Whats the difference between 60/40 and 50/50 solder?
Solder is made of a mix of tin and lead and most of the time it is made from recycled tin and lead. The 60/40 solder refers to the ratio of tin and lead used in manufacturing a particular solder-60% tin and 40% lead were used in making 60/40 solder. In 50/50 solder 50% tin and 50% lead were used in making the solder. The different types of solder work differently. 60/40 solder stays liquid longer and therefore gives the glass artist more time to work with a solder seam and create a more consistent look. 50/50 solder hardens more rapidly and therefore works well on 3-dimensional work like stained glass lamps, jewelry boxes, kaleidoscopes, etc. to fill in the larger gaps created by 3-dimensional joints.
