Buying Solder

[Legion]

I'm putting together a shopping list from Dave's How To Set Up An Electronics Lab video. I'm having trouble finding solder that meets his suggestions of 60/40 rosin core under 0.5mm with flux. My local electronics shop list of solder is here: http://www.active123.com/SOLDER-WIRE-Prodlist.html

None are under 0.5mm, the smallest is ~0.6mm. Does the percentage of flux matter? Is 2.2% good? The closest I could find to his suggestions is this one: http://www.active123.com/4884454G-Sn63Pb37-Rosin-Core-0025-inch-Dia-Prodview.html
Is that good enough? Or do I need to widen my net and import solder from the states? (I'm in Toronto, Canada).

[AG6QR]

That should be fine.  The precise diameter of the solder isn't critical, but smaller diameter makes it easier to control the amount of solder going into the joint, thus avoiding getting too much solder in your joints.  For this purpose, the difference between 0.5mm and 0.025in is small enough not to be practically significant, and I have to wonder how precisely the dimensional tolerances are held in solder wire, anyway.  It wouldn't shock me if the manufacturer took solder of exactly the same diameter, and labelled it 0.5mm or 0.025inch, depending on which country they were sending it to.

I'll note that the same company also offers 60/40 rosin core solder with the same diameter, if you want 60/40 instead of 63/37.  Personally, I don't have a strong preference either way, so I'm not trying to steer you toward 60/40, but since you mentioned that's what you were looking for...

[nanofrog]

MG Chemicals makes good stuff, so I wouldn't worry about the brand. Others would be Kester, Mutlicore (Henkel), Indium, AIM (American Iron & Metals), and Alpha Metals for example, with various choices of flux type, and % of flux content. Kester and AIM are easier to find in my experience, and from the right place, can be had less expensively than Indium, Multicore, or AlphaMetals. All-Spec is usually good on Kester, and Stanley Supply is also running a sale on Kester right now.

Kester 44 would be one to look at IMHO (offer both 60/40 and 63/37 alloy, rosin core, flux core = 66, which is 6.6%; links are for .025" diameter). Not sure of a specific vendor located in CAN though, and I don't know how bad shipping across the border will impact your wallet.

As mentioned, the differences between metric and imperial measurements regarding diameter aren't really a concern (close enough will do). Dave's accustomed to metric units (what most of the world uses), so that's what he stated in the video.  So if say .025" is the closest to what you're after for solder diameter, then go for it. That happens to be a very nice size IMHO, as it's usable for both PTH and SMD while still allowing for a good bit of control as to how much is fed to a joint.

You can always fold it over on itself and twist if you need more solder for say tinning something like a 10AWG wire if needed (reduces the time needed). Can't go smaller though, so if you find you need it, then you'll have to buy some. But the folding trick can keep you from having to buy so many different wire sizes (fewer larger sizes needed).

[Legion]

Thanks for the replies. I ended up getting a 1lb spool of MG Chemicals 60/40, 2.2% flux, 0.025".

[true]

.025" is about the smallest I would go. I have smaller and find it's never as useful as I had hoped it would be. I usually use .032" for most stuff (Kester 285, RMA 63/37 3.3% 0.8mm), and have .025" for rare occasions.

I do have a similar MG Chem solder: 63/37 RA flux 2.2% .025", I use it at work and occasionally at home, and it works well, the flux action maybe only a bit worse than the Kester but that's likely because of flux content or core size rather than effectiveness. Shouldn't go smelling it but the stuff is pretty nasty so if you don't have a vent or fan it'll help keep you away The RA flux MG uses also likes a lower temp than most other solders. You'll do well with it, and 1lb will last close to a lifetime

Edit: Links to what I discussed in this post:
Kester 285 24-6337-9710  (wow this stuff has gone down in price, it was already cheap when I got it but this is even cheaper)
MG Chemicals 4884-454G

flux core = 66, which is 6.6%

Actually it is 3.3%, 58 is 2.2%, 50 is 1.1%

[nanofrog]

Actually it is 3.3%, 58 is 2.2%, 50 is 1.1%

Oops.  Good catch. 

[Prime73]

I buy this one and it seems ok to me:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231022727204&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:CA:3160

I'm putting together a shopping list from Dave's How To Set Up An Electronics Lab video. I'm having trouble finding solder that meets his suggestions of 60/40 rosin core under 0.5mm with flux. My local electronics shop list of solder is here: http://www.active123.com/SOLDER-WIRE-Prodlist.html

None are under 0.5mm, the smallest is ~0.6mm. Does the percentage of flux matter? Is 2.2% good? The closest I could find to his suggestions is this one: http://www.active123.com/4884454G-Sn63Pb37-Rosin-Core-0025-inch-Dia-Prodview.html
Is that good enough? Or do I need to widen my net and import solder from the states? (I'm in Toronto, Canada).

[Psi]

I dunno, that seems a little too cheap to me. But if it works for you

0.3mm for SMD and around 0.7mm for TH is a good rule of thumb
Trying to use 0.7 on SMD usually results in large blobs
Trying to use 0.3 on TH is just annoying, you keep having to pull more solder off the real, sometimes even in the middle of soldering something.

Pretty much any brand of leaded electronic solder sold at a realistic price will work fine, but when it comes to solder braid/wick ya want the chemtronics stuff. It's seriously 10 times better than most other brands.

[true]

Trying to use 0.7 on SMD usually results in large blobs

I use 0.8 on SMD just fine... the finest I tend to do by hand though is usually .5mm, I haven't yet been required to shrink for space nor have I run into a device I wanted to use that was only available smaller than this. Using smaller solder wire hasn't ever really helped.

Pretty much any brand of leaded electronic solder sold at a realistic price will work fine, but when it comes to solder braid/wick ya want the chemtronics stuff. It's seriously 10 times better than most other brands.

I have both Chemtronics and Techspray, and I find the Techspray works WAY better than the equivalent Chemtronics. Both are new.

Dunno :/

[nanofrog]

I have both Chemtronics and Techspray, and I find the Techspray works WAY better than the equivalent Chemtronics. Both are new.

Wick or solder?    

Can't recall Techspray's wick, but have had excellent service from Chemtronics.

[scientist]

That's a buttload of solder.





literally.

[true]

I have both Chemtronics and Techspray, and I find the Techspray works WAY better than the equivalent Chemtronics. Both are new.

Wick or solder?    

They are known for solder too?

Was referring to solder wick. Techspray wick works really well. I hear good things about both, just sharing anecdotes.

[nanofrog]

I have both Chemtronics and Techspray, and I find the Techspray works WAY better than the equivalent Chemtronics. Both are new.

Wick or solder?    

They are known for solder too?

Was referring to solder wick. Techspray wick works really well. I hear good things about both, just sharing anecdotes.

I was trying to point out a potential for confusion with a joke that didn't quite work (reader may not have known Techspray doesn't offer solder). 

Generally speaking, name brands will do you well for consumables. But at least for desolder wick, Chemtronics does seem to have a bit better performance from anything else I recall using (been quite a while for most of it). FWIW, an alternative I'll buy if Chemtronics isn't available (i.e. topping off an order to qualify for free shipping), is MG Chemicals.