Hot Solder Dipping
For Greater Wear & Corrosion Resistance

Hot Solder Dip Prevents Rust & Oxidation

What Is Hot Solder Dipping?
Hot solder dip is the process of immersing a part into a bath of a molten tin/lead alloy at a temperature greater than at 370°F (188°C). The coating that's produced consists of a very thin intermetallic layer that first forms at the interface of the base material and the tin (for example, when dipping copper or copper alloys, a copper/tin alloy is formed) followed by a layer of pure solder. Note: no intermetallics of lead form, only those of tin and the base metal.

Hot Solder Dipping Has Significant Benefits

  • Prevents Rusting
    For steel, the hot solder coating prevents the base material from rusting.
  • Prevents Oxidizing
    For copper and copper alloys, the hot solder coating prevents the base material from oxidizing.
  • Restores Solderability
    Solder by its very nature is solderable, which makes it a desirable finish for electronic component assembly.
  • Easier To Solder
    Solder coatings are easier to solder than those of pure tin, since the lower melting point of the solder allows for a variety of heating methods.
  • Wear & Corrosion Resistant
    A solder layer provides greater wear and corrosion resistance than that of most base materials.

Hot Solder Coating Versus Electroplated Coatings
The hot solder dip process is an alternative to electroplating, and provides specific benefits over electroplating:

  • Less porous than electroplating.
  • More ductile than electroplating.
  • Virtually stress-free.
  • More economical than electroplating.
  • Better corrosion resistance than electroplating.
  • Penetrates and coats inside walls of many "through" holes.

Soldalum For Aluminum
Soldalum is a special process for applying hot solder dip to aluminum without blistering occurring.

Hot Solder Dipping Prevents Whisker Growth
The presence of lead is the only proven strategy for preventing the formation of whiskers.

Hot Solder Dip Disadvantages.
The thickness of a coating provided by Hot Solder Dipping is not as well controlled when compared to that provided by electroplating methods. Hot solder dipping should not be used when tight tolerances are required or when the base part has fine details that could be obscured by a thicker plating layer.

Call The Tinning Company Today
The Tinning Company will work with you to ensure that the right type of plating is selected for your application. Put our expertise - and our world-class quality and service - to work for you today.

hot solder dipped metal pieces
Did You Know?
The terms Hot Tin Dip and Hot Tin Dipping are often misused. Some companies perform Hot Solder Dipping and call it Hot Tin Dipping. Other companies refer to Flow Brightening as Hot Tin or Tin/Lead Dipping.
  • Hot Tin Dip: Immersion of an item or items in a molten bath of Tin. Tin melts at 450°F (232°C)
  • Hot Solder Dip: Immersion of an item or items in a molten bath of 60/40 Tin/Lead. 60/40 Tin/Lead melts at 370°F (188°C)
  • Flow Brightening: Immersion of an item or items that have been electroplated with tin or tin/lead alloy in a bath of grease or oil that is maintained at a higher temperature than the melting point of the deposited coating.
The Tinning Company
is one of the few companies in the United States capable of performing these operations.


Call us today at 1-617-389-3400 for a speedy quotation on your hot solder dipping project.