Soft solder

Description

A solder that fuses at temperatures below 300 C (570 F). Soft solder is usually made with lead-tin alloys. They are typically used in electrical and plumbing applications to solder brass and copper. Lead-tin solders are not used to weld precious metals.

Synonyms and Related Terms

lead-tin solder; lead tin solder; soudure à l'étain (Fr.); Weichlot (Deut.); zacht soldeer (Ned.)

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• David C. Scott, Metallography and Microstructure of Ancient and Historic Metals, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1991 Comment: usually melts between 130-180 C

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Soldering." Encyclopædia Britannica. 3 Sept. 2004 .

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000