doing the "frame burning"...eh hemm, I mean soldering! :D

Originally Posted by DragonLensmanWV

I use an electric soldering unit too. My tips:
1. If your Third Hand jig has silver colored alligator clips, they're too flimsy. Replace them with solid copper ones. Solid copper will hold the amperage better and also have a stronger spring to hold better.
2. When heating, try to place the tip of your hand carbon so that the piece you're attaching is between the carbon tip and what you're attaching it to.The heat will flow through the piece, heating it better.
3. When heating, blow slightly on the area to blow the nasty heated gases away from you.

And once I had a friend break his Artoptic Partner,s nose pad arm off. So I asked him to come watch me solder it back on. At the first touch of the carbon, the plastic coating on the frame burst into flame. "So that's how you do it." he said. Uurgh!

Hmmm, I MUST get Sergei to make that soldering instruction video.

Thanks for the tips! :cheers:

Originally Posted by Jacqui

Doesn't someone like Vigor (they make most of them) or Hilco or a jewelry supplier have a ready made video about this??

I have found lots of step-by-step pictures on the internet (mostly for jewelry repair, but it's the same concept)

I think I'm going to start a photo journal and diary about my experiences learning to solder ((:D)), I'm going to call it...

Ouch, that burns!
A lesson in what NOT to do while soldering

**Chris Ryser** · 03-21-2009, 09:38 AM

One more thing.................

The parts to be joined have to be totally clean from dirt, fat and grease or the solder will not flow properly. It also advisable to remove the old solder with a file. Use plenty of flux further away from soldering point, it will help to prevent surface treatments from burning up.

Best soldering material is hard silver solder, which comes in wires.