[Elecraft] Solder in Elecraft kits

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Silver solder is fine, Tom. It is *not* recommended only because it requires
slightly higher temperatures and so it is a little harder to remove parts
should you need to service your K2. But, with a little care, parts can be
removed just fine - assuming you ever need to do so. 

The issue here is that there is no particular "correct" solder. The correct
solder depends a great deal upon the experience and preferences of the
builder as to composition (60/40 or eutectic), metallurgy (silver, non lead,
etc) and size.  

Some time back Wayne made the decision not to specify a particular type, but
to define one readily-available type for those who have no preference and to
outline what to avoid for those wishing to use something different. The
bottom line remains to avoid "...acid-core solder, water-soluble flux
solder, or any corrosive or conductive flux or solvent..."

There are so many options available out there, and so many builders have
already established a preference for particular composition, size, etc., of
solder, that it was decided to leave the choice up to the builder as long as
the above restrictions were observed.

Ron AC7AC 





-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tom McCulloch
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 7:07 PM
To: Marty Young; Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Solder in Elecraft kits


I haven't been following this thread, but the poster seems to make a valid 
point.

I built K2 #1103 several years ago and the thinking at that time was to use 
an alloy of silver solder.  So that's what I did.  Once my kit was built I 
more or less ignored the posts regarding solder, but about a year or so ago 
(I could be wrong here) I thought I read that using silver solder was a bad 
idea.

OK, so things change, my K2 was built, life goes on.

I believe the poster's point here is that he wanted to use the 'correct' 
type of solder (i.e. that which is currently thought to be appropriate for 
the Elecraft kits) and who better than the Elecraft guys to make that call 
(or at the very least the recommendation).  If they provided a small supply 
of that type of solder with the kits, the builder could try it out and 
decide for himself if that was they he wanted to guy and then purchase a 
pound.

Just my two cents.
Tom
WB2QDG
K2 1103 ('silver on the inside')


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