Solder Paste

[John80]

I was searching the forum and the net about a cheap solder paste for hobby projects. It seems that the eBay ones are cheap but not good quality and the ones came from shops like Farnell and RS are really expensive.

Is it posible to propose any good non lead free solder paste from eBay (that you have used before with reasonably good results) or from any other online shop (preferably a shop that can ship to Europe without to much extra cost)?

[T4P]

I don't know what you have been looking for but the ones i have been using have been fantastic
http://dx.com/p/lodestar-soldering-paste-50g-4711?item=3

[8086]

If you search for "mechanic" solder paste you can get 50g (well, usually they are about 30g, since they lie about the weight) - it works pretty well and the small quantity makes it cheap.

[John80]

I don't know what you have been looking for but the ones i have been using have been fantastic
http://dx.com/p/lodestar-soldering-paste-50g-4711?item=3

I will have a look at this paste... I know Deal Extreme from previous transactions but almost always it takes more than 30Days for an item to be at my frond door

If you search for "mechanic" solder paste you can get 50g (well, usually they are about 30g, since they lie about the weight) - it works pretty well and the small quantity makes it cheap.

You mean something like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/50g-Mechanic-Soldering-Solder-Welding-Paste-Flux-MCN-300-SMD-SMT-Sn63-Pb37-Tool-/300716257323?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item460415f02b

[8086]

If you search for "mechanic" solder paste you can get 50g (well, usually they are about 30g, since they lie about the weight) - it works pretty well and the small quantity makes it cheap.

You mean something like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/50g-Mechanic-Soldering-Solder-Welding-Paste-Flux-MCN-300-SMD-SMT-Sn63-Pb37-Tool-/300716257323?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item460415f02b

That's the one.

[T4P]

The lodestar one is actual 50g instead of the mechanics "50g"

[Nirios]

What about using Wahl Silver Solder Paste 7459?  It's avail at Mouser for $5 a tube.

or Solder-It Silver Bearing Solder Paste (available at Lowes for $3.5 a tube)

[gxti]

If it's at Lowes, then it's for plumbing, not electronics, and will either not work or significantly shorten the life of your boards.

[Nirios]

If it's at Lowes, then it's for plumbing, not electronics, and will either not work or significantly shorten the life of your boards.

The description for it says: Great for Electronics, extremely high electrical conductivity.  The manufacturers website says similar.

They do have another type of paste that is for copper pipes which appears to be formulated lead-free for plumbing.

I was just curious if anyone has had experience with it.  For the price, I'm going to get a tube, one of my old scrap boards and see how it works.

The MSDS sheet says its made of:
TIN < 80%
SILVER < 5%
BISMUTH < 5%
PETROLATUM < 29%
GLYCERINE < 6%
ZINC AMMONIA CHLORIDE < 2%

[mikeselectricstuff]

I've used these :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Japan-Senju-Soldering-Repair-Sparkle-Paste-Paster-500g-/251061263512?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item3a746adc98

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Japan-Flux-Grease-Gel-Repair-Solder-Paste-MK-50L-500g-/251061264162?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item3a746adf22

I prefer the first as it seems to flow better in the oven - parts self-align more easily.
Note these are for printing, not dispensing so fairly high viscosity

[T4P]

The description for it says: Great for Electronics, extremely high electrical conductivity.  The manufacturers website says similar.

I wouldn't be surprised if it melts at a high temp because it's lead free plus i'm afraid it might be ACID core flux, that stuff ruins electronics well in fact it melts at the same temp as Sn96Ag3Cu0.5 and definitely for plumbing

I prefer the first as it seems to flow better in the oven - parts self-align more easily.
Note these are for printing, not dispensing so fairly high viscosity

Both do not disclose their mixture   
I have seen Sn42Bi58 500g Solder on taobao for 20SGD, not sure if you can find them on ebay. They melt even way lower than 63/37 and i guess it's pretty much what the chipquik uses (but they charge excessive price)

[Nirios]

I wouldn't be surprised if it melts at a high temp because it's lead free plus i'm afraid it might be ACID core flux, that stuff ruins electronics well in fact it melts at the same temp as Sn96Ag3Cu0.5 and definitely for plumbing

Manufacturer website says it flows at 430 F.  Is that too high?  I thought that temperature is in between leaded and lead-free solders.  From the MSDS sheet, ZINC AMMONIA CHLORIDE is used as the flux.  I'm not a chemist, so I couldn't say how acidic that would be to electronic components.

[T4P]

Manufacturer website says it flows at 430 F.  Is that too high?  I thought that temperature is in between leaded and lead-free solders.  From the MSDS sheet, ZINC AMMONIA CHLORIDE is used as the flux.  I'm not a chemist, so I couldn't say how acidic that would be to electronic components.

Okay, it's fine as a electronics flux. But seriously 430F is not between lead and lead-free it's LEAD-FREE