Connect Metals Effectively With Lead-Free Solder
Have a soldering project where you need to fuse multiple metals together? Find Lead-Free solder, an alloy that you apply between parts you intend to bond together, at Lowe’s. Whether you’re Lead-Free soldering copper pipe or repairing electronics, Lead-Free soldering is important for connecting pipes, repairing electrical equipment and other uses.
Solder commonly consists of a variety of general metals and copper. A good all-purpose option is universal solder, or general metal solder. This soldering wire doesn’t have a rosin or acid core, but is solid core, making it great to use for soldering pipes, gutters, cars and other objects made of tin and sheet metal. Copper solder works especially well in plumbing, as it’s able to fuse and seal copper pipes while also preventing oxidation. Electrical solder works best for soldering electrical wiring in speakers, motors and more. This type of solder is rosin core and does not require the use of flux beforehand. Flux is a chemical cleaning agent that ensures surfaces are free of oxides and impurities. It’s also necessary in other applications that involve soldering wires with different cores.
You may need some supplies along with your Lead-Free solder for certain applications. Some spools of Lead-Free soldering wire come as part of a kit so you have everything needed to use your Lead-Free solder properly. Most kits include a wire-fitting brush, a sand cloth and, depending on the type of Lead-Free solder, a container of soldering flux and a flux brush. If your project goes beyond Lead-Free soldering, check out our Welding Basics guide.
