Gonna get a fresh spool. Am getting 63/37 lead free but, I need advice on rosin type. Which is best for our purposes?
- Rosin
- Rosin activated
- Rosin Mildly Activated
- No Clean
- Water Soluable
Always used what I had on hand or could find in the wild but, I want to get the best bang for my buck here. Advice???
63/37 is not lead-free. It is 37% lead, but it is awesome.
I'd recommend Kester 44 (it is an activated rosin core solder).
Yeah 63/37 means 63% tin, 37% lead.
I personally use Kester No-clean, and it works for 99% of operations. I keep a bottle of their '44 flux around though for the stuff the no-clean just isn't quite tough enough to cut through (really corroded "vintage" parts, for example).
If you end up liking the lead free you will be the first one I've heard that likes it. I have read countless stories of bad for soldering. You might want to first get a small amount to test it out and see what you think.
I went with the Kester 44. 63/37 Rosin Activated as per EBK 8)
Will see how it goes.
Quote from: TNblueshawk on February 22, 2018, 08:20:06 PM
If you end up liking the lead free you will be the first one I've heard that likes it. I have read countless stories of bad for soldering.
So true!
Lead-free solder eats soldering iron tips, flows like oatmeal, and makes even the best joints look like cold joints. It takes all of the joy out of soldering.
Good choice.
FWIW, water soluble MUST be cleaned thoroughly or it will eat the board. Generally not recommend unless specifically needed.
Aside from eating solder tips, I've had good luck with Mudder Activity Solder .6mm. It's mostly tin with a little silver and copper.
A 1lb spool of Kester 44 rosin core has lasted me a couple years... I think it was $25. Worth it.