What is a soldering and brazing mat?

A soldering and brazing mat is a heatproof mat, which protects your work surface from potential heat damage when soldering or brazing metal pieces. It can be used for:

• Preventing solder drips from ruining surfaces

• Resisting scorch marks and flame damage

• Avoiding ignition of flammable material

These mats can be used for both soldering and brazing.

Some mats, however, have a higher temperature rating than others.  These are ideal for the higher temperature brazing work.

Where can I use a soldering and brazing mat?

The soldering and brazing process is intensely hot stuff!  

We're talking temperatures from 90 degrees C to over 600 degrees C.

Electricians, plumbers and a wide range of tradesmen will often have to solder during the course of their work.

For example, electricians solder electrical wiring and components to printed circuit boards...

...while plumbers make permanent but reversible connections between copper pipes in domestic heating systems.

Silversmiths and jewellers use solder to join precious and semi-precious such as gold, silver and brass. 

And not only is soldering used for commercial applications such as plumbing and metal working, it is also used widely in the home too:

• Electronic kits, music and audio, gadgets and hobbies

• Arts and crafts projects such as glass art, even fusing together fabric!

• Cookware repair

• Connecting guitar wire to the lugs on a guitar

Furthermore, all this soldering does not always take place on a suitable work bench!  A soldering and brazing mat will protect most areas including:

• Decorative surfaces

• Table tops

• Walls and carpet

• Wood and timber

• Wiring and piping