[Elecraft] ELECRAFT-RECOMMENDED SOLDERS
Tom Hammond NØSS
[email protected]
Tue Mar 5 14:18:59 2002
"What brand/type/diameter solder should I use for building my
Elecraft Kits?"
We've all probably thought it to ourselves, and we've certainly
seen it in print here on the Elecraft Reflector...
This question appears almost weekly on the Elecraft Reflector,
and Elecraft Chief Tech, Gary Surrency (AB7MY) admits that he
hears it almost every DAY.
In an effort to help answer the question and reduce concern by
users, I have been asked by Elecraft to compile a document which,
it is hoped, hoped you will refer to the following data when
making your solder selection.
If you only want to know what solders to buy, you may jump right
past the next section and go right to the 'meat' of the subject,
to the section titled "ELECRAFT-RECOMMENDED SOLDERS". Also, BE
SURE to read the section on what types of solder NOT to use!
73, and as a good friend often reminds us...
"Keep the rosin fumes aloft".
Tom Hammond N0SS
----------------------------------------------------------------
DEFINITIONS:
RESIN
A solid or semi-solid organic compound lacking a crystalline
structure. Resins are characterized by not having definite and
sharp meting points, are usually not conductors of electricity,
and many are transparent or translucent. Natural resins usually
originate in plants, such as pine sap, and are not water
soluble. The rosin used in soldering fluxes is an example of a
resin. Also used to describe fluxes based on synthetic resin
rather than rosin.
ROSIN
A naturally occurring resin usually associated a component of
pine sap. It is a mixture of several organic acids, of which
abietic acid is the chief component. Available as gum, wood and
Tall Oil Rosins, sometimes chemically modified. The most widely
used material in the manufacture of soldering fluxes for the
electronics industry is water white (ww) gum rosin.
R = Identity code for a flux which contains rosin without
additional activators.
RA = Identity code for a flux which contains rosin with
additional activators to enable soldering of difficult
substrates. Although RA-based material, the residues are
not-corrosive if left uncleaned.
RMA = Identity code for a mildly activated rosin flux as used
for much electronics work. Although RA-based material,
the residues are not-corrosive if left uncleaned.
Solder Wire = Solder available in small wire gauges, as opposed
to BAR solders.
Silver-Bearing Solder = A solder alloy which normally contains
2% silver along with 62% Tin and 36% Lead. While this type
of solder WAS originally recommended by Elecraft, it has
been determined that kits assembled with this type of
solder can be more difficult to repair due to the higher
melting point of the solder. As a result, there is an
increased risk of lifting a PC board land while attempting
to desolder or re-heat a plated-thru connection.
Elecraft no longer recommends using silver-bearing solder.
However, rigs submitted for repair which were assembled
using silver-bearning solder WILL be serviced without
question.
_____________
ELECRAFT-RECOMMENDED SOLDERS
(NOTE - This list is NOT exhaustive. However these brands and
fluxes HAVE been tested and have been found to be
acceptable. There are most certainly other brands, with
equally acceptable flux cores also available.)
The following brands and types of solder are RECOMMENDED for
use when building Elecraft kits. Below this section, I have
included a listing of available solders from both Mouser and
Digi-Key, just to give you at least two possible sources.
Kester
RA (Activated Rosin) Type Flux Core types "44", and "285",
60/40 or 63/37 Sn/Pb content in diameters between 0.020"
(0.5mm) and 0.035" (0.89mm), with 0.020" to 0.030" being
the preferred sizes.
-----------
Multicore (previously Ersin-Multicore)
RA (Activated Rosin) Type Flux Core
Multicore Content
Part # Sn/Pb Diameter Spool Weight
MM00979 63/37 0.022" (0.56mm) 1 lb (0.5kg)
MM00980 63/37 0.024" (0.61mm) 1 lb (0.5kg)
MM00981 63/37 0.032" (0.81mm) 1 lb (0.5kg)
MM00992 60/40 0.024" (0.61mm) 1 lb (0.5kg)
MM00993 60/40 0.032" (0.81mm) 1 lb (0.5kg)
MM01020 60/40 0.022" (0.56mm) 1/2 lb (0.25kg)
MM01021 60/40 0.022" (0.56mm) 1 lb (0.5kg)
MM01022 60/40 0.024" (0.61mm) 1/2 lb (0.25kg)
MM01023 60/40 0.024" (0.61mm) 1 lb (0.5kg)
MM01083 63/37 0.022" (0.56mm) 1/2 lb (0.25kg)
MM01084 63/37 0.024" (0.61mm) 1/2 lb (0.25kg)
RMA (Mildly Activated Rosin) Type Flux
MM01045 63/37 0.032" (0.81mm) 1 lb (0.5kg)
-----------
Radio Shack Rosin Core Solders
R / S Content
Part # Sn/Pb Diameter Spool Weight
64-017 60/40 0.032" (0.81mm) 0.5 oz (14g)
64-005 60/40 0.032" (0.81mm) 2.5 oz (71g)
64-009 60/40 0.032" (0.81mm) 8.0 oz (0.25kg)
910-3836* 60/40 0.031" (0.81mm) 1.0 lb (0.25kg)
* Available through R/S Tech America
-----------
W A R N I N G - W A R N I N G - W A R N I N G
DO NOT build ELECRAFT kits using solders which contain
NO-CLEAN or WATER-SOLUBLE FLUXES, nor should you use NO-LEAD
solders!
