ODP: ODP: Enlighten a semi-novice

[KA4HJH]

>Oh, the flux I had in mind was this sticky pink greasy stuff in a tobacco tin
>that is about as corrosive as aqua regia.. I only use it when "all else fails"
>trying to solder earth wires onto the bodies of corroded pots..

Ah, aqua regia...one of my favorite vapors... 8-P

>there are many many types of flux.. I remember using solid ammonium chloride
>blocks as a child!

Ah, NH3Cl, the old "smokescreen". We used to open reagent bottles of HCL
and NH4 and leave the room while the chemistry teacher was gone. 8-)

I'll never forget the time we had to refill the ammonia bottle. I held the
funnel and the teacher poured. I yanked out the funnel and jammed in the
stopper while he slapped the cap back on the carboy. Then we RAN. I don't
think I came so close to passing out in my life. Took a while for the room
to air out.  X-O

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"