[Elecraft] RE: Solder choice

[halliwel@esper.com]

Bob,

My experience with the Kester "no clean" solder at work has been mixed.  It
does not wet as well since the resin is much less "active" than the stuff I
prefer, Kester 44.  Kester has a nice web site (but I don't have the url
handy), so you might want to go there and see what they say.  We switched
back to Kester 44 as we get better solder joints and fewer cold joints.  We
do not clean our boards, even with the Kester 44.  I have not seen this
cause any problems with products in the field for many years.  I have seen
poor solder joints cause problems with the "no clean" solder - but better
inspection of the finished board would likely have caught the problem.  "No
clean" solders don't do as well on parts that have any oxide or on boards
that don't have good clean, fresh, tin plating.  Oh, and the "no clean"
Kester does leave some residue, just not nearly as much.

John
WB4VLQ, K2 #1766