Heat sink

[hortonstn]

What is a heat sink and how is it used in soldering?
Thanks

[RAT]

A heat sink absorbs heat which prevents the heat from reaching an adjoining area. It generally does this through mass. A heavy piece of metal will absorb heat and dissipate it more slowly. In soldering... you can make one solder joint... then place a heat sink between the first joint and the next one you want to make. This prevents the heat from the second joint from melting the solder and compromising the first joint.

[Daryl]

If you were to clamp a barrel into a bench vice with metal jaws, then tried to solder right in the middle of where it is held tightly, the vice becomes a heat sink, drawing the heat away
& you will have a devil of a time getting the barrel hot enough to solder anything to it. That would be a heat sink where you don't want it. By the same token, you could solder on either side of the vice, without effecting the joint you just made on the other side. The vice would act like a heat sink and protect the first soldering joint.

[hortonstn]

Thanks