Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

[Mad_Professor]

Well I never bought solder before, I've had quite alot left over from my grandfather's shop, and now I've used it up.

I've got to order from digikey since I have some caps to order figure that might be a good place to buy from and combine it to my shipping.

Frankly what's good for PSU and MB work?

[Topcat]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Kester 60/40 "44" rosin core, .025 diameter is what I always use. Always buy leaded, avoid that lead-free rohs shit......you'll thank me later.

[kaboom]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Always buy leaded, avoid that lead-free rohs shit

+1000!

That trash is nothing but slag and waste 'marketed and disguised' as solder, as far as I'm concerned! It's "The Enemy" to me, since it was another way to 'enable' or 'lessen the harm' of producing even more cheap junk. How it was sold as 'makes e-waste safer' IS PURE BULL.

Another wonderful EU brainstorm.

[ratdude747]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Kester 60/40 "44" rosin core, .025 diameter is what I always use. Always buy leaded, avoid that lead-free rohs shit......you'll thank me later.

funny, that is exactly to the point of what I use. it is good stuff.

some lead free works (99/.7), but it isn't as good as leaded. However, on the FIRST robotics team I was on, at competition the only type of solder allowed is for use in the pits is lead free. dumb rule, but the rules are rules.

[mariushm]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

I've bought Multicore 63/37 with very small diameter and 2% flux - it works well but I wish I would have chosen one with more flux.
Have to buy one of those flux pens but the only ones that were in stock on digikey were quite expensive ..

[mockingbird]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Unleaded solder has its uses... If you have a BGA where the leads are very very close, you NEED to use PB free solder because leaded solder flows too freely and the leads will bond to eachother forming one large blob...

Also... unleaded solder is a lot safer now that they've perfected the mixture... The thing is, it's impossible to know which company uses which unleaded solder... Are they using old stock tin/copper only balls, or are they using the new stuff?

But yea, for hand soldering, 60/40 is the way to go. 63/37 is a little more difficult to melt.

[Topcat]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

^
Agreed....but for just about anything that anyone on this forum is going to encounter, my original post is the way to go. If they have to ask, stop reading after my first post. Someone extremely skilled in the art of soldering will know this like they know their own name.

Unless you plan on starting a motherboard manufacturer, reballing chips, or doing massive amounts of SMT reworking of IC's with many dozens of close contact leads on them, 60/40 fine strand rosin core is all you need to know.

[kc8adu]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

i grab all the kester "44" i spot at hamfests and flea markets that i can get cheap.like folks that hoard 100w lightbulbs.just a matter of time before its out of production.

[ratdude747]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

i grab all the kester "44" i spot at hamfests and flea markets that i can get cheap.like folks that hoard 100w lightbulbs.just a matter of time before its out of production.

unless leaded solder is made 100% illegal, I doubt that will happen.

[Topcat]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

^
With the tree huggers today, it is very possible. I too grab it when I see it if its cheap. I also have a good hoard of incandescent bulbs...

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

60/40 is a great choice but I prefer 63/37 unless I can't find it.
.
It's melting point is about 7°C lower than 60/40 so it 'gets going' a tad quicker.
.
The big difference is 63/37 is a eutectic solder vice 60/40 which is non-eutectic.
Non-eutectic solders [like 60/40] have that semi-solid state between solid and liquid so if a joint is moved during that stage it can result in cold solder joints.
Eutectic solders [like 63/37] do not have the semi-solid state and solidify instantly so they are less likely to produce bad joints if you bump the part or work table at just the wrong time.
.
That said, it's a really minor difference [couple seconds] and more of a style/preference thing than anything else.
.
In the Navy we always got the 63/37 when we could because soldering in 'a room' that's bouncing and vibrating like a speeding flatbed with out of balance tires adds another element of challenge to getting the job done.
.

[Mad_Professor]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Interesting...

Well I bought the kester 60/40 44 roll for $68 ouch. It better last me forever. LOL

[ratdude747]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Interesting...

Well I bought the kester 60/40 44 roll for $68 ouch. It better last me forever. LOL

how much?

I usually buy mine in 1lb spools.

[Mad_Professor]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

how much?

I usually buy mine in 1lb spools.

It was 1lb spool too.

[ratdude747]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

It was 1lb spool too.

seriously?

I paid less than 1/3 of that for mine... it was $25 at a local EE store iirc.

[mariushm]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Mine was 42$ : http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...ords=82-129-ND

It's actually 500g, not 1 lbs (1lbs = 454 grams)... or at least that's what it says on the label... maybe the plastic is 50 grams..

[Mad_Professor]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

seriously?

I paid less than 1/3 of that for mine... it was $25 at a local EE store iirc.

Mine was 42$ : http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...ords=82-129-ND

It's actually 500g, not 1 lbs (1lbs = 454 grams)... or at least that's what it says on the label... maybe the plastic is 50 grams..

Awwww fuck, I got raped didn't I?

Oh well.

[Topcat]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Interesting...

Well I bought the kester 60/40 44 roll for $68 ouch. It better last me forever. LOL

Check fleabay. I score 1lb rolls of it there for 15~20 a roll all the time. Flea markets and things like hamfests, they can be had for about 5 bucks a roll.

[yyonline]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

60/40 is a great choice but I prefer 63/37 unless I can't find it.
.
It's melting point is about 7°C lower than 60/40 so it 'gets going' a tad quicker.
.
The big difference is 63/37 is a eutectic solder vice 60/40 which is non-eutectic.
Non-eutectic solders [like 60/40] have that semi-solid state between solid and liquid so if a joint is moved during that stage it can result in cold solder joints.
Eutectic solders [like 63/37] do not have the semi-solid state and solidify instantly so they are less likely to produce bad joints if you bump the part or work table at just the wrong time.
.
That said, it's a really minor difference [couple seconds] and more of a style/preference thing than anything else.
.
In the Navy we always got the 63/37 when we could because soldering in 'a room' that's bouncing and vibrating like a speeding flatbed with out of balance tires adds another element of challenge to getting the job done.
.

Kester 44 is good stuff. 0.025" is a good size for motherboard work, and not too annoyingly small for other work on occasion. I also prefer 63/37 over 60/40 for the reasons mentioned above.

I also use Techspray G3 Flux Remover. It's not really required for most rosin core stuff, but it does make the repair look more professional. It works like nothing else I've tried. Spray on and the flux is gone. No rubbing required. Just use it in a well ventilated area or the room will be spinning in no time.

[Agent24]

Re: Need a new roll of solder what to buy?

Interesting...

Well I bought the kester 60/40 44 roll for $68 ouch. It better last me forever. LOL

Expensive yeah but at least you can be happy to know it won't contain shitty flux.