China Solder

[Phend]

Bought some supposedly 60/40 solder from Amzn. Sn/Pb. (Austor)
When I use it it leaves a dull gray color connection. Looks terrible.
Over the summer, at a yard sale, I got for free, a plastic tube of Multicore 5-core solder.
"Worlds finest TV- Radio solder"  60/40
5 cores ERSIN Flux it says on the tube.
Quite a bit in the tube, obviously old.
Big difference, nice shiny looking joints.
Question, where do you get "good" solder ?

[R.G.]

Where do you get good solder? You buy it from a supplier that worries about counterfeiting in its supply chain. Mouser, DigiKey and other bigger suppliers come to mind. And you pay a bit more for the assurance that you're not buying c$$p. As you have found, Amazon has become a place for questionable suppliers to sell their questionable stuff.
Or you haunt a lot of yard/garage sales and/or electronics surplus places.

[davent]

Kester, MG Chemicals two good ones with many options you'll find at the specialists. Years ago local supplier carried Multicore and based on using it would have bought it again if I'd still found it.

[Rob Strand]

These days I wouldn't be surprised if solder was recycled from old PCB's and turned back into rolls.

Years ago local supplier carried Multicore and based on using it would have bought it again if I'd still found it.

Back in the days when you didn't have to doubt everything you buy.  I still have some Multicore solder.    I also bought about 50 x 200g (250g?) empty bobbins directly from the company to make inductors for HiFi speaker crossovers.

This kind of thing,

[diffeq]

I liked Felder solders. Come with different core flux options too.

[Paul Marossy]

I've been using Kester 60/40 for decades now. Good stuff.

[antonis]

I use CYNEL 60/40 0.8mm for a veeeeery long time..
(purchased once upon a time 50 reels of 100gr each at a very good price..)


Excellent performance..!!