The best solder for electronics

[mrpackethead]

IF you are worried about whiskers when using Pb Free Solder, then dont' use a Pure Tin plated PCB.   But that has'tn been really done for years.   ENIG, or HASL finish, and you wont' get whiskers.

Won't they grow out of the solder blob rather than the PCB footprint?

No.  they occur when you have pure metals ( Zinc, Tin are most common ) that are under compression.   Much myth about solder causeing the problem.   

http://flex.iconnect007.media/index.php/article/54212/get-smart-tin-whiskers-eliminated/54215/?skin=flex

[mrpackethead]

FYI. I prettyu much use Gold ENIG PCB exclusively.  the reasons lot for whiskers, its for flatness.

[magic]

No.  they occur when you have pure metals ( Zinc, Tin are most common ) that are under compression.   Much myth about solder causeing the problem.   

http://flex.iconnect007.media/index.php/article/54212/get-smart-tin-whiskers-eliminated/54215/?skin=flex

Your link seems to contradict you. It says they nickel-plate not just bare PCBs and components but wholly soldered assemblies to prevent whisker growth.

[tooki]

You guys are nuts with that eutectic obsession

It's not an "obsession" to have a preference for the superior product, especially when the added cost is truly insignificant.

That very much depends on your relative availability..

Pretty much the same solder I use daily: https://uk.farnell.com/multicore-loctite/3096525-m/solder-wire-60-40-180-deg-250g/dp/5090787
A eutectic (not 63/37 because they don't stock it..) equivalent: https://uk.farnell.com/multicore-loctite/dlmp24-250g-reel/solder-wire-lmp-0-56mm-250g/dp/419552

Truly insignificant, merely 50% more for 2% better solder.

I was specifically comparing 60/40 to 63/37. It’s not at all fair to try and discredit my statement by comparing the price of 62/36/2, which is far more expensive.

That YOU can’t get 63/37 as easily is not relevant here. The OP is in USA, where it’s widely available. Looking on Digi-Key*, using 0.8mm (0.031-0.032”) RA solder, a lb of Kester is $38.01 for 60/40 vs $39.67 for 63/37. From MG Chemicals, both cost exactly $45.26 for a lb — literally not one cent higher. And with Multicore, for 500g reels, it’s $35.21 for the 63/37 vs $36.01 for 60/40, so actually cheaper for the eutectic.

So yeah, when I say the added cost is “insignificant”, that’s an absolutely reasonable way to describe it.



*does anyone here know whether Digi-Key will ship leaded solder to Europe? If so, that’s by far the easiest way to get a great selection at low cost.

[Audioguru]

Doesn't Farnell (Element 14) sell solder in Europe at low cost?
EDIT: In Canada there is a store and its staff from India. They sell low cost surplus electronics things that companies don't need then sell to them. I buy American solder there and the tip for my Weller soldering iron. Name brand new ICs are also sold at low cost. I bought new AC adapters and clock radios for only $1.75CAN. In one of the clock radios I replaced a few coupling capacitors with higher values for good bass and connected it to a hifi speaker. It sounds great.

[tooki]

As an EU-based company (well, until brexit...), they aren’t allowed to sell leaded solder to consumers any more.

I don’t have any personal experience with Farnell since they’ve been flip-flopping about selling to consumers in Switzerland. First they could, then they couldn’t, now they can... it’s just not worth the effort to bother, since Digi-Key works so well, and ships here just as quickly at just as low a cost!

[bd139]

Yes you can't buy it now as an individual. Companies can. I had to buy my last roll of 62/36/2 via my company.

I did however pick up ten rolls of 60/40 off ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223496505388 (they take offers)

[magic]

A few months ago I was wondering about Mouser and they allowed me to put it in cart and proceed right up to payment, where I bailed out.
I think there is a good chance American suppliers will sell solder to consumers for a while, but nowadays they have some official presence in Europe too so the EU may pressure them to stop at any time.

[mrpackethead]

No.  they occur when you have pure metals ( Zinc, Tin are most common ) that are under compression.   Much myth about solder causeing the problem.   

http://flex.iconnect007.media/index.php/article/54212/get-smart-tin-whiskers-eliminated/54215/?skin=flex

Your link seems to contradict you. It says they nickel-plate not just bare PCBs and components but wholly soldered assemblies to prevent whisker growth.

what i shoudl ahve said.  Whiskers occur when you have *Some* pure metals ( Zinc and Tin are most common that are under compression.     The main point is using Lead Free Solder in itself does not cause Wisker growth.

[hunghoang]

I recommend Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station.

[RiRaRi]

I am looking for good solder for vintage audio equipment from 1970s and 1980s. Want to go with Kester 63/37 as i think that is the best one. But my concern is should i buy Rosin core, RMA, or RA for vintage audio from 70s and 80s. Someone will say it is the same but there is more probability for corrosion or RA and it should be fully cleaned. What do you use?

[Psi]

I like Kester 67/37, RMA, series/flux type 285

I have a dual stack solder reel holder with 0.8mm and 0.3mm

I am looking for good solder for vintage audio equipment from 1970s and 1980s. Want to go with Kester 63/37 as i think that is the best one. But my concern is should i buy Rosin core, RMA, or RA for vintage audio from 70s and 80s. Someone will say it is the same but there is more probability for corrosion or RA and it should be fully cleaned. What do you use?

From the Kester product sheet for 285
The fluxing ability of 285 is much greater than ordinary mildly activated rosin fluxes and is comparable to fully activated rosin fluxes
...
285 flux residues are non-corrosive, non-conducting and do not require removal in most applications

You get RA but only have to deal with RMA

You can also choose between 1.1% 2.2% or 3.3% flux content if working with heavily oxidized parts.

The main downside is it's a bit pricy. But comparable to other high end solders.
Although, looking on digikey it seems to have dropped it price, used to be over NZD$100 for a 500g roll, now it's $70

[Simmed]

i heard about eutectic 58Bi/42Sn
does anybody have experience using this ?

does anyone use this exclusively as their best pick ?

[kuwoyuki]

Honestly, there are good Chinese brands like "Mechanic", the HX-T100 63/37 is great. Or "HIROSAKI" (supposedly Japanese but actually Chinese) and the quality is surprisingly decent