[DIYCUB]

I have a need to solder 2 or 3 nuts on top of each other to form a tower. I can solder copper pipe and electronic equipment, but when I try to solder the nuts together, the solder just balls up and rolls away. I have tried a small torch, 60 watt weller and 100 watt gun to no avail. Can anyone teach me how to solder? Thanks

 

[Just Bill]

You may need to grind off any coating on the nuts, to bare metal, and don't forget the flux. It may take more heat than your guns can deliver. The metal must be hot.

 

[RegeSullivan]

I would not use a soldering iron or the Weller gun even if it is 300 to 500 watts I don't think you will be able to heat it evenly. Use what you would use for copper pipe. As mentioned above be sure any coatings are removed and use flux. Not getting the metal hot enough is the most likely problem. We often get the solder hot enough to melt by heating the solder as the material is heated but the material is not hot enough to allow the solder to flow. Try keeping the solder away from the heat source until the material is hot enough. "Test" by just touching the material with the solder momentarily every few seconds until it melts when contact is made. Be sure you are not melting the solder with your heat source. You want the heat in you material to melt the solder. Another method is to put small bits of solder on the material and heat until the solder melts and "flows" into place. If the solder does not flow - no flux/wrong flux or not clean or not enough heat.

 

[DIYCUB]

Thanks for your replies. I used a mini butane torch and the nuts were red hot and when I touched the solder to the nuts, it melted into a ball and rolled off. Does it need to get hotter? I believe the nuts are nickle plated.

 

[RegeSullivan]

Red hot is too hot. The solder should just melt when you touch the material you are soldering. I really don't know if you can solder nickle but even if you can I would grind off the plating and solder to the base metal.