What is the best solder for amp projects

[RJ Guitars]

Hello all, Merry Christmas.

After a few years of using an old giant spool of solder fro my projects, I am getting near the end of the roll and I don't really know what it is.

I am curious what everybody is using for solder... I'm getting ready to put an order into Mouser and I was wondering if 60/40 (60% lead & 40% tin) in 0.050 in. is a good choice?

I am also curious what is rosin activated solder vs. mildly activated solder.

I'd appreciate some input from those that know their stuff - even to point of suggesting a specific mouser part number.

Thank you in advance,

rj

[Andy Le Blanc]

everyone will have an prefferance.....the roll on my repair bench at the moment is .032 dia. 60\40.......my favorite is low melt 4% silver content......wts I think...its been a while.....it was special for gold contacts.... anyway.... Ive found that if the diameter is too small itll make a mess and like wise if its too big....whatever it takes to make the work comfortable and clean....activated rosin is used to make the joining of differing metals easier... it aids the wetting of the solder join....plain rosin is ok for most tube work as most wire and components are pre tinned any how...

[Structo]

I use Kester 60/40 .031", seems to work good.
I have a roll of .062 but I don't care for it, takes too much heat to get it to flow.

[mhuss]

I like the thin stuff (.031), but I prefer the 63/37 blend. Kester 454, #24-6337-8801.

--mark

[petemoore]

Whatever makes the best looking joints.
Which isn't made to sound sarcastic...
Labeled electrical solder, RS sells good solder, don't know a whole lot about various brands other than have had good results with various brands I've bought after asking at electronix supply houses.
I've tried really 'old brand' solder, probably was good once, seein' how dad probably bought it, had troubles with that stuff, didn't flow right, still have it, couldn't trash it for some reason, fishing weights someday I guess..
Super thin I sometimes like for perfboard, but that's not for amps generally, easy to control in small amounts.
But I like it pretty thin if I'm starting fresh wire tinning while it's being soldered to something, laying 1/2'' of solder over the joint puts exactly the right amount of solder to conduct heat into the joint, but if it's too thin, it's harder to control it from being magically attracted to the iron instead of into the wire or on the joint.
medium thin seems to take heat from the iron and start to melt a bit faster, also does this when applied 'late' to the far side of the joint from the iron, on some joints I use this method to reduce smoking and ensure the entire joint fully heated.

[Lonely Raven]

I love this WBT 4% Silver Solder. It flows easily and well, cools quickly, and you can clearly see how well it's flowed into where you put it. Cold solders are easy to spot because they don't have that liquid metal look to them that a good solder joint does.

All that said, I was taught that solder is not glue, and a good physical connection is the key to a good joint. So I buff all my parts leads with 0000 synthetic steel wool and make sure they have a physically solid connection before the iron ever hits.

I think that's part of why I've been successful on all my kit builds...even though I'm just a "paint by numbers" builder with a little imagination.

I forgot the link: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl ... er=093-584

[Phil_S]

.032" 4% silver 96% tin. About $3 for the small tube, either at Radio Shack or Sears. I'm sure you can buy larger quantities, too. I generally figure about one tube per amp build, give or take a quarter tube.

I don't like the idea of handling lead. I do, however, keep some Kester 60/40 around for old work, as it has a slightly lower melting point and I'm not sure if there are consequences (raising the melting point) of mixing the two types.

[Structo]

You guys that like the silver solder ever notice if the solder joints oxidize with age?

[RJ Guitars]

Thank you all for the info...

I went down to radio shack today and they have a good selection of the various sizes and compounds. I bought some of the silver tin stuff just to try it and a roll of reliable old 60/40 just for good measure... we'll see what happens.

I believe I read in the mouser catalog specs on solder that you can mix the silver-tin with lead-tin. Has anybody done that?

rj

[David Root]

+1 on the 63/37, (0.31 dia.) also known as "Eutectic" because it functions at a eutectic point. It melts/solidifies within about 1 deg F, VERY precise!

If it has a downside, it's harder to use on joints requiring lots of solder if you don't change tips. I so lazy!

[lastwinj]

60/40 .031 kester 44 with 66 core.

same kind i sold MOJO, 800#'s worth.

germ

[gearhead]

I actually like the larger Kester 44, .06. On the other hand, the .093 size melts like a log.