Active solder flux and solder paste from what was on hand

Two great life hacks to make soldering easier. Homemade fluxes that do not require expensive or scarce components for preparation. Only citric acid, Vaseline and solder. Anyone can repeat it.

Active flux made from food grade citric acid

Materials containing copper are easily tinned and soldered using ordinary rosin or liquid fluxes based on it. What if you need to solder a wire, for example, to an iron nail? However, everything is clear to everyone here: special active fluxes or soldering acids are used. But what to do if you don’t have anything at hand, but you need to solder “here and now”?

Hot water is poured into a small container. Hot because food citric acid will dissolve faster and completely in it. The ratio of parts is approximately 1 to 2. For 25 grams of lemon powder, 50 - 70 grams of water. Or a little more.

The mixture is stirred until it becomes completely transparent. The result is a saturated solution that can be used for soldering as an active flux. Let's conduct an experiment.

It will not be possible to tin a regular nail using rosin fluxes.And if you dip it in a solution of citric acid for just a few seconds, then soldering, for example, a copper wire to it will not be difficult. Solder adheres well to a nail that has been in our homemade active flux. The soldering is high quality and reliable.

For the next life hack you will need Vaseline, which you can buy at a pharmacy or cosmetic store, and a piece of solder.

Solder paste

Using a file, you need to prepare some filings from a piece of solder. You don't need a lot of powder, just a teaspoon.

And these sawdust are mixed with simple Vaseline.

Mix as thoroughly as possible. You should get a homogeneous mass. To solder with this homemade solder paste, you don’t even need a soldering iron.

It is applied to the soldering area and heated by the flame of a lighter.

The solder applies instantly and evenly. The twisted wires are soldered. It is very convenient to work in unsuitable “field” conditions.

Both ideas are cool, let's take them on board.

Watch the video