[Elecraft] K1

[Don Wilhelm]

A 37/63 alloy solder is easier to work with than 60/40 because it has a 
lower melting point, and being a eutectic alloy, it has no plastic state 
- it goes right from a liquid to a solid, therefore no cold solder 
joints resulting from crystallization from movement of the connection 
during the plastic phase of 60/40.

A "nice" solder IMHO is one with a Mildly Reactive Flux.  It does not 
leave a mess of solder resin like Highly Reactive Flux will do - save 
the highly reactive stuff for wires that have some corrosion on them.

As far as the solder diameter, a smaller diameter solder makes it easier 
to control the amount of solder applied.  I routinely work with .020 
diameter for thru-hole construction, .015 for SMD work.

Kester 285 is one example of a 37/63 alloy with mildly reactive flux.  
Kester 44 is OK, but its highly reactive flux will leave a mess -- do 
*not* clean the boards, you may end up with more problems than messy 
flux.  The flux residue if not conductive and will do no harm.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/24/2014 5:13 PM, JohnE wrote:
> Also make sure you use nice solder - like .032 60/40 solder.
>