Author Topic: Choosing solder  (Read 4134 times)

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Offline oliver602Topic starter

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Choosing solder
« on: December 01, 2011, 06:14:44 pm »
Im going to do a fair amount of SMD soldering on a project soon. I use standard 60/40 tin/lead solder with rosin core. It's awg22 and I find it a bit big to do a tidy job reasonably quickly. I looked for some fine solder, 26awg ish, of the same composition but couldn't get any.

I have had a look on Rapid Electronics and RS and the selection is a bit overwhelming!

So far I've established that I should stick with leaded solder.

Other than that, what about choosing flux? no clean? low fuming? rosin free? silver loaded?  low melting point? less lead and more tin? with copper? It's all a bit confusing. What are the pros and cons of these different compositions?

Thanks
 

Offline Balaur

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Re: Choosing solder
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2011, 06:32:46 pm »
Hello,

Could I ask you what is your SMD soldering technique?

I'm sorry to be a bit presumptuous, and I'm quite sure that you already know and practice this, but you should not directly use the solder with the SMD pad. The correct procedure consists in using a lot of flux on the pads and a bit of solder on the solder pencil tip.

In this scenario, the actual solder size is not relevant.

Personally, I prefer any good quality, recent 60/40 lead with rosin core and a no-clean, tacky, syringe dispensed flux.

Cheers,
Dan
 

Offline oliver602Topic starter

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Re: Choosing solder
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2011, 06:47:12 pm »
Thanks Balaur! I haven't been using that technique. Great video
 

Offline Neilm

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Re: Choosing solder
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2011, 07:26:04 pm »
Dave also did a couple of videos on the subject.

Neil
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein
Tesla referral code https://ts.la/neil53539
 

Offline robrenz

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Re: Choosing solder
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2011, 07:38:09 pm »
I like the rosin core 63/37 solder it has a single melting point and melts ever so slightly lower than 60/40
Kester SN63PB37 44/66 Rosin Cored Wire Solder Dia. .025   1lb $21.63

Offline sonicj

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Re: Choosing solder
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2011, 08:18:02 pm »
I like the rosin core 63/37 solder it has a single melting point and melts ever so slightly lower than 60/40
Kester SN63PB37 44/66 Rosin Cored Wire Solder Dia. .025   1lb $21.63
+1 but i like the .015 dia
 


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