Home made soldering flux!

[iuseaspork]

OK... You guys are going to think I'm trolling you, but I read this somewhere and had to try it. First I will tell you my results and then tell you how I made it.

I had a small piece of CE2 center tube laying around. These are hard to solder to with just rosin core. It can be done, but it's difficult. I tested one side with just the solder. It worked, but didn't flow as well As you might like it to. I turned it over and tried the other side with the flux. I added the flux and waited about 20-30 seconds. The flow was noticeably better! Water cleanup!

OK... It was koolaid powder (cherry) made into a paste by vinegar. The first ingredient in koolaid is citric acid and we all know that vinegar is an acid.

Anywho, it costs like $.35 to try and it worked well for me.

No flux:

Flux:

 

[slimest]

Well, you could make the flux simpler - just vinegar. Or a tablet of aspirin
Of course if you don't care a taste...

 

[iuseaspork]

Hmm... Aspirin. Looks like there are a lot of things around the house that will work.

 

[slimest]

You try

 

[meatsneakers]

The key to soldering those stainless tubes is to scuff up the area you want to solder first - sandpaper, file, scotch brite pad etc then add the flux. If it isn't shiney, then you'll have a tough time getting solder to stick.

Gotta try the Kool Aid and vinegar though, the smell of RS rosin flux makes me nauseas ever since I forgot to clean it out of a rebuilt atty