Kits submitted for repair which HAVE been assembled using
No-Clean or Water-Soluble fluxes MAY be refused service..!
DO NOT USE SOLDERS WITH THESE TYPES OF FLUX CORE
Kester "245" No-Clean Solder
Kester "331" Water-Soluble Solder
or ANY solder with "No-Clean" or "Water-Soluble" flux core.
If you have ANY questions about what solder is appropriate
to use PLEASE ASK ELECRAFT BEFORE YOU USE IT.
____________________________________________________________
Possible sources for solders. Again, not nearly exhaustive.
MOUSER ELECTRONICS ( http://www.mouser.com )
KESTER SOLDERS
"44" Rosin, Activated Rosin Core Solder
MOUSER Dia Weight
STK NO. Alloy (in.) (lb.)
533-24-6337-0100 63/37 0.020" 1
533-23-6337-18 63/37 0.025" 1/2
533-24-6337-18 63/37 0.025" 1
533-23-6337-27 63/37 0.031" 1/2
533-24-6337-27 63/37 0.031" 1
MOUSER Dia Weight
STK NO. Alloy (in.) (lb.)
533-24-6040-0100 60/40 0.020" 1
533-23-6040-18 60/40 0.025" 1/2
533-24-6040-18 60/40 0.025" 1
533-23-6040-27 60/40 0.031" 1/2
533-24-6040-27 60/40 0.031" 1
"285" Rosin, Mildly Activated Rosin Core Solder
MOUSER Dia Weight
STK NO. Alloy (in.) (lb.)
533-24-6337-9700 63/37 0.020" 1
533-24-6337-9718 63/37 0.025" 1
533-23-6337-9713 63/37 0.031" 1
533-24-6337-9710 63/37 0.031" 1
DIGI-KEY ( http://www.digikey.com )
MULTICORE SOLDERS
RA (Activated Rosin) Core Solder
DIGI-KEY Dia Weight
STK NO. Alloy (in.) (lb.)
SN6324-ND 63/37 0.020" 1
SN6322-ND 63/37 0.025" 1
SN6321-ND 63/37 0.032" 1
DIGI-KEY Dia Weight
STK NO. Alloy (in.) (lb.)
SN6022-ND 60/40 0.028" 1
KESTER SOLDERS
"44" Rosin, Activated Rosin Core Solder
DIGI-KEY Dia Weight
STK NO. Alloy (in.) (lb.)
KE1103-ND 63/37 0.020" 1
KE1112-ND 63/37 0.025" 1/2
KE1109-ND 63/37 0.025" 1
KE1111-ND 63/37 0.031" 1/2
KE1102-ND 63/37 0.031" 1
DIGI-KEY Dia Weight
STK NO. Alloy (in.) (lb.)
KE1107-ND 60/40 0.020" 1
KE1118-ND 60/40 0.025" 1/2
KE1116-ND 60/40 0.025" 1
KE1117-ND 60/40 0.031" 1/2
KE1106-ND 60/40 0.031" 1
"285" Rosin, Mildly Activated Rosin Core Solder
DIGI-KEY Dia Weight
STK NO. Alloy (in.) (lb.)
KE1201-ND 63/37 0.020" 1
KE1202-ND 63/37 0.025" 1
KE1200-ND 63/37 0.031" 1
___________________________________________________________
NOTE: Neither Tom Hammond nor Elecraft have any interest
whatsoever in the Kester, Multicore, Mouser
Electronics, or Digi-Key companies.
Compiled for Elecraft, 02/28/2001, by Tom Hammond (N0SS)