[Elecraft] Organic Rosin Core Solder

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

You piqued my curiosity John. Since I'm still using spools of Kester solder
that I bought many, many years ago I haven't kept current with the latest
stuff. 

Looking at their web site (www.kester.com) I see they have a non-rosin
"organic" flux that apparently is designed for electronics (so it won't be
acid!). I can see why they'd feature it being water-soluble if it isn't
rosin. However, that stuff should not cause corrosion! They have a variety
of "electronic" solder products, some rosin core and some not. And, of
course, they make non-electronic solders that probably do have acid flux. 

I'd suggest contacting their Hq by phone or e-mail. They have contact info
on the web site, and give them the spool info you have and ask them what's
going on. 

I agree with Don's suggestions. If you approach it nicely but firmly that
quite obviously something is very wrong with that solder and they discover
it is a mis-marked roll or some other fault of theirs, you might get a new
K2 out of them in the bargain. At the very least you can get some good info
about how to stabilize it. 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: John Bonk [mailto:bonkj at johnbonk.net] 
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2005 2:42 PM
To: 'Ron D'Eau Claire'; Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Organic Rosin Core Solder


Ron,

I'll try to find the page I reference, but it definitely said water-soluble.
I can see the residue on the board, and the DMM shows a path across the
"gunk".  The corrosion seems to be returning also; only 16 hours after the
last brushing.

John