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Is this solder okay?

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Speedy11(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject: Is this solder okay?

I'm wondering if common auto parts store solder is acceptable to use for connecting airplane wires.  Yes, I know about using fastons.  The soldering I need to do is on small rotary switches and using fastons is not feasible.

 So, is Rosin Flux Core 3/32" 40/60 tin-lead acceptable?

 Stan Sutterfield

brian

Joined: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Sacramento, California, USA

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 3:35 am Post subject: Is this solder okay?

On Aug 2, 2006, at 3:22 AM, Speedy11(at)aol.com wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I'm wondering if common auto parts store solder is acceptable to  

 use for connecting airplane wires.  Yes, I know about using  

 fastons.  The soldering I need to do is on small rotary switches  

 and using fastons is not feasible.

 So, is Rosin Flux Core 3/32" 40/60 tin-lead acceptable?


	


Normally the tin content is listed first and the stuff you want is  

very close to 60% tin and 40% lead. This is known as 60/40 solder. If  

what you are looking at is 40/60 you definitely don't want it.



The ideal solder for electrical connections is actually 63% tin 37%  

lead (63/37). This is also known as eutectic solder. It has the  

characteristic that, as it cools, it goes directly from liquid to  

solid without passing through a pasty "plastic" phase. I also just  

found out that it has the highest tensile strength of all the tin/ 

lead solder alloys.



http://www.efunda.com/materials/solders/tin_lead.cfm



The top solder manufacturers used to be Kester and Ersin. Kester  

still seems to be around but I can't find a link to Ersin.



http://www.kester.com



Brian Lloyd                         361 Catterline Way

brian-yak AT lloyd DOT com          Folsom, CA 95630

+1.916.367.2131 (voice)             +1.270.912.0788 (fax)



I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

_________________
Brian Lloyd
brian-yak at lloyd dot com
+1.916.367.2131 (voice) +1.270.912.0788 (fax)

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

FLYaDIVE(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:22 am Post subject: Is this solder okay?

> I'm wondering if common auto parts store solder is acceptable to  

 	  Quote: 	
		   use for connecting airplane wires.  Yes, I know about using  

 fastons.  The soldering I need to do is on small rotary switches  

 and using fastons is not feasible.

 So, is Rosin Flux Core 3/32" 40/60 tin-lead acceptable?

 ==================================================================
	


  

 Stan:

  

 40/60 NO!  But, I think you have the numbers mixed up, it is probably 60/40.

 If it is 60/40 that is acceptable but not the best.  See if you can find 63/37 it is know as Eutectic Solder. 

 It does a great job especially at low soldering temperatures.  No0need to burn the wire or damage the components.

 The solder thickness is OK but again not the best, see if you can find0.063"  For electronic work thin solder is better since it requires less heat and time duration to melt.  Also it fits into many a small solder pin connector.

 As for the Flux ... Does it say anything such as NA or RMA or RA?  Here is where longevity of the connection is concerned.

 The abbreviations stand for: NA = Non-Activated, RMA = Rosin Mildly Activated and RA = Rosin Activated.  The ACTIVATED part is ACID or how corrosive the flux is.  Most Rosin is of the RMA type and works quite well.  As with ALL solder joints make sure you finish by cleaning the joint with isopropyl alcohol, use a soft toothbrush.  Failure to do so will bring about corrosion.

  

  

 Barry

"Chop'd Liver"

Bob McC

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 258
Location: Toronto, ON

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:25 am Post subject: Is this solder okay?

Hi Brian;



---

_________________
Bob McC
Falco #908
(just starting)

don.honabach(at)pcperfect
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:49 am Post subject: Is this solder okay?

For larger diameter solder and switch work, you probably won’t need this, but it’s helpful if you are working with small diameter solder (which has limited amounts of flux) or doing any sort of PCB re-work. I keep a small bottle of Flux at my bench and will add a small amount to the joint/connection in some cases – mostly when doing de-soldering or if I need to ‘re-wet’ a joint to remove or add a component. The only catch is that you absolutely must clean up the joint with a cleaner afterwards to get rid of the acid left over. However, it does seem to really help in those cases where the solder doesn’t have enough flux or you need to de-solder/re-solder a joint.  

   

Regards,  

Don  

   

         

  

From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of FLYaDIVE(at)aol.com

 Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 7:17 AM

 To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Is this solder okay?  

  

     

 	  Quote: 	
		   I'm wondering if common auto parts store solder is acceptable to  

 > use for connecting airplane wires.  Yes, I know about using  
	


 > fastons.  The soldering I need to do is on small rotary switches  

 > and using fastons is not feasible.

 > So, is Rosin Flux Core 3/32" 40/60 tin-lead acceptable?  

