[Elecraft] RE: Solder shelf life (flux)?

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike,

I have had mixed results on that question.  I have had some old solder 
that did not flow well.  I really don't know if it was age or that the 
solder was junk to begin with.  I have trouble believing that solder 
will 'go bad', so just try what you have and see what the results are - 
if it does not flow nicely, put in in the box for plumbing repairs and 
do not use it for electronic construction.

If you are buying new solder, I highly recommend the 63/37 alloy with a 
mildly activated flux - Kester 44 is a highly activated flux and will 
work OK, but will leave more flux residue than I like to see.  For work 
with plated thru-hole boards, I recommend a solder diameter of no grater 
than .02 inches - I use .015 inch diameter myself and I can control the 
amount of solder applied easily.  With the larger diameter solders, by 
the time it begins to flow, there is already too much solder on the 
connection.

73,
Don W3FPR

RBrigham1 at cs.com wrote:
> n a message dated 6/16/2007 6:43:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
> mike.fairleigh at comcast.net writes: 
>> Does solder eventually "go bad?" I'm sure the metal components don't, but I 
>> wonder about the flux. I'm talking about a span of many years. I'm using 
>> Multicore MM00979. What I'm using now is fresh, but I'm placing a Newark order 
>> for other stuff and thought I might include some more solder if it doesn't 
>> spoil. Thanks.
>>