| Problem | Possible Reasons | Possible Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Solder melts into a ball but doesn’t flow. | 1. Dirty metal 2. Not enough heat 3. Not enough flux |
1. Wash and then clean surface with emory paper or file 2. Add flux again and increase heat 3. Be more liberal with flux on metal and solder. |
| Solder Flows to one side. | Uneven heating | Solder will flow to the hotter side. If one side of a piece is thinner, heat the heavy side first. |
| The metal melts before the solder. | Melting point of the soldering being used is too high. | When working with silver, use an easier flowing solder. On gold, use solder of the next lower karat. |
The joint doesn’t fill in completely with the solder. | Not enough solder | After adding more flux and solder, concentrate the flame on the joint until the solder melts and fills the joint. |
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