    

==================================================================  

    

   

    

Stan:  

    

   

    

40/60 NO!  But, I think you have the numbers mixed up, it is probably 60/40.  

    

If it is 60/40 that is acceptable but not the best.  See if you can find 63/37 it is know as Eutectic Solder.   

    

It does a great job especially at low soldering temperatures.  No need to burn the wire or damage the components.  

    

The solder thickness is OK but again not the best, see if you can find .063"  For electronic work thin solder is better since it requires less heat and time duration to melt.  Also it fits into many a small solder pin connector.  

    

As for the Flux ... Does it say anything such as NA or RMA or RA?  Here is where longevity of the connection is concerned.  

    

The abbreviations stand for: NA = Non-Activated, RMA = Rosin Mildly Activated and RA = Rosin Activated.  The ACTIVATED part is ACID or how corrosive the flux is.  Most Rosin is of the RMA type and works quite well.  As with ALL solder joints make sure you finish by cleaning the joint with isopropyl alcohol, use a soft toothbrush.  Failure to do so will bring about corrosion.  

    

   

    

   

    

Barry

 "Chop'd Liver"

brian

Joined: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Sacramento, California, USA

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:22 pm Post subject: Is this solder okay?

On Aug 2, 2006, at 2:44 PM, Don Honabach wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   For larger diameter solder and switch work, you probably won’t need  

 this, but it’s helpful if you are working with small diameter  

 solder (which has limited amounts of flux) or doing any sort of PCB  

 re-work. I keep a small bottle of Flux at my bench and will add a  

 small amount to the joint/connection in some cases – mostly when  

 doing de-soldering or if I need to ‘re-wet’ a joint to remove or  

 add a component. The only catch is that you absolutely must clean  

 up the joint with a cleaner afterwards to get rid of the acid left  

 over. However, it does seem to really help in those cases where the  

 solder doesn’t have enough flux or you need to de-solder/re-solder  

 a joint.

Rosin flux is all you should ever use on electrical connections. It  
	


is not acid. While not particularly pretty, it will do no damage to  

your circuitry if you leave it on there.



If you are using acid flux, stop.



Brian Lloyd                         361 Catterline Way

brian-yak AT lloyd DOT com          Folsom, CA 95630

+1.916.367.2131 (voice)             +1.270.912.0788 (fax)



I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Speedy11(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:38 am Post subject: Is this solder okay?

Brian,

 Thank you for your prompt and informative reply.

 Stan Sutterfield

 Do not archive

  	  Quote: 	
		  Normally the tin content is listed first and the stuff you want is  

very close to 60% tin and 40% lead. This is known as 60/40 solder. If  

what you are looking at is 40/60 you definitely don't want it.

Speedy11(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:44 am Post subject: Is this solder okay?

Barry,

 Excellent info for an ignorant pilot.  Thank you.  I checked0the package and it does say 40/60 tin-lead, so I won't use it.  I'll locate the Eutectic solder.

 Stan Sutterfield

 Do not archive

  	  Quote: 	
		  40/60 NO!  But, I think you have the numbers mixed up, it is probably 60/40.

If it is 60/40 that is acceptable but not the best.  See if you can find 

63/37 it is know as Eutectic Solder.

Eric M. Jones

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 12:40 pm Post subject: Re: Is this solder okay?

---The Final Word on 63Sn/37Pb or 60Sn/40Pb



I posted a post a couple years ago that said you could solder for a million years and never know the dfference. 



The 63Sn/37Pb solidifies all at once and has no "mushy" range. For some purposes, often more decorative than practical, this is attractive. Since it melts at a slightly lower temperature and solidifies all at once, it solders faster. Wave soldering is done with 63/37 as it also tends to wet most untinned surfaces slightly better.



The 60/40 is more common, slightly cheaper, and has a small "mushy" range. While this makes it less shiny, the slight increase in mushiness makes it slightly easier to work with especially with bigger gaps. 



Most experts on the matter tend to make no distinction between the two. Indeed, The quality of the solder itself and the temperature control of the iron, as well as the flux and the materials to be soldered are far more important to the overall quality of the joint.



Final advice--Here's where Brian and I agree--Ersin (now Henkel) Multicore is very good solder. You can get trashy solder that uses recycled materials from Radio Shack, and I hate to point fingers...but...they do have the worst solder on the planet!



"Future, n.  That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true, and all happiness is assured."

				- Ambrose Bierce

_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 764-2072
emjones(at)charter.net

Eric M. Jones

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Is this solder okay?

PS--



"Ersin" Multicore (R) is now Henkel/Loctite Multicore and they only list 60/40 in their new catalog...

_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 764-2072
emjones(at)charter.net

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