EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: houdini on August 09, 2012, 08:14:39 pm
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eBay auction: #http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300756185538
i was wondering if this would be a good general electronics solder but i beleive dave said something about active cores being bad for electronics so im not sure.
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Your link is unavailable.
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Your link is unavailable.
No, his link is malformed.
That should be ideal for electronics work, but you'll probably want to make sure you clean the flux residue off.
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Try http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300756185538 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300756185538)
$7 for 1lb seems good value, Farnell want nearly $70 (converting the UK price back to $) for that much, before shipping & tax.
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Shipping is a big factor, if you have access to a local supplier get it there.
Personally I like kester or multicore, quality solder makes life easier.
...mike
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so if i found one thats not mildly active would i not have to clean it up?
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so if i found one thats not mildly active would i not have to clean it up?
You also have to clean RMA up
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Kester 44 or 48 is great stuff.
I exclusively use it. Great stuff.
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Multicore branded solder is what you want :)
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We use the Multicore Crystal 511 leaded solder at work. It's one we settled on after trying many different types.
Nice and easy to use; no clean and low spitting. It's amazing how much difference a good solder can make when assembling boards.
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I've recently started working with Kester 44 63/37 solder. What a world of difference compared to what I was using...
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Multicore 502 user here ... it's a pleasure to solder with it.
63/37 no clean 0.56 mm
It was discontinued by Multicore a few months ago (they're probably discontinuing everything they have with Lead).
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Consensus seems to be Multicore or Kester. Those are two quality brands.
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It was discontinued by Multicore a few months ago (they're probably discontinuing everything they have with Lead).
We better stock up then! :o
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If you're doing small SMD you really want 0.3mm
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Not sure if Multicore is an European thing or whatnot but I don't think Kester has any intention of discontinuing leaded solder and Kester "48" is really good low spatter stuff.
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We use 0.71mm solder down to 0603 SMD and pretty pine pitch IC packages.
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Yes. Since your eBay link looks to be from the American eBay, I'll assume you're American. (Might want to update your location)
Here the equivalent would be 0.031" diameter. That will do the trick. Don't want bigger. You can go smaller if you choose though.
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Not sure if Multicore is an European thing or whatnot but I don't think Kester has any intention of discontinuing leaded solder and Kester "48" is really good low spatter stuff.
Yeah man! i use 58 but splatter is basically inexistent ...
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Not sure if Multicore is an European thing or whatnot but I don't think Kester has any intention of discontinuing leaded solder and Kester "48" is really good low spatter stuff.
Funny enough, the Multicore is mostly sold by Digikey, Farnell doesn't have a large selection.
The email i got from Digikey was on the 26th of March this year:
The manufacturer has announced this part(s) will become obsolete. Please click on the link below for more information on possible substitutes.
HENKEL/MULTICORE
Description: 63/37 CRYSL 502 2% .022DIA/24SWG
Manufacturer Part Number: 386851
Digi-Key Part Number: 82-129-ND
So this particular one will be obsolete ... but it could be just this mix of flux percentage + quantity + Pb/Sn ratio that's "obsolete".
Digikey still has a lot of Multicore spools and other brands : http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en/soldering-desoldering-rework-products/solder/1310838 (http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en/soldering-desoldering-rework-products/solder/1310838)
I wanted a no-clean 63/37 spool with reasonable amount of flux and small diameter at that time, and this one had the best price and hit most checkboxes. Now I see they have 0.39 mm diameter spools for 16$ (227g). Seems like a good price if you have to buy other stuff from Digikey (so you get free shipping).
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Not sure if Multicore is an European thing or whatnot but I don't think Kester has any intention of discontinuing leaded solder and Kester "48" is really good low spatter stuff.
Isn't Multicore an American brand?
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Isn't Multicore an American brand?
I don't think so, unless the original company got bought out. "Ersin Multicore" was everywhere and ubiquitous in the UK, but I have found it very hard to find in the US. Almost nobody stocks it.
