------+---------+------------------------------------------
| Melting |
Metal | point | Mixture
---------------+---------+------------------------------------------
Sulphur | 228 | Pure
Tin | 446 | Pure
Lead | 626 | Pure
Zinc | 680 | Pure
Fine solder | 400 | 50 per cent. tin, 50 per cent. lead (wt.)
Wiping solder | 370 | 37 per cent. tin, 63 per cent. lead (wt.)
---------------+---------+------------------------------------------

To recognize fine solder, run off a bar into a mold and let it
cool. If there is a frosted streak in the center, the metal has not
enough tin. The surface should be bright. To recognize wiping
solder, pour some on a brick. When this is cool, the top should be
frosty and the under side should have four or five bright spots.
The amount poured on the brick should be about the size of a half
dollar. If poured on iron, the metal will cool too quickly and show
bright all over the under side.

TO MAKE 1/2 AND 1/2 SOLDER OR PLUMBER'S FINE SOLDER.--The
possibility of getting pure clean metals to mix solder is very
remote. Old pieces of lead pipe, lead trap, old block tin pipe are
used to make solder when pure metals are not at hand.

_First_, in a cast-iron pot melt the lead to about 800 deg., or a dull
red.

_Second_, clean off the dross.

_Third_, add (to a 15-pound pot) 1/2 pound of sulphur in three
applications. Each time mix the sulphur thoroughly with the metal
with a long stick.

_Fourth_, add tin before the last application of sulphur. Mix
thoroughly.

_Fifth_, pour off two bars and look for the frosty streak in the
center. Add a little more tin, if necessary.

TO MIX WIPING SOLDER.--

_First_, proceed as described in 1/2 and 1/2, melting the metals
and _burning_ out with sulphur, adding the percentage of tin
according to the preceding table. Then test the solder for bright
spots on the under side.

_Second_, keep the metal thoroughly mixed when burning and keep
all dross cleaned off the surface.

The working heat of wiping solder is 500 deg.F. Sulphur is used to
collect all zinc and dross. The sulphur should come in contact with
all parts of the metal. This is why the metal should be stirred
when the sulphur is put in.

A few good points in the economi