My school year has just begun, and already we have been
introduced to a different material that replaces the carbon block
that we use in soldering.
Our teachers gave us each a block which they have ordered from a
German Co. This block is compressed vermiculite. It is about the
same size as our carbon block, and is the color of vermiculite.
This block is very durable, it will last years without coming
apart like carbon. Also, it does not dirty your work place at
all. It does not keep in the heat (barely). The only disvantage
I have noticed, is that you cannot insert wire to hold objects to
be soldered. Do any members already use this block?
Thanking you all kindly,
Caroline Charest Simoneau
email: @maurice_simoneau
Dear Caroline, I’d love to find an alternative to the charcoal
block, especially one that wouldn’t be as messy as charcoal. I
think we’d all be grateful if you could find out who supplies
this item. Waiting for an option,
Eben
I’m using vermiculite blocks for soldering, too. What I consider
to be its best characteristic in comparison to carbon blocks is,
that it has a plain surface, that stays plain, even if you’ve
used it for a long time.
If I’ve got to do some soldering where I’ve got to fix the
parts, I still use the carbon block. In some catalog I’ve seen
blocks made of ceramics, which have lots of tiny holes, to insert
needles for fixing the objects for soldering.
Another method for fixing wires to solder, is to make a pap of
dust of tripoli and a little water and put small drops of that
onto the right positioned wires. Let it dry. Now you can solder
without moving the wires. It’s kind of glueing the pieces onto
your soldering block. (hope it comes clear, what I’m trying to
explain…)
There is a new German Charcoal block that Allcraft in New York
sells. They do not fall apart and don’t seem as messy as the old
ones. Needless to say, they are more expensive (I believe I paid
$17). I’ve had mine almost a year and it looks good. I would
have been through quite a few of the standard type by now!
In some catalog I've seen blocks made of ceramics, which
have lots of tiny holes, to insert needles for fixing the
objects for soldering.
I use one of these. Have had it for 10 or so years and while it
is getting a bit mucked up with flux it still comes in very
handy… Tee-pins work real well to anchor the work.
A charcoal block offers a number of advantages over ceramic
blocks.
You can carve a shape into into it.
You can stick wires and pins into it. 3. It provides a
reducing atmosphere which is very helpful in reducing fire scale
and makes some delicate soldering jobs, easier.