Johnson's Pure Solders are available in most standard forms of Solid and Flux Cored Wire, Rod and Bar, plus our exclusive, 100% Dense, Oxide-Free, Vacuum-Cast Billets which are excellent for use in solder pots.

•  R-100 Non-Activated Rosin Core (R Type) for copper, tinplate
•  RM-100 Mildly Activated Rosin Core (RMA Type) for electrical, electronics
•  AR-100 Activated Rosin Core (RA Type) for DIY, electrical, hardware, wiring, hobby
•  X-100 Extra-Activated Rosin Core (RA Type) general purpose, electrical, architectural
•  OR-100 Water Soluble Organic Core for audio, electronics, PC boards and rework
•  OR-120 No-Clean Mild Organic Core for audio, automotive, electrical, hobby, wiring
•  OR-200 Mild Stearine Core for architectural metal roofing, flashings, ornamental
•  OR-520 Organic Acid Core, semi-solid flux stops core leakage, for copper, brass, steel
•  AL-300 Organic Core Flux solders aluminum, copper, galvanized, nickel, coated metals
•  AC-600 Inorganic Acid Core Solder, our most aggressive flux, solders stainless steels

      Johnson's Core Solders are available in many standard alloys, including Lead-free, with core precentages from .5 to 4.5%, in common wire diameters on 1, 5 and 20 Lb. spools, 20-30 Lb. fiber reels, 25 Lb. coils in hex cartons, and 50 Lb. or 250 Lb. pay off packs (fiber drums).

View Johnson's Technical Bulletin on Core Solders.

Johnson's family of tin-zinc alloys for soldering aluminum are referred to as "Alumaweld" solders, a tradename that goes back to the early thirties. Alumaweld Solders have many uses:  #1 is the only alloy in this family that contains lead, 40% by weight. It is used most often for the repair of cast iron, either with or without a flux.  Johnson's #2 Sn/25Zn, #20 Sn/20Zn, and another alloy, Sn/30Zn, are generally supplied in wire form for thermal spray applications.

      Our #21 is the eutectic composition, Sn/9Zn that melts at 390 degrees F (199 C). This relatively low temperature enables its use for soldering thin aluminum materials, or for pretinning temperature or flux sensitive aluminum parts to be later joined in another step.  #22 Alumaweld starts to melt at 390 F also, however it is not completely liquid until it reaches 635 degrees F (335 C). When used with flux, its wide plastic range is better suited to soldering heavier materials and wider joint clearances. Johnson is a leading supplier of tin-zinc solders to the capacitor, plating and thermal spray industries.

      Alumaweld alloys may be used with Johnson's Alumasol Organic Soldering Flux, or our more aggressive Alumweld 2000 Inorganic Chloride Flux. Alumaweld solders may also be used to "swage," abrade or mechanically clean the surface without using the chemical cleaning action of a flux. Swagging is effective only because of the zinc content in Alumaweld solders. Zinc is an element made up of hard, sharp-edged crystals that aid in abrading (scrubbing) through the tough aluminum oxide layer, thus permitting the metallurgical reaction between the filler and base metals to occur.

View our Technical Bulletin for application tips.

Johnson Manufacturing Company has licensed the rights to manufacture and sell solder developed by Ames Laboratory, on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.  We refer to this, unique lead-free solder as "IA-423"  (IA stands for Iowa, as well as for its inventor, while 423 is for its melting point).

     Johnson's #IA-423  is a "ternary eutectic" alloy, i.e., a composition comprising its three component elements (tin, silver and copper) that both melts and flows at a single low temperature, 423°F (217°C). Practically speaking, eutectic alloys are shinier, stronger and have a tighter, more refined grain structure than near-eutectic or non-eutectic compositions. As a result, IA-423 and a family of its close relatives are becoming highly desireable replacements for the lead-containing solders used in electronic assemblies, printed circuit boards, copper foil stained glass work, aerospace, automotive, electrical, refrigeration and many other high-tech, or industrial soldering applications. Audiophiles also claim that #IA-423 is the best sounding solder they've ever heard, perhaps because of its high conductivity, owing to its high silver and copper content.

View our Technical Bulletin on this solder.

Read the Ames Laboratory  Ring and Plug Shear Strength Test  results for this and other alloys.

Compare #IA-423 properties with  Johnson's Standard Alloys,  melting temp & shear strength data.

