1. Home
  2. Glass Crafts
  3. De-soldering

De-soldering

New project, plug in the soldering iron, wait till it comes to temperature and getting ready to tackle the first lead came joint. Oops, iron too hot and the came itself melts. Darn! Yup, chuckling allowed. Fortunately this hardly ever happens anymore. Yesterday I had to take some border pieces off a panel I made a few months ago. Since it's all too easy to melt the cames, I figured the easiest way was to do it on purpose this time so I could simply pull the unwanted pieces off. The iron nice and hot, huh? It took about

20~30 seconds before the came even started to melt and then begrudgingly so. Just in case, I tried a new piece of lead & solder. Yup, no prob, soldered just fine and melted on cue when I purposely took too long so the iron (Weller) is ok. How come the came melts just like that when I don't want it to and it's pretty hard to do it on purpose, any clues? Bart.

custom compensated banjo bridges, tabs, stained glass:

formatting link

**may your moments of need be met by moments of compassion**
Reply to
Bart V
Loading thread data ...

It's all in how you hold your mouth....

Seriously, if there is any patina or oxidation on a piece of "old" work, you need to clean it off before you begin to try to un/solder. I use a Dremel and hit the joint with a grinding/sanding wheel just enough to show bright metal, and then take the soldering iron to it....Also a dab of flux on an old joint helps...

Reply to
Moonraker

Na, it all has to do with the stampeding elephants in Zimbabwe!

The rest of your answer was right on. Typically I keep several pieces of 0000 steel wool at hand and use that before I pick up the soldering iron even on new lead. The new stuff oxidizes too and it has to come off.

Other than all that, I'd suggest you research Nostradamus' works on appeasing the kiln gods; he's got to be right about something.

Jerry

Reply to
Jerry Maske

I have had that happen with chicago metallic zinc came (new). seems there are imperfections/ bubbles/something in some areas that just cause it to disappear into a black hole! luckily, it can usually be filled with solder but that's why i avoid CM and prefer cascade.Perhaps it's your brand of lead came and/or imperfections in it?? m

Reply to
Michele Blank

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.