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What can you say about this solder wire http://dx.com/p/0-6mm-solder-wire-200g-4643?item=13 (http://dx.com/p/0-6mm-solder-wire-200g-4643?item=13)
or this one http://dx.com/p/vintage-0-5mm-solder-core-wire-2-7m-length-119948?item=50 (http://dx.com/p/vintage-0-5mm-solder-core-wire-2-7m-length-119948?item=50)
Cynel (Topnikem), Pros'kit - worth it?
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or this one http://dx.com/p/vintage-0-5mm-solder-core-wire-2-7m-length-119948?item=50 (http://dx.com/p/vintage-0-5mm-solder-core-wire-2-7m-length-119948?item=50)
Cynel (Topnikem), Pros'kit - worth it?
I have this one and it came 60/40, not 63/37 as the ad says. No problem with that but the quality is very poor. The solder "granulates" and the flux smells very bad.
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Kester 44 or 48 is great stuff.
I exclusively use it. Great stuff.
Could not find the 48, is it lead free?
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We better stock up then! :o
I was thinking about that but don't they have expiration date?
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I have had great sucsess using multicore 0.63mm 60/40 in combination with a liquid rosin.
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Brand is irrelevant.
what you want is a 63/37 mixture with an RMA flux in it.
Stay away from 60/40 mixes. they are low-grade and stay tacky to long.
Only use water soluble flxes if you can wsh the board afterwards ! water soluble fluxes are hygroscopic and become conductive if you leave them on.
RA (rosin - Activated) flux absoutely needs to be cleaned off as it is very agressive. RMA (rosin - mildly activated) needs to be cleaned as well. Especially if you have been 'cooking it ' so it leaves a dark brown (caramel colored) or darker residue. you have been carbonising it and the result is a conductivity in the megaohms range. besides RA and RMA are corrosive.
no-clean or low-solids is the best for rework. low-solids evaporates completely during soldering. no-clean can be left on.
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no-clean or low-solids is the best for rework. low-solids evaporates completely during soldering. no-clean can be left on.
Can you give me an example of a low solid flux?
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kester 951
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Thanks! I will test it for rework, I'm sick of tacky flux.
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Watch out for solder sold as NOS. Old solder has had the rosin core age and it will smell awful every time you use it.
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Here is a great you tube vid from pace Basic Soldering Lesson 1 - "Solder & Flux" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIT4ra6Mo0s#)
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kester 951
Where that can be ordered? :)
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Where that can be ordered? :)
I have found it on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=kester+951&_sacat=0&_from=R40 (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=kester+951&_sacat=0&_from=R40)
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kester 951
Where that can be ordered? :)
almost everywhere. even amazon sells it .. duh !
http://www.all-spec.com/products/KF95100.html?gclid=CO2W4LS7iLMCFSmCQgodqkIA8Q (http://www.all-spec.com/products/KF95100.html?gclid=CO2W4LS7iLMCFSmCQgodqkIA8Q)
http://www.cmlsupply.com/kester-951-flux-pen.html?gclid=CIuvn7a7iLMCFQSCQgodxGgADA (http://www.cmlsupply.com/kester-951-flux-pen.html?gclid=CIuvn7a7iLMCFQSCQgodxGgADA)
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Kester/83-1000-0951/?qs=%2fha2pyFadui4091nrzRLmZFLksh%252bAuJrHQoPV8mrX8M%3d (http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Kester/83-1000-0951/?qs=%2fha2pyFadui4091nrzRLmZFLksh%252bAuJrHQoPV8mrX8M%3d)
http://www.amazon.com/Kester-951-Soldering-Low-Solids-No-Clean/dp/B004X4KOWS (http://www.amazon.com/Kester-951-Soldering-Low-Solids-No-Clean/dp/B004X4KOWS)
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If Farnell is more convenient, they also have it:
http://uk.farnell.com/kester-solder/83-1000-0951/chemicals-solder/dp/1925200 (http://uk.farnell.com/kester-solder/83-1000-0951/chemicals-solder/dp/1925200)
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I use Kester 44 with 63/37 composition for everything, and it leaves a little bit of brown crust on the PCB. It's really hard to clean off, even with isopropyl alcohol, so it is absolutely required that I clean this rosin off after the solder job? I'm not really sure what type of flux it is (activated or mildly activated).
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According to Kester's "Data Sheet" on Kester 44, you dont need to clean it off for "many applications".
