Decent soldering iron is one of the most common ways of joining different types of materials. This process is automated and it doesn’t lead to thermal distortions. Additionally, the residues stress the parts you want to join.
If you don’t want to use the soldering method, are there other alternatives to soldering? Can I use glue instead of solder and is it safe? Read on to find out if glue is the right substitute for solder and whether you can use conductive glue instead of solder.
Related: What should i practice soldering on?
Can i use glue instead of solder?
Using super glue instead of solder is not recommended because it is not conductive. Instead, you can buy conductive adhesives which work well if normal soldering cannot be used. Such adhesives come in various styles like tubes, syringes, and containers.
They make a good option if you cannot use the soldering technique under normal circumstances. While they might not be as good as soldering iron, they good substitute for soldering if you cannot do soldering the normal way.
Another alternative to soldering is wire wrapping. However, wire wrapping can be expensive unless you buy the wires in large volumes to get a good deal. You can put several wires in the terminal and crimp them.
Can you use hot glue instead of solder?
No, you cannot use hot glue as an alternative to soldering. This is because the hot glue doesn’t get hot like the soldering iron. Additionally, the highest temperature is in the chamber and not the tip. The soldering method requires more heat transfer from the tip to make the wire and the lug you are soldering hot.
Also, you cannot use hot glue for electrical connections because the glue is an insulator. However, there are situations where hot glue is used especially for holding larger components to prevent movement as a result of vibration. The glue is applied together with the solder so the glue offers mechanical support while the solder offers an electrical connection.
Conductive glue instead of solder
If you have experience with soldering, you know lead soldering has been used for basic electronics for a long period of time. Today, epoxy soldering is slowly replacing lead soldering. While lead and tin soldering is the most commonly used methods of making electrical connections, conductive glues are replacing cheap soldering irons.
This is because lead solders are toxic and hence pose environmental concerns. Many people now opt for lead-free solders like electrically conductive epoxies. When doing the job of solder, the process is subjected to high temperatures and this can cause damage to some sensitive components because of the high temperature.
Another alternative that replaces hot glue is Mesoglue. This is a metallic glue that fixes the problem of heat issue when soldering or welding. Mesoglue in its room temperature allows you to join the parts. Additionally, you can solder various parts to boards without heat, which is great.
Mesoglue silver resembles the normal silver solder and it works well to join chips to heatsinks permanently, and you don’t need to use thermal paste. This technology has greatly changed the way electronics are made.
Metallic glue is commonly used in electrical industries because it is a heat conductor. With time, it will replace thermal grease, which is used as an electrical conductor in solders. This is for products like pipe fittings, computer components, solar cells, mobile devices, and much more.
Using this glue as substitute for soldering ensures you do not burn your fingers when handling projects like making electronic clocks and other electrical connection.
Related: Tips for soldering aluminum to copper
Conclusion
If you cannot do normal soldering, you can use glue as a substitute for soldering. However, it depends on the type of glue since not all of them work. For instance, super glue cannot be used instead of solder because it is not conductive. Mesoglue and other conductive epoxy glues are better substitute for soldering.
These methods are alternative to soldering and they work well in terms of processing, reliability, and environment. Other things you can use instead of soldering are butane lighters, alcohol burners, oil lamps, and candles. Anything between 400 degrees F and 700 degrees F will work well.
