What is the correct solder to use for stain glass work?
Question:when making or repairing stain glass work
Answers:
Best Quality Canfield Solder 50/50! The ideal solder for copper foil seams and general purpose use. Melting temperature: 361 - 421F.
Best Quality Canfield Solder 60/40! STAINED GLASS WIRE SOLDER For use on copper foil seams and lead came seams. Offers superior flow over 50/50 with more flow per inch than 50/50.
Go to Michael's craft store & ask someone there, as they should know. When I worked in a microphone factory, I soldered daily for seven years but the solder you need is much thicker than what I used.
I always used 60-40 solder. The higher tin content makes it easier to work with. The numbers are tin-60%, lead-40%.
I worked for Mathews Gallery 10 years doing stained glass windows. It was the best job I ever had.
Eutectic solder is 62.1% tin and 37.9% lead, and has the lowest melting point of any tin-lead solder alloy, 182C (360F).
60:40 has a somewhat higher melting point.
Using a silver solder (about 2% silver content) will give you a much stronger solder joint. You will need a hotter soldering iron, though, since the melting point is higher.
Creating or making stained glass and repairing stained glass are some what trying to accomplish two different tasks. Canfield, Mastercraft, PK Metal Classique or Hirsch Metals are all good makes of solder, however its more the specific mix of alloys that will give you the smooth and clean final appearance that you want with either a copper foil or a lead came project. Since copper foil requires soldering seams through out the entire project, you would most likely use a 60% / 40% weight solder because of its lower melting temp. This will keep you more safe from any heat cracks while soldering the seams. If you are soldering lead came joints you can use the same 60% / 40% weight solder or 50% / 50% weight solder which takes a little more heat to go from solid to liquid and vise-versa but is a little more dense. The frequent applications of flux and your quality of soldering is what determines alot on the finished soldering job, wether copper foil or lead came. Take note that your soldering iron can reach over 900 F if left plgged in for longer than 20 min. and will surely melt a hole through any weight solder and lead came, so use a reostat to regulate the soldering iron temp.
More Related Questions & Answers...