[Boatanchors] Kester 88

[Jim Wilhite]

After reading this thread I am wondering if we are building problems 
into the equipment we repair.  I would never have thought that solder 
has a shelf life, but considering commercial products I can see that it 
might be important.

I just hope all the repairs I have made in the past 10 years hold until 
I am gone.

Jim/W5JO


----- Original Message ----- 
> It sounds to me like the Kester rosin core reacts with the lead.  And 
> with
> the higher (70%) lead content, the reaction goes faster.
>
> I've been using Ersin Multicore mostly since the 70's.  The two rolls 
> I'm
> currently using must date at least 15 years back, and I've noticed no
> problems as recently as the day before yesterday.
>
> In a message dated 09/14/2011 16:18:31 PM Central Daylight Time,
> bluegrassdakine at hotmail.com writes:
>> I still have a problem with solder having a shelf life.  What does 
>> the
>> lead
>> change into that it will not work?  I can see if the rosin volatiles
>> evaporate or change chemistry a bit. but lead?  Just use activated 
>> rosin
>> and
>> it should work fine business.  I wouldn't waste money to purchase a 
>> whole
>> new roll for those tight applications, maybe just a small tube of 
>> rolled
>> up
>> solder for those applications and the regular roll with your bottle 
>> of
>> other
>> rosin for the major soldering.  Just my .02 cents worth.