In this article, we’re going to take a quick look into some of the different soldering iron tips that you will come across in sheet metal roofing. We’ll take a look at some of the more common ones and why they are designed the way they are, as well as how they can be useful.

As you might know, solder has a wide variety of uses. It is used to join small components, to close electrical connections and much more. In sheet metal roofing, solder is an equally versatile material. Its greatest utility insomuch as it relates to roofing is in its ability to create watertight seams. Also, because it melts at such a low temperature, it can be worked very easily. In part, that is where the soldering iron tips come into the picture.

- Pointed or Pyramidal Tips: Pointed tips, which may also be called pyramidal tips if there are squared facets to the sides of the tip, are highly useful for concentrating a lot of energy and directing the heat transfer to a small area. However, because they are pointed, they are also very useful for helping to apply solder in tight areas and with more precision than other tips could afford, such as at corners.

- Chisel Tips: Chisel tips also direct energy into a concentrated area but not as tightly as a pointed or pyramidal tip. Like their namesake, chisel tips have a flattened edge with greater surface area than a pointed this. This makes them useful for applying solder along lengths of seams, more efficiently than could be done with a pointed tip.

- Hatchet/Hammer Tips: Hammer tips which are sometimes called hatchet tips are very like chisel tips except the edge of the tip lies parallel to the rod or the handle of the tool rather than parallel to it. This gives these types of solder tips useful in areas where it would be difficult or uncomfortable to reach the edge of a flattened seam.

In addition to these types of tips you may come across others, such as bevel tips that are more common in other soldering applications. Generally, as can be seen, the same principle applies, which is that the shape of the tip determines its efficacy for a given task.

To learn more about the different types of tips or to solicit information on cleaning the tips, the different types of solders that are used in roofing (such as lead solder and lead-free solders), or just to clear up any questions you have, get in touch with John Stortz & Son at their website, Stortz.com. They have a large collection of helpful educational resources and their customer service team is only ever a call away at 888-847-3456.

Stortz is also an invaluable resource for those in need of roofing tools and other high quality hand tools, including soldering equipment. Whether you need the tips, irons, a soldering station or even the bar solder itself, you’ll find nothing but the highest quality examples available at Stortz.com.