Electronics > Beginners
Cored Solder - not behaving
(1/4) > >>
BenKenobi:
Posting this here to see if anyone can shed light - I'm no beginner but the responses may be useful to others.

So - I have some 60/40 Multicore branded X32C solder that just won't flow, it isn't that old, it's 3 Core 1.5%, 22awg and it simply will not flow out - even if I use a flux pen in addition. It just beads regardless of temperature, whether I use the flux pen or not it doesn't matter (I tried this because I thought that 1.5% may be too little on a repair I'm doing)

I've another roll of similar solder and it works a treat - must be 10 years old but it is absolutely no issue, 325 Deg.

Yes the area has been cleaned, yes the pads have been tinned, yes I'm using a temperature controlled iron (CSI Premier 75W), I've tried temperatures between 275 and 350, I've tried with and without flux pen - this particular roll won't work no matter what I try. I don't think in 30+ years I've encountered anything like it, tempted just to throw it out but I'm too tight fisted to do so (I have 1kg of the stuff ...)

Any suggestions ?
jmelson:

--- Quote from: BenKenobi on February 08, 2019, 12:33:38 pm ---So - I have some 60/40 Multicore branded X32C solder that just won't flow, it isn't that old, it's 3 Core 1.5%, 22awg and it simply will not flow out - even if I use a flux pen in addition. It just beads regardless of temperature, whether I use the flux pen or not it doesn't matter (I tried this because I thought that 1.5% may be too little on a repair I'm doing)

I've another roll of similar solder and it works a treat - must be 10 years old but it is absolutely no issue, 325 Deg.

Yes the area has been cleaned, yes the pads have been tinned, yes I'm using a temperature controlled iron (CSI Premier 75W), I've tried temperatures between 275 and 350, I've tried with and without flux pen - this particular roll won't work no matter what I try. I don't think in 30+ years I've encountered anything like it, tempted just to throw it out but I'm too tight fisted to do so (I have 1kg of the stuff ...)

--- End quote ---
Where did you get it from?  Are you SURE it is genuine, or could it be a fake product?  Cut it with an X-acto knife and verify it rally has the flux core(s) in it.  If you can't identify the flux core, then it is almost certainly a fake.  Have you tried soldering a bare copper wire joint?  Maybe some weird incompatibility with the plating on the PC board is causing it.

Just a few random thoughts.

Jon
BenKenobi:
Actually came from one of our workshops when it got closed down, I've only recently found it amongst all kinds of other stuff. Historically the companies supplier was RS components, I can see what appears to be a core - too small to see clearly.

It tins wires OK, but still doesn't flow how I'd expect, seems to prefer 300°C or slightly less, on vero board it doesn't work so well - it's almost 'sticky' if that makes any sense - once it is on the tip it is hard to get off (plated copper tips). To get a decent joint I need to dwell too long even with a tip far too large for what I'm doing - it almost behaves like lead free, adding extra flux from a pen doesn't seem to help.

So I did a little more research - the flux it contains is a low fume halide free, and in the document below it is rated as a '2' for working with - "2 - very difficult to work with, time consuming, solder not flowing properly"

So this is a characteristic of the solder and attempts to reduce the fumes - time to buy some good ol 5 core ...

https://www.sserc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Solder_Fume_Control.pdf
jmelson:

--- Quote from: BenKenobi on February 08, 2019, 09:55:59 pm ---
So I did a little more research - the flux it contains is a low fume halide free, and in the document below it is rated as a '2' for working with - "2 - very difficult to work with, time consuming, solder not flowing properly"

--- End quote ---
OK, if it has some low-performing flux that has THEN degraded to even worse performance, I can imagine this might be what you are experiencing.  And, some badly degraded flux might interfere with any flux you add to it.  I HAVE, a long time ago, seen some very old solders that just didn't "work" anymore.

Jon
stj:
http://www.bluethundertechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/henk_multicore_x32-10m_tds.pdf

Shelf Life: 725 Days
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod