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#1 Solder
Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 5:25 pm
by iansr
I need to buy some more solder and I’m thinking 40% lead, 0.5mm with active flux. But I’d be very interested to hear from more frequent slingers what your favourite solder is for through hole work, including specific brand / spec - ?
#2 Re: Solder
Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 12:16 am
by Neal
#3 Re: Solder
Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 6:06 am
by Greg
Plus one for Neal’s suggestion. I’ve using it for years. So easy to work with and although expensive initially, a real will probably last your lifetime.
#4 Re: Solder
Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 7:23 am
by Ray P
My favourite, very easy to work with and consistent, clean joins, Sn95.5Ag3.8Cu0.7, 217°C
https://www.rapidonline.com/stannol-593 ... 0g-50-4035
#5 Re: Solder
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:17 am
by izzy wizzy
I asked a similar question a while back. And after, selected that same solder Ray uses. Ever since, the tips on my Weller dissolve. I've been through about 6 or more in a couple of years and I'm not a heavy user.
Before with leaded solder, tips lasted years, maybe even a decade. I'm now considering going back to leaded as the tip issue is more expensive than a real of solder plus a real nuisance. A shame as I liked the solder and thought it would last me 10+ years, maybe more.
From what I read on the web, my issue is not isolated. Some tips just don't like lead free. Maybe it's older designed irons. My Weller is over 40 years old.
#6 Re: Solder
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:13 am
by iansr
Thanks for the comments guys. I think I’ll go for the RS stuff.
#7 Re: Solder
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 5:51 pm
by Thermionic Idler
Same - bought my first reels in 2003 and wouldn't use anything else.
#8 Re: Solder
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 5:22 am
by izzy wizzy
That's the formula I think I'll be going back to.
#9 Re: Solder
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:57 am
by Ray P
izzy wizzy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:17 am
I asked a similar question a while back. And after, selected that same solder Ray uses. Ever since, the tips on my Weller dissolve. I've been through about 6 or more in a couple of years and I'm not a heavy user.
Before with leaded solder, tips lasted years, maybe even a decade. I'm now considering going back to leaded as the tip issue is more expensive than a real of solder plus a real nuisance. A shame as I liked the solder and thought it would last me 10+ years, maybe more.
From what I read on the web, my issue is not isolated. Some tips just don't like lead free. Maybe it's older designed irons. My Weller is over 40 years old.
That's interesting, not something I've encountered but I do plan to get a better soldering station some time this year so will look out for that issue.
#10 Re: Solder
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:54 am
by izzy wizzy
It can't be a common thing. Maybe modern bits post lead free are designed for it. It's hard to get anything other than anecdotal information. The world is built using lead free solder now. Soldering stations aren't dissolving. I'm too attached to my 40 year soldering iron which was a 21st present. I used to think bits lasted what seemed forever. Makes your choices.
#11 Re: Solder
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:55 am
by ed
I have the same experience as Stephen.
Since moving to lead-free I've lost many tips, on both my Antex and on my previous Weller.
I also have a suspicion that tip cleaner is not good for tips..I stopped using it after losing a couple of tips in close succession.