Fig. 2.—Soldering Bit
Fig. 3.—Pivoted Soldering Bit
Copper Bits.
—The soldering bit or bolt (miscalled an “iron”) carries a pointed lump of copper at the end ([Fig. 2]), riveted in, or alternatively, in small sizes, screwed on to the shank. Some bits are pivoted (see [Fig. 3]) to enable them to point at various angles for dealing with difficult situations.
A home-made bit ([Figs. 4] and [5]) may be made by drilling and tapping a short length of 11⁄2-in. or 2-in. square copper to receive the screwed end of a rod of 5⁄16-in. iron, the copper being afterwards heated and drawn to a point or to a blunt edge as preferred. This forms a good bit for most ordinary purposes. An axe-head or hatchet bit is shown in [Fig. 6]; the copper bolt is riveted in the eye of the iron rod, the bit, however, being free to revolve, as this is essential when making joints in heavy lead pipe, for which purpose it is principally used. [Fig. 5] represents a bit which is a combination and modification of the two others, and it is largely used for the internal soldering of bottoms of large drums, milk churns, etc., where great local heat is required.
Fig. 4.—Home-made Soldering Bit
Fig. 5.—Bit for Internal Soldering, etc.