Why Won’t My Solder Flow? 5 Common Reasons (and How to Fix Them)

If you’ve ever set up everything for soldering, held your breath, and... nothing happens and the solder just won’t flow? you’re not alone. This is one of the most common (and frustrating) beginner struggles. The good news? Once you know what to look for, it’s often easy to fix.

1. Dirty Metal Your solder won't flow if the metal isn't perfectly clean. Even a tiny bit of oil, oxidation or residue will stop the solder from doing its job.

Fix: Use emery paper to clean all solder joins right before you flux. Don't touch with your fingers after cleaning. To be absolutely sure it is clean, dip the piece in some water. If the surface is dirty, the water won't flow over it.

2. Not Enough Flux Flux prevents oxidation during heating. No flux = no flow. Some Make sure you have flux that is suitable for soldering silver.

Fix: Use a quality silver soldering flux like Auflux or a borax cone. Make sure the joint is fully coated.

3. Uneven or Weak Heating Your solder flows towards heat. If you heat unevenly, or not enough, the solder won’t move and it might just ball up and sit there.

Fix: Use a steady flame, heat the whole piece gently, and focus more heat on the larger/heavier part. Avoid moving the torch too fast.

4. Wrong Solder Type or Melting Point Confusion Using hard solder when your torch isn't hot enough can lead to confusion. Also, paste solder can behave differently than wire or strip.

Fix: Start with medium solder while learning. Understand melting points and match your torch power to the job.

5. Poor Join Fit If there's a gap in the join, solder can't bridge it. It will flow underneath or disappear completely.

Fix: Dry-fit your joins. Use a mitre jig or file to get pieces flush. Solder likes a tight, clean connection.

Bonus Tip: Work in a draft-free area. Even a slight breeze can pull heat away and cause uneven results.

Still stuck?

Here's where to start:

→ Free: Download the 5-Minute Home Setup Checklist to make sure your workspace isn't holding you back. GET YOUR FREE CHECKLIST

→ £11: The Ultimate Soldering Home-Setup Solution - The complete system for setting up your workspace right the first time, designed specifically for home setups with handheld torches. GET THE £11 SETUP SOLUTION

→ £297: 90-Minute Breakthrough Intensive - Have ONE specific problem that keeps defeating you? We'll diagnose it together in real-time and fix it in 90 minutes. FIND OUT MORE

→ £1,600: Soldering Unlocked (6-Week Programme) - Ready to master soldering completely? Book a free discovery call to see if personalised 1:1 coaching is right for you. FIND OUT MORE

You don't have to figure it all out alone. Let's get you soldering with confidence.

LindaJewellery Soldering Coach