Hard to use solder

[davent]

You can get Kester solder a lot cheaper than that. How long is a pound going to last you, 1 week, 5 years? I've burned through a lot but i have 2 soldering stations set up. Glad i buy most at flea markets and yard sales for $1-$5. Check Ebay. I would say $25 at the most with free shipping.

Just did an Amazon search for 37/63 kester, 1lb. roll is .015 diameter, $282.40 cdn *free shipping*. This was the first hit.

Checking ebay most listings in the first page were for pieces of solder between 25" and 30 feet going for between fifty cents and $3 per foot, some were free shipping some not. Was a listing for 4lbs of Kester solder, $411...

[fryingpan]

Heh, I am getting used to soldering (I still really hate it). My biggest issue is with making too large of a blob, but I ascribe that to 1mm diameter solder (it made sense when I bought it). Should have got 0.6mm or so. It's a bit hard to get the "dosage" right. Also, when I work with veroboard, I *will* make at least a couple of mistakes (and it's always with electrolytics, which means that for peace of mind, I throw them away). Cleaning up the extra solder is a pain. I know that you can use that sort of ribbon that you heat with the soldering iron and it "eats up" the solder beneath it, but I don't know how well it works, and after all it's not a big issue. The really big issue is cleaning up the flux, I never do it but supposedly you should.

[Focalized]

Just did an Amazon search for 37/63 kestor, 1lb. roll is .015 diameter, $282.40 cdn *free shipping*. This was the first hit.

Wha? I switched to Canada shipping and it's still around $40. Is that a conversion rate?

[R.G.]

Heh, I am getting used to soldering (I still really hate it). My biggest issue is with making too large of a blob, but I ascribe that to 1mm diameter solder (it made sense when I bought it). Should have got 0.6mm or so. It's a bit hard to get the "dosage" right.

Solder diameter does matter, as thinner solder makes getting a small dose easier. But the real trick is to (1) have a well-tinned tip, just a film of liquid solder flowing on the tip, and (2) letting the tinned tip heat both sides to be soldered, then touching the solder to the opposite side of the joint from the tip. When the metal to be joined gets to solder-flowing temps, the solder turns liquid and flows from the solder that touches the joint to the soldering iron - solder flows toward the heat. When the solder gets to the iron tip, you're done; get the solder and the soldering iron tip off the joint.

[PRR]

Our plumbers used 50-50 back when they were allowed to use solder with lead; that has been outlawed in the USA for a couple of decades now.

Lead may be legal in heating systems (hot water, steam). Also process plumbing (making stuff). Only eat/drink plumbing must be lead-free. (and is it even plumbing without plumbum?)

I assure you that no-lead is nearly unenforceable in building inspections. (But there is a LOT of interest in crimp-fittings for domestic plumbing.)

[R.G.]

Lead may be legal in heating systems (hot water, steam). Also process plumbing (making stuff). Only eat/drink plumbing must be lead-free. (and is it even plumbing without plumbum?)

I assure you that no-lead is nearly unenforceable in building inspections.

Good point. There are essentially no hot water or steam heating systems where I live, so I'm limited in that outlook.

As to enforcement - yeah, I ran into that. The melting temperature test I mentioned was something I concocted to force a builder to replace leaded-solder fittings during construction. I did the test myself to be sure that I was correct, then made the builder and plumber watch a repeat test, as the plumber swore that it was lead free. The builder made the plumber hacksaw off the fittings and put new ones on with lead-free, then fired the plumber - but only after I rattled off the phone number of the local code enforcement office.

Sometimes having too much arcane knowledge does help. Sometimes. 

[Phend]

Austor 60/40 Tin Lead ? Anyone tried that one ?

[Focalized]

Got the pound roll of AIM. Doesn't melt as easily or clean as the Yi Lin. Is a bit stiffer. Leaves a bit more of that brown residue. A little harder to tin wire. But is about $12 less for the same amount of 100g rolls. So I'll be with this roll for a long time.