Soldering course
What soldering means
The history of soldering dates back to antiquity. As early as 3000 BC. Egyptians combined gold and silver when making jewellery. These were joined together using copper solder. And this method is still used today to join metals and alloys with different properties. Soldering, therefore, is a method that joins two metal parts together using a binder called solder. The result is an aesthetically pleasing, stable and durable joint. Soldering takes place at a temperature which is higher than the melting point of the solder (to plasticise the joint). However, the entire process takes place at a temperature that will not damage the structure of the joined parts.
Soldering courses
Do you want to learn how to use a soldering iron? Or maybe you need it professionally? Then come and visit us. At the ERGON centre, we run soldering courses. Our instructors will be happy to show you how to use the materials and tools, and fixing things at home will no longer cause you headaches. You will learn how to use a soldering iron in a safe way and learn how to use specific materials and tools. In addition, you will learn:
- types of soldering irons and rules for their use;
- practically about soldering;
- soldering basics - theory;
- about soldering mistakes made;
- how to repair wires (soldering and desoldering connections);
- about electronics repair;
- Health and Safety and fire safety.
A bit of theory on soldering
If you want to get started with soldering, you should learn a few facts about the process.
The tool used for soldering is the soldering iron. It is one of the basic pieces of workshop equipment and is used in many jobs, both minor and advanced, where hand utensils are not enough.
The soldering iron consists of two parts: the flask (used as a handle) and the tip (in direct contact with the binder - the solder). When soldering, the metal parts are joined by the binder (solder). Physico-chemically, however, the soldering process (joining of metal parts) is based on two phenomena: diffusion and adhesion. The solder binder gets into the space between the components and the particles into the pores on their surface. The soldering process starts with cleaning the surface of the parts to be soldered. We then heat up the components and apply flux and solder to the edges of the parts we are joining. At the very end, we wait for solidification and for the binder to cool down.
When we consider the melting temperature of the binder, we distinguish between two basic types of soldering:
- soft soldering;
- brazing;
| Types of soldering | |
| Soft soldering | Brazing |
| The process takes place at a temperature of less than 450°C; | The process takes place at temperatures above 450°C; |
| The soldering iron heats the material selectively, so the whole process takes time; | Sometimes the temperatures are five times higher than 450°C - as in industrial soldering. More specialised tools are then needed; |
| No protective measures are required (apart from a vapour extraction system); | The use of specialised, expert tools is required; |
| It is often used in electronics (e.g. connecting parts on a printed circuit board), in sealing gutters, roofs and also in sheet metal work. | It has applications in joining carbon, tungsten, nickel, molybdenum and chrome steels as well as gold, silver, copper or bronze. |
Furthermore, the melting range of the alloy in soft soldering is approximately 180 - 280° C. The basis of soft solder is tin and other metals that have a similar melting point (cadmium, bismuth, antimony). It can be used to join copper, brass, steel or zinc components. As the whole process does not take place at a relatively very high temperature, soft soldering is used not only by professionals, but also by amateurs. They use soldering irons in their households.
When it comes to brazing, when the temperature can reach almost 1,000°C, an ordinary soldering iron is not enough. We then use a soldering lamp or an acetylene-oxygen torch. Brazing is often a silver mixture that is capable of joining many metals.
Brazing is a well-known metalworking method with numerous advantages. The part where the process of joining the metals takes place looks very aesthetically pleasing and its strength is very high indeed. There is a whole range of solders to choose from, with a wide variety of properties. This technology is not only familiar, but also modern and can join almost all metals and alloys.
Welcome to our training courses
Soldering courses at our ERGON centre consist of a practical part conducted in the form of a workshop, stationary, and a theoretical part that can be taken online. The classes are taught in an accessible and very interesting way. Our instructors are professionals with extensive experience in the field of soldering.
Whether you are just starting out with soldering or are already familiar with the basics of the activity, you can choose the training course that is right for you. We have a course for beginners and another higher level - for the advanced.
Feel free to contact us and we will provide you with all the necessary information. We provide market prices, which we always agree with you individually. We offer discounts for larger and organised groups. Our head office is in Warsaw, but we also have centres in other Polish cities such as Krakow, Bielsko-Biala and Katowice: Krakow, Bielsko-Biala or Katowice. If it is a closed course, we will travel to practically any place.
We also encourage you to familiarise yourself with the wide range of courses that ERGON has on offer. Among other things, we offer introductory and periodic courses in occupational health and safety, courses in fire safety, first aid trainingas well as many other courses for which the following are required entitlements TDT or UDT (for example training as a forklift truck operator or mobile mast platform operator).
