Soldering Irons?

[mrFinpgh]

Instead of a heat gun, which doesn't get nearly hot enough, try a torch. Propane should work. You can even heat the tip of the soldering iron with the torch. Most likely it is a lack of heat issue.

I thought about this, but I would be concerned about lighting the plywood on underneath on fire.

-Adam

 

[mrFinpgh]

Thanks everyone, for your suggestions.  I'm going to farm this bit out -- I'm not planning on getting into a lot of metalworking anytime soon and I've burned through way too many hours on this already.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Bohdan]

Hmm..  I did not do this.  Would failing to do so have been sufficient to prevent the tip from transferring heat to the zinc?

Correct. If you don't tin the tip it won't transfer the heat rapidly enough to have the solder wet the joint.

I assume copper specific flux == the flux I would use to solder plumbing fittings?

Correct

Part of what confounds me is the seller (rotometals) warns about overheating the zinc and melting it.

The zinc has a low melting point so it is easy to melt your way thru the sheet.

Thanks,
Adam