I was using the Radio Shack
RadioShack® Lead-Free Solder (SnCu) 0.032"
SN 99.3/CU 0.7
Catalog #: 6400218
Melting point 227°C/440.6°F
I really liked it, it flowed well and I rarely got cold joints with it. Now that my local shack has closed and this specific solder is not available I began to wonder what everyone else is using and why you chose it. I am currently using the
MG Chemicals silver solder
96.5% tin, 0.5% copper and 3% silver
Melting Point 217-221ºC (422.6 - 429.8ºF)
and am having a ton of cold joints even after reflowing. So I am looking for a replacement.
Kester 63/37 eutectic solder. Because I'm lazy and it's really good solder. The eutectic blend makes it almost impossible to get a cold joint.
I think someone makes a eutectic lead free solder that's supposedly really good. Saw it on sparkfun maybe?
EDIT: yep https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10242
Thanks I will check it out
Quote from: kgull on May 10, 2015, 09:18:05 AM
Kester 63/37 eutectic solder. Because I'm lazy and it's really good solder. The eutectic blend makes it almost impossible to get a cold joint.
I think someone makes a eutectic lead free solder that's supposedly really good. Saw it on sparkfun maybe?
EDIT: yep https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10242
Same here. Kester 63/37
Unless you are building production pedals, I'd skip the lead free solder. It's more expensive and not as good as the leaded type.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I run my digital CSI solder station @ 750 degrees and would nearly burn the board up with the MG solder and still get that cold joint look. I figured it has to be the solder. I just placed an order for the eutectic blend solder and will give it a go.
Quote from: Schectadon on May 10, 2015, 10:41:15 AM
I run my digital CSI solder station @ 750 degrees and would nearly burn the board up with the MG solder and still get that cold joint look. I figured it has to be the solder. I just placed an order for the eutectic blend solder and will give it a go.
It could also be your soldering tip. Does the tip take solder well or does it kind of blob up when you tin it?
750F should be plenty of heat.
Might be torching the flux, if it's vaporizing before it can clean the joint you'll get a cold joint. Try a nice fat chisel tip, some extra flux and turning the heat down a bit.
Well, 750 might be a touch high, but I always solder at 720 without issue. The trick to using higher heat is reducing dwell time. If you dwell too long, you can cook out the flux as kgull mentioned.
It really depends on what type of flux is in the solder. I usaully do board work with a high capacity chisel tip at 650F but for other stuff like tinning wire etc, I'll bump up the heat a bit. Dave Jones explains the differences pretty well in this video:
In the end though, it really comes down to lead-free being a pain in the ass to work with. Avoid it if you can.
i use 0.032 chinese 63/37 no clean solder available in 1kg (2.2 lb) spools. never a cold joint and lasts foreeeeever. a spool runs about 42.50 after shipping.
Using the radio shack solder I was getting great results and very few cold joints. The MG solder seems to be 9 out of 10 turn out as a cold joint.
Tip takes solder evenly. I am using a fine conical tip (http://www.circuitspecialists.com/tip-f-csi936-solder-iron.html), maybe need to try out a chisel tip.
My solder station - http://www.circuitspecialists.com/soldering-station-60-watt-3dlf.html
That silver solder never leaves a shiny joint. As soon as it hardens it turns cloudy just about every time in my experience. I use the kester 63/37 .031 and it's great.
Steve.
Quote from: kgull on May 10, 2015, 11:26:48 AM
It really depends on what type of flux is in the solder. I usaully do board work with a high capacity chisel tip at 650F but for other stuff like tinning wire etc, I'll bump up the heat a bit. Dave Jones explains the differences pretty well in this video:
Yeowch! Every now and again I trawl the Bay and think about getting one of those. Not now!
I think I'll probably wind up using my 40W pencil ("garbage") until it breaks.
Finally watched the video. Yeeehawwwww lol. Kinda make you wonder if you bought a hakko solder station from eBay if it is actually counterfeit.
Quote from: Haberdasher on May 10, 2015, 11:34:12 AM
i use 0.032 chinese 63/37 no clean solder available in 1kg (2.2 lb) spools. never a cold joint and lasts foreeeeever. a spool runs about 42.50 after shipping.
Could you share link for it :D I have solder few more pedals, so it would be great to grab this..
Quote from: brejna on May 11, 2015, 04:56:54 AM
Quote from: Haberdasher on May 10, 2015, 11:34:12 AM
i use 0.032 chinese 63/37 no clean solder available in 1kg (2.2 lb) spools. never a cold joint and lasts foreeeeever. a spool runs about 42.50 after shipping.
Could you share link for it :D I have solder few more pedals, so it would be great to grab this..
Sure man, here you go. http://www.morseexpress.com/tools/#econs
It's in the US. I have no idea what shipping to you would be...
Quote from: Haberdasher on May 11, 2015, 05:03:23 AM
Quote from: brejna on May 11, 2015, 04:56:54 AM
Quote from: Haberdasher on May 10, 2015, 11:34:12 AM
i use 0.032 chinese 63/37 no clean solder available in 1kg (2.2 lb) spools. never a cold joint and lasts foreeeeever. a spool runs about 42.50 after shipping.
Could you share link for it :D I have solder few more pedals, so it would be great to grab this..
Sure man, here you go. http://www.morseexpress.com/tools/#econs
It's in the US. I have no idea what shipping to you would be...
Thanks, I envy you guys from USA.. So many things for best prices..
Quote from: alanp on May 10, 2015, 09:23:30 PM
Quote from: kgull on May 10, 2015, 11:26:48 AM
It really depends on what type of flux is in the solder. I usaully do board work with a high capacity chisel tip at 650F but for other stuff like tinning wire etc, I'll bump up the heat a bit. Dave Jones explains the differences pretty well in this video:
Yeowch! Every now and again I trawl the Bay and think about getting one of those. Not now!
I think I'll probably wind up using my 40W pencil ("garbage") until it breaks.
Just realized I posted the wrong video, that's what I get for posting from my phone ::)
This is the one I meant to post, he starts talking about flux and solder around 9:30 and tips around 17:30.
So i bit the bullet and decided to buy both brand to do a side by side comparison.
Sparkfun https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10243
Kester http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068IJPO/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Either way I am set for a long time with solder.