Can I use a hot glue pot as a solder pot?

[alparent]

Anyone tried it?

[R.G.]

I don't properly know about a hot glue pot, but electric skillets have been used as solder pots before. If there's a thermostat on it, maybe. That would indicate that there's more power available that's not being used. If it's for hide glues, they generally cook somewhere near the temperature of boiling water, I think. Electric skillets commonly get to about 500F/260C, which is very near the melt temp of near-eutectic tin/lead.

You do know that solder pots are a little bit of the inferno sitting on your bench don't you?

Molten metals in general are as dangerous as pet rattlesnakes. You have to never, ever let them have a chance to get you, and this is made worse by the lapses of attention that familiarity breeds. Solder pots make small explosions if water or wet stuff get into them, flinging a shower of molten metal around like shrapnel. Then there's the simple accident that spills the pot. Someplace interesting, like into your shoe.

If you can't set up a place for the pot where it will not be dripped into (hmmm... hot there; hope I don't sweat!) or turned over (that is, bolt it down!) and where pets and people you wouldn't like to spend some time in a burn ward will wander through, don't set it up.

[PRR]

WHY do you need more than a tips-worth of hot solder?

Yes, wiring patch-bays I've wished for a quicker way to tin thousands of wire ends. A solder pot won't do that unless you flux the wire first. (It may "paint" solder on but it hasn't really stuck to the strands.) By the time you flux and dip, plain flux-core solder and an iron is nearly as fast.

Beside steam-explosions and soldering your foot inside your shoe or your dog to the floor, a large quantity of hot solder on wood bench or floor can start a fire.

And fumes from a large surface area of over-heated Lead do something to your memory, I ferget what....

[J0K3RX]

I think it would be safer to use a solder pot for hot glue...

[Mark Hammer]

WHY do you need more than a tips-worth of hot solder?

Alain is a little ashamed to admit it, but since we work together, I'll speak for him and simply note that he has been experiencing a small problem with the Visigoths attacking his castle, lately.  Between the pillaging of the village, the burning of the fields, and the slaughter of the livestock, its starting to get annoying, and quite frankly, it's starting to detract from his performance here at work.  He was looking for a convenient way to hurl small-ish quantities of molten lead at them...just to scare them away, and to say "You think flaming arrows frighten me?  Get a taste of what I'M bringing to the table!".  We tend not to have that problem around here all that often, so I think he is entitled to not know how to melt large quantities of lead without feeling embarassed about it.  Give the guy a break....or at least pitch in and help chase the Visigoths away.  Seriously, they don't smell very good at ALL.

[davent]

Sounds like a cryptic description of the tribes of Stephen H...

[mremic01]

WHY do you need more than a tips-worth of hot solder?

Alain is a little ashamed to admit it, but since we work together, I'll speak for him and simply note that he has been experiencing a small problem with the Visigoths attacking his castle, lately.  Between the pillaging of the village, the burning of the fields, and the slaughter of the livestock, its starting to get annoying, and quite frankly, it's starting to detract from his performance here at work.  He was looking for a convenient way to hurl small-ish quantities of molten lead at them...just to scare them away, and to say "You think flaming arrows frighten me?  Get a taste of what I'M bringing to the table!".  We tend not to have that problem around here all that often, so I think he is entitled to not know how to melt large quantities of lead without feeling embarassed about it.  Give the guy a break....or at least pitch in and help chase the Visigoths away.  Seriously, they don't smell very good at ALL.

Ik swaira þus, ni taujaima swalaika waiht, ni aiwins. Þai Gutans sijand þiuda sela jah goda. Iþ þai Wandalans... Nist sunja in ize waurdam.

[alparent]

Ok! Forget the lead then. Chich, can't a guy set himself up for 3rd degree burns anymore?
As for the Visigoths....I decided to go with the hot tar instead. (Or is that not permitted either?!)

But seriously, thanks for friendly warning guys.

[R.G.]

... so I think he is entitled to not know how to melt large quantities of lead without feeling embarassed about it.  Give the guy a break....or at least pitch in and help chase the Visigoths away.  Seriously, they don't smell very good at ALL.

I was allowing that he might need the molten lead enough to take the chances, so I did in fact tell him the straight stuff, albeit cloaked inside several layers of warnings.

Hot glue pot - nah, probably not if it's like the glue pots I've seen.

Electric skillet with the thermostat "modified" somewhat by malicious tinkering - yep, seen that used for dip-soldering of PCBs; long ago and far away, in another galaxy, you understand.

But I wasn't kidding about the dangers of hot lead.

[PRR]

> Visigoths attacking his castle, lately

Women stampeded and cattle raped?

He's gonna need more than a glue-pot to deter warriors in leather helmets and cloaks, dudes who say "Ouch!" when stabbed with a spear.

He could try this frozen "Cajun" food we just tried. Sure made me want to leave town. Or at least where-ever my butt is.

And might ruin the glue-pot, though that may be a small price.

A ladle on a charcoal fire will melt solder. (To do Aluminum you need a blower.)

[G. Hoffman]

Anyone tried it?

An electric glue pot?  Not a chance.  They hold the temperature at about 150 degrees, which is too cold for solder.  You might be able to do it with an old fashion "passive" glue pot, but what's the point?  Electric glue pots are GREAT for hide glue, though!


Gabriel