Soldering

Soldering (pronounced /ˈsɒ ˌdər ɪŋ/ by Americans and as spelt in the UK), is a process in which two or more items (usually metal) are joined together by melting and putting a filler metal (solder) into the joint, the filler metal having a lower melting point than the adjoining metal. Soldering differs from welding in that soldering does not involve melting the work pieces. In brazing, the filler metal melts at a higher temperature, but the work piece metal does not melt. In the past, nearly all solders contained lead, but environmental and health concerns have increasingly dictated use of lead-free alloys for electronics and plumbing purposes.

Origins

There is evidence that soldering was employed as early as 5000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Soldering and brazing are thought to have originated very early in the history of metal-working, probably before 4000 BC. Sumerian swords from ~3000 BC were assembled using hard soldering.

Soldering was historically used to make jewelry items, cooking ware and tools, as well as other uses such as in assembling stained glass.

Soldering (song)

"Soldering" is a song, by Ewart Beckford & Alvin Ranglin, that has been recorded by artists including Desmond Dekker, The Specials, and Hall & Oates. About a woman's choosiness, the title is a euphemism for copulation.

Originally a big hit in early 1975 for Jamaican Stanley Beckford under the name The Starlights (or The Starlights featuring Stanley Beckford), he is often not credited due to the lack of copyright in Jamaica at the time.

AMG's Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes Hall & Oates' cover, from the album Daryl Hall & John Oates released in late 1975, as, "fall[ing] flat," and, "reggae tinged."

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