Can get the datasheets here:
http://www.kester.com/SideMenu/Products/HandSolderingMaterials/CoredSolderWire/tabid/259/Default.aspx (http://www.kester.com/SideMenu/Products/HandSolderingMaterials/CoredSolderWire/tabid/259/Default.aspx)
Kester 44 possesses excellent fluxing ability, the flux residue is non-corrosive and non-conductive under normal conditions of use. When exposed to an elevated temperature and humidity environment (38°C, 94% RH) for 72 hours, there is no evidence of corrosion caused by the flux residue. Throughout its many years of wide usage, 44 Rosin Flux has produced many billions of soldered connections. In all these billions of solder joints, involving the most delicate and critical of electrical and electronic components, there has never been an authentic instance of corrosion by the flux residue under normal conditions of use. This mild property of the residue permits leaving the flux on the assembly for many applications.
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What the heck does "normal conditions" and "many applications" stand for? hehehehe
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no high voltage ( where it can be conductive ) or high impedant circuitry / precision circuitry
no rf where it can also have an impact. flux can even form a complex impedance epsecially if little balls of solder get trapped in it ...
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I prefere Kester 44 too. Sadly I run out of stock. Now I am using some other 60/40 solder. Works well enough for what I am doing (no graining), but I plan to stock up on Kester 44 again, once I used up all that other soler.
Cheers,
Florian
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Nah, i have 0.4mm Core Size 58 Flux 245 No-clean flux solder around. It's the best solder ever!
http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com/product-detail.aspx?pn=419-829 (http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com/product-detail.aspx?pn=419-829)
Flows easily and instantly solidifies (Yes i hate 60/40 for that!)
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I also prefer to use Kester 44 (.5mm/.020").
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If I own 0.5 mm solder (kester brand) do you think its worth going lower, to say 0.38 mm solder, for fine pitch SMD stuff?
Basically what is the narrowest solder it is practical to own? Someone wrote 0.3mm, but I can't seem to find that dimension.
I'm having a slightly hard time believing that a 0.12 mm difference is going to be significant but I'd like to be proved wrong (and become 30$ poorer!!!)
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I think if you're going to use anything smaller than 0.5mm/0.20", then it's probably easier to use solder paste and hot air instead of solder wire and iron.
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sounds right to me :D
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By the way, what is a good soldering paste that's recommended?
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Well it's about time I get a new solder as well, as I don't want to waste the Cardas for general electronics :)
I've noticed this one on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kester-44-Rosin-Core-Solder-63-37-020-1-lb-Spool-24-6337-0010-/230858963365?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c04439a5 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kester-44-Rosin-Core-Solder-63-37-020-1-lb-Spool-24-6337-0010-/230858963365?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c04439a5)
The price is 9$ lower than the other Kester 44 sale he has, as he states its "surplus". Any thoughts about which of the 2 I should go for?
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In theory, solder has a shelf life, so I would guess that surplus solder on eBay is beyond the shelf-life. It won't kill you like drinking milk a year after it expires, bit it could be a pain in the arse to work with.
Here is Kester's shelf-life policy for rosin core: in short, 3-year life.
http://www.kester.com/portals/0/knowledge_base_articles/shelf_life_policy.pdf (http://www.kester.com/portals/0/knowledge_base_articles/shelf_life_policy.pdf)
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In theory, solder has a shelf life, so I would guess that surplus solder on eBay is beyond the shelf-life. It won't kill you like drinking milk a year after it expires, bit it could be a pain in the arse to work with.
It will work fine. I got some kester solder for cheap off ebay but it was about 10 years old. Nothing wrong with its performance, but it has the most awful smell, about like mildewed clothing burning every time I use it.
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It will work fine. I got some kester solder for cheap off ebay but it was about 10 years old. Nothing wrong with its performance, but it has the most awful smell, about like mildewed clothing burning every time I use it.
I think I would rather pay the extra money to avoid the wrath of the wife when it comes to producing smells reminiscent of burning mildew.
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I have some solder that's more than 25 years old, it works just fine. It's actually better than some of the newer solder I have. And there's no funky smells.
The quality is probably a factor, I remember it was expensive.
But the reel is smashed so I can't read the label. :P