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Soldering Aluminum Wires vs Copper

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DW1961:
So, is there anything that needs to be done when your wire is aluminum and not copper? Or when you are soldering aluminum to a copper pad of some sort?

Benta:
The right thing to do: give up.

Aluminium is not easy to solder, in fact almost impossible. Combining that with copper is a metallurgic nightmare.

I suggest looking for a different solution.

Zero999:
Toss it and buy copper wire.

Gyro:
Successfully soldering Aluminium wire is Hard.

You either need a very aggressive flux to strip the oxide (not to mention damaging your soldering iron tip and the copper), or some method of mechanically stripping the oxide layer and keeping Oxygen away from it (the layer re-forms immediately) until you have completed the joint. Some have had success with an inert gas atmosphere or soldering under oil.

Flux used for Aluminium needs to be very carefully and neutralised and removed, and you should reserve a soldering iron tip just for the purpose!

DW1961:

I have some wire that is "tin plated copper core." Is that going to be ok. Also, how would I know if it were aluminum and I was trying to solder with it? Would the solder just roll off of it?

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