[Boatanchors] Solder Kester 88

[Ken Kaplan]

I talked to a Kester engineer last week about solder expiring. They do 
it so they won't have too wide a support window. They don't want to have 
to warranty the stuff forever. I have some Kester 44 63/27 solder that I 
got back in the mid 70's. Works great - just as good as the new stuff I 
have at work.

Having said that, if I was going to place a satellite or a person in 
space or depend on something in battle, I'd want good solder. The only 
way to be reasonably sure the solder is good enough is the depend on the 
manufacturers warranty.

As for the 60/40 or 63/27 issue, I can't imagine ever going back to 
60/40. The eutectic stuff is so much better. I wonder if the old 
boatanchor solder (like in my SX-28) was 60/40?

Hmm, I recently did work for a company that repairs safety related 
electronics for the nuclear power utility industry. Solder expiration 
was never an issue. Manufacture dates for electrolytics was a big issue.

On 9/23/2011 11:14 PM, Robert Moses wrote:
> Next time that you visit a pharmacy note the expiry date on isopropyl
> rubbing alcohol!
>
> Glen Zook wrote:
>
>> On mil spec contracts, solder more than 2-years old is not supposed to be used!  I have acquired several spools of solder (over the years) that had to be thrown out because it had "expired"!  Nothing at all wrong with the solder.  I think that someone in the military contracts department thought that everything had an expiration date including solder.
>>
>> Glen, K9STH
>>
>>
>> Website:  http://k9sth.com
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: rbethman<rbethman at comcast.net>
>> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 3:13 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Solder Kester 88
>>
>> Rick,
>>
>> I've never heard of it "expiring".
>>
>> The ends of the Kester rolls I have, do have lot numbers and the
>> month/year of manufacture.
>>
>> I just use which ever roll is handiest as I'm working on whatever is the
>> current project.
>>
>> Bob - N0DGN
>>
>> On 9/13/2011 4:04 PM, Rick wrote:
>>
>>
>>> 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
>