In soldering the working temperature is below 450 °C. Soldering is suited for Welding copper and copper alloys, zinc, steel aluminium and aluminium alloys; tin solder is most commonly used.
In brazing, the working temperature is higher than 450 °C but not higher than ca. 1000 °C. A flame is often employed as the heat source. Brazing is the most common form of soldering and is well-suited for welding most metals. Brazing is used, for example, for welding copper pipes in the production of bathroom fixtures and for fastening pieces of hard metal to saw blades and drill bits.
In both brazing and soldering, the solder is added in between the surfaces to be joined through capillary action. It is therefore important for the distance between the surfaces to be joined to be correctly dimensioned.
Soldering and brazing can be automated and are therefore often used in series production.
Soldering does not involve the same high working temperature as welding, which gives rise to less problems with deformations. Soldering provides joints of high quality and high surface finish.
An oxy-fuel gas flame is often used in soldering, with acetylene or propane being the most common fuel gases.
Avoid risks by following the safety instructions for hot work.