Body solder is a type of
solder
Solder (; NA: ) is a fusible metal alloy used to create a permanent bond between metal workpieces. Solder is melted in order to wet the parts of the joint, where it adheres to and connects the pieces after cooling. Metals or alloys suitable ...
used to smooth the surface of
automobile bodies before painting. It has been largely supplanted by polyester body fillers, such as
Bondo, and others, but many purists and
auto customizers continue to use body solder, asserting that it bonds better to sheet metal, feels better, wears better, resists higher temperatures, and can be powder coated or otherwise chemically plated.
Details
Body solder is available in both
lead
Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cu ...
ed and
lead-free
The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS 1), short for Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, was adopted in February 2003 by the European Unio ...
formulas from most suppliers of auto customization parts and tools. Leaded body solders usually are an alloy of lead and 2 to 10%
tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn (from la, stannum) and atomic number 50. Tin is a silvery-coloured metal.
Tin is soft enough to be cut with little force and a bar of tin can be bent by hand with little effort. When bent, t ...
.
Body solder is melted with a blowtorch and flowed onto a car, and then shaped with a solid wood (often
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
) paddle or spatula. It is then
filed, not
sanded, to adjust its profile.
References
External links
Soldering Equipment & Tools
Soldering
Automotive technologies
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