[Boatanchors] Solder Kester 88

[Peter Loron]

I'd be careful to describe lead-free solder as "crap". I've been using some of the recent Kester lead free solder and it has worked very well for hand soldering electronics. Joints are pretty shiny, wetting is good, etc. As always, proper application of flux helps.  :-)

-Pete


On Sep 13, 2011, at 3:25 PM, howard holden wrote:

> Per Kester, (see their website),  flux-core solder whose metal composition is more than 70% lead has a two year shelf life. All others have a three year shelf life. Solid core solder has an unlimited shelf life. The various fluxes and other soldering chemicals have a 4 to 6 month shelf life.
> 
> Before I retired, the company I managed did some aerospace stuff, and most customers would not accept use of solder more than a year old. A solder manufacturer's certificate of compliance had to accompany the work. 
> 
> BUT, I've got solder 15-20 years old and it still works fine, at least for my purposes. 
> 
> There is a dizzying array of solder products out there, especially now with the lead-free stuff. WE need to pay attention to what is on the shelf these days. 
> 
> For most of our purposes, 60-40 rosin core is the best in my view. The lead-free stuff is crap, and poses a whole new set of problems. 
> 
> Howie WB2AWQ
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Mike Clarson<mailto:mclarson at rcc.com> 
>  To: 'Rick'<mailto:rickb at tx.rr.com> ; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net<mailto:boatanchors at mailman.qth.net> 
>  Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 2:59 PM
>  Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Solder Kester 88
> 
> 
> 
>  Rick: Does Solder expire? Back in the 60s, I usually used NY Solder Company
>  Rosin Core. It was $0.19 vs $0.25 for Kester (orange box) and worked just as
>  well. Paper route money. Anyway, at some point back then I acquired a 1 lb
>  spool of the NY Solder stuff. It got filed away during moves, and it
>  surfaced about 2 years ago. It just won't stick. It melts, there is stuff in
>  the core, but unless I use some external flux, it is useless. The solder was
>  just fine when I bought the spool. I stopped using NY Solder products in the
>  70s when I could afford the nicer smelling Multicore solder. --Mike, WV2ZOW
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
>  [mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rick
>  Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 4:04 PM
>  To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net<mailto:boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
>  Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Solder Kester 88
> 
>  I have a pretty big supply of older too. I wonder, does it have a shelf life
>  or does it deteriorate over time?
> 
>  Rick / K5IAR
> 
> 
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