[Elecraft] Time to take the plunge...

[W3FPR - Don Wilhelm]

Tim,

Congratulations on your decision.

I am not familiar with either one of those solder designations, but I would
believe that you will do better on the K2 with a smaller diameter solder - I
use 0.020 or 0.015 diameter.  With the thinner solder, you can more easily
control how much solder is fed into the connection.

In addition, I highly recommend the use of a eutectic solder - the 63/37
ratio (SN63PB37).  This mix has no plastic state so 'cold solder joints'
resulting from movement while cooling are eliminated.  If you watch
carefully while soldering, you will observe that when the soldering iron is
moved off a connection, the component lead may move a bit in the hole, and
that movement can cause the solder to fracture if the temperature is just
right at that moment.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
> <snip>
> I have read over  the soldering tutorials  and info on the Elecraft site,
> but don't specifically see the one lb rolls of Kester Solder that
> I have on
> the list:
> Kester SN 60OPB40, 66/44 rosin core solder. Dia .031
> Kester Q13852, Alloy = SN63, Core = 66, Dia .031, FLUX = 254
>
> Anyone familiar with these particular Kester versions?
>
> thanks
> Tim
> NZ8J
>

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