Abstract: Soft solder in the form of an extruded or cast bar or ingot is provided with a coating which prevents formation of surface oxide during storage of the bar or ingot and which acts as an anti-oxidant surface layer when the bar or ingot is used to form a molten solder bath. The coating may also act as a solder flux so that when a solder bath is formed from the soft solder bar or ingot, the anti-oxidant surface layer formed from the coating also acts as a flux composition hence obviating the necessity of employing a separate solder flux in a soldering operation in which the molten solder bath is used. The coating is formed from a coating material essentially comprising a mixture of a neutral ester of a polyhydric alcohol and an ester derivative of rosin or of a modified rosin.