It is important that a dedicated amateur constructor get a GOOD roll of solder. Honest! Really good solder is easier to use, melts at a lower temperature, (usually) and makes pretty and NON-cold joints. It took me more than 10 years, working with 60/40 solder to be shown this, as it was rubbed in my face. Take heed! Get the best SN63, or SN62(better) solder that you can find and afford. Get enough to satisfy your needs for years. You will never regret it.
I now use Wonder Solder almost exclusively because after many years I have come to appreciate how well it flows and the very low incidence of colder solder joints I have experienced. The flux is moderately activated and I understand it is around SN62, close to eutectic, however the actual mix % is proprietary, the basic solder is tin, lead, silver. It is labeled the "classic" formulation (have not tried the "classic lead free") that I use and is available in several different gauges. I get it from Michael Percy Audio.
I use lead free solders at work all of the time, and I will avoid them for home project use for as long as possible. While it seems to work reasonably well with fully vetted wave solder and IR/Vapor phase processes, hand soldering is something else again, particularly with the wrong flux. (Pretty much any of the flux my employer had on hand.)
I use lead free solders at work all of the time, and I will avoid them for home project use for as long as possible. While it seems to work reasonably well with fully vetted wave solder and IR/Vapor phase processes, hand soldering is something else again, particularly with the wrong flux. (Pretty much any of the flux my employer had on hand.)
what is the A constituent?Wavebourn said:
Can it really be specified from zero to 2%.
Maybe they forget to A in sometimes?
AndrewT said:
Don't you know Russian tolerances?
Like a barn gates, except when military is involved.
I like a smell of natural pine rosin.
According to some manufacturers, flux cored solder and flux have limited shelf life at 3 years maximum stored at low temperature.
I have more than ten years old reel of cored solder, and it still works perfectly. I tested it on a small piece of oxidised pcb material and it weted as a recently made solder. Kester explains aging of soldering wire as a degradation of flux activity, but my test did not confirm that.
Wonder solder does not contain silver.
I have more than ten years old reel of cored solder, and it still works perfectly. I tested it on a small piece of oxidised pcb material and it weted as a recently made solder. Kester explains aging of soldering wire as a degradation of flux activity, but my test did not confirm that.
Wonder solder does not contain silver.
AndrewT said:
You can assume that it is an answer on the main question, "What kind of solder do you guys like to use?".
A rosin when heated and flow trough a pipe can produce bubbles that create caveats. That means, not every millimeter of a solder pipe has an equal amount of a rosin. I can live with that. I even can live with a rosin and a solder separate.
john curl said:
About Wonder solder?
Sure, 2 contrary different opinions. That means, tastes are different.
john curl said:
I don't offer you any Russian solder. I have a little bit, for myself. As I said, I like a smell of a natural pine rosin.
Frys sells 40/60, it is very similar to a classical 39/61.
john curl said:
Flux is not necessary a clean rosin. I do not want to say that a clean rosin is the best flux, it depends; I just said that I still like that smell of my childhood. I did not use any acid, I used a clean rosin that smells remarkable. You know, like when you've probably found some toy on an attic you could smell your childhood... Dad is young and alive, mum is smiling...
"Summer time, ..." remember?
but... to solder very thin wires removing insulation, for example in dynamic microphones, I use Aspirin. It smells awfully, and I know it is harmful for health.
kamis said:
My supplier and a lot of others would probably contradict you, my understanding is that it is basically a 2% silver solder generally similar to the Sn62/Pb36/Ag2 family, in any event it costs way too much, and I actually would not use it except for the fact that I have always gotten very good results with it. (I'm a spoiled hobbyist now, but used it in my commercial products where its fuss free solder-ability was an asset.) The first few rolls I purchased did in fact mention that it was a silver bearing solder, but beyond that I have no concrete evidence. AFAIK This solder uses (used?) a pine based rosin flux as well. Certainly smells like it. I've gone through at least half dozen rolls (1/2 lb) over the course of this decade and have not had a problem with any of them. It's pretty good stuff compared to the Kester 44 I have on hand - which IMO is not bad either.
Just to be clear I am generally talking about the leaded "classic" - I have used the ultra-clear but have no specific recollections about it other than perhaps it left a little less residue after soldering.
The old .031 Radio Shack Silver solder was pretty good too.
AFAIK all lead free electronic solders contain between 2 - 4 % Ag.. (I haven't seen any that don't - of course that does not mean they don't exist.)
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