Silver Bearing Solders, not to be confused with silver solders (brazing alloys), offer certain physical properties unsurpassed by other lead-free solders.  With very few exceptions, they provide superior strength, wetability and corrosion resistance for soldering copper, brass, steel, etc., along with a good bond and color match with most grades of stainless. Aside from Johnson's #IA-423, ternary (3-element) tin-silver-copper eutectic alloy described above, similar alloys such as #IA-421, which contains less silver and copper, as well as #IA-425, the shiniest solder we've ever seen, (we call it SilverGlo^TM), provide subtle differences for certain heating methods, or soldering applications, etc..  These alloys, and a few others fall within what is referred to as a "narrow eutectic trough," including Johnson's #IA-430 with its fourth element addition of cobalt (Co) for extra strength.

      Our most popular solder within the binary (2-element) tin-silver family of solders is Johnson's #460, which is a eutectic alloy that melts at 430 degrees F (221 C). To our knowledge, this is the only alloy that is acceptable for use when soldering food handling equipment.  Johnson's #466 and #469 are both off-eutectic tin-silver alloys which offer melting ranges to benefit certain soldering applications.

      Several of Johnson's newest alloys also fall into the silver bearing category. For example, #IC-440, our tin-silver-copper-nickel alloy offers nearly as much strength as #460, yet will cost you a lot less, because it contains less silver. Other quaternary (4-element) alloys such as Johnson's #IC-444 and #IC-446 provide relatively low melting points, narrow melting ranges, excellent shear strength, and low shrinkage rates. Several ternary (3-element) alloys like #448 (tin-silver-nickel) solder also offers good wetting, flow and strength at a reasonable cost, plus Johnson's #495 has the widest melting range of any silver bearing solder within our standard alloy offerings. Its primary use is for plumbing.

ALL JOHNSON SILVER BEARING SOLDERS CONTAIN LESS THAN 0.05% LEAD,
1/4 THE AMOUNT ALLOWED BY EPA FOR POTABLE WATER SUPPLIES.

Compare physical properties of Johnson Standard Alloys,  melting temperature, shear strength.

Johnson's selection of Lead-Free Solders is one of the finest anywhere, comprising 2, 3, 4 or 5 elements, each alloy offers unique properties that enable it to preform the best for a given application.  Johnson's #399, 95/5 tin-antimony solder, has been used by plumbers for many years due to its low cost and acceptable performance. Other alloys containing antimony (Sb) are preferred more recently, such as #465 or #497 SuperFlo^TM, as both are stronger and easier to use for sweating joints in potable water (plumbing) systems, water valves, plus many other production soldering applications.

      #IC-442, one of Johnson's newest lead-free solders combines its low melting range, good shear strength and bridging capabilities, at an economical price for plumbing and other applications.  #492, one of Johnson's patented alloys, is private labeled for use in both solid wire and with our special core fluxes for DIY, hardware, hobby and general use.

      Johnson's #574, #576, #577 and #579 are economical, practical and reliable alloys found within the binary tin-copper family of solders. All are compatible, yet each offers a unique melting range, which is good for handling multiple soldering tasks, much the same way you can use different solders from the lead-tin group.

ALL JOHNSON PURE LEAD-FREE SOLDERS CONTAIN LESS THAN 0.05% LEAD,
1/4 THE AMOUNT ALLOWED BY EPA FOR POTABLE WATER SUPPLIES.

Compare physical properties of Johnson Standard Alloys,  melting temperature, shear strength.

Developed jointly with major automakers, GM and Ford, Johnson's #523  unique lead-free body solder is much safer to use than traditional body solders that contain lead.  Although they melt at higher temperatures which takes some adjustment in technique, they are much safer to use and they provide superior strength for filling seams, forming sculpture lines and around wheel wells, etc.  Most effective when used with  Johnson #523 Body Tinning Paste.

View our Technical Bulletin on this product.

Johnson produces a wide range of Tin/Antimony/Copper Babbitts including Grades 1, 2 & 3 in bar and wire form. Our exclusive Vacuum Casting process virtually eliminates dirt, oxidation and alloy segregation through the entire manufacturing process. Johnson's Pure Babbitt wire is drawn to to exacting tolerances for wire-feed applications.

View our Technical Bulletin on related products.

Johnson's #911 Lead-Free Galvanize Repair Solder was developed by ILZRO. It is the most effective alloy for touching-up bare spots and weld contaminated areas on galvanized surfaces. Using Johnson's Tin-Ezy Powder with Pure Tin, to pre-tin the area to be repaired, followed with a rubbing action when applying the solder, will enable quick repair of weld contaminated areas or bare spots.

View our Technical Bulletin for further details.