60/40 solder. What brand

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norburybrook
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand

Post by norburybrook »

After a similar recommendation I purchased a roll of Kester solder for my first proper build..........it changed my soldering life in an instant. Lovely shiny joints everytime :D

so another big +1 for Kester.


M
RockinRocket
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand

Post by RockinRocket »

I'm really liking that Kester.

This stuff is a lot less toxic than that Radio Shack brand if breathed and the flux's smoke are easier on the eyes :mrgreen: .
Pierre
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand (what dia.?)

Post by Pierre »

What diameter solder is everyone using? I too started with some big fat radio shack solder. When I ran out I picked up some really thin .025 MG 63/37 solder thinking it would be more precise. A few years later, I'm not so sure.
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M Fowler
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand

Post by M Fowler »

Kester .31 is my favorite but I am using .44 right now but feels too thick but it covers the eyelets nicely.

Mark
Pierre
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand

Post by Pierre »

Cool! Thanks Mark, I'll give that a try.
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Mr. dB
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand

Post by Mr. dB »

va3dxv wrote: Sat Jan 13, 2018 5:12 pm
mwelch55 wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2018 2:55 pm I have also used Radio Shack solder and it was good too.

Mike
You must mean the earlier stuff from RS? ...or maybe the batch I got was bad. I got a bunch of rolls from a closing store in Myrtle Beach for dirt cheap, It always cures very dull and dirty looking.

I threw it in the junk drawer and use MG Chem Sn63/Pb37 with great results.
The flux in Radio Shack solder was junk, useless.

Kester and Ersin Multicore have flux that works.
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didit
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand

Post by didit »

M Fowler wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:10 pm Kester .31 is my favorite but I am using .44 right now but feels too thick but it covers the eyelets nicely.
Fold a few inches of .31 up once or twice and larger gaps fill nicely.

Best ..Ian
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Aurora
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand

Post by Aurora »

Kester, Multicore, Stannol - any classic brand will do. 60/40 or 63/37 doesn't really matter in practice. Even if there is an environmental question involved, I'd stay away form the modern lead free solders for hand soldering. ( I've been doing this for a living for 40yrs++ )
Just make sure you have n iron with enough capacity and correct tips. Those puny little 30Ws are not up to soldering larger contact, switches etc etc
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dorrisant
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Re: 60/40 solder. What brand

Post by dorrisant »

Just swapped to a fresh roll last week... This is what I use and how it's mounted. 20ga shotgun she'll for the lip to secure the spool, a 7/16 deep well socket to support inside the shotgun shell, a 10-24 bolt and tee nut to mount to the bench. Spool turns freely with just the right amount of drag. Simple, yet effective. I've been using this for years now.
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