Soldering question about the solder itself

trina2498 · 02/23/2011, 04:14 PM

I am building my own LED lighting and I have probably read way too much. The question I have is on the actual solder. I have read a couple of posts about what not to use and everyone has thier own opinion. Why is tin in the solder a no no? And why lead free? I want to understand before I do the soldering. Most of the solder I have looked at are largely tin that are for electrical use.

kcress · 02/23/2011, 09:16 PM

All solder has tin in it.

You definitely want to use lead based solder. The non-lead based is extremely difficult to use.

I prefer the Kester 331 water soluble flux solder that' is Tin 63% and Lead 37%. But then it costs about $50 a roll.

zenpytho · 02/23/2011, 09:46 PM

what about just using silver solder?

TAB · 02/24/2011, 03:06 AM

generally speak solders that contain silver have a higher melting point then those that just contain lead and tin.

mcgyvr · 02/24/2011, 06:43 AM

Use 63/37 solder as said above.. Doesn't have to be any of the fancier water based flux..just anything you can get at a hardware store for electrical use. AND MOST IMPORTANT wash your hands/wipe down the area after you are done to avoid getting lead anywhere you don't want it.
Lead free is fine too, just a higher melting point.. Not difficult at all though..

BeanAnimal · 02/24/2011, 06:58 AM

I am not advocating anybody eat a lead sandwich for lunch and washing your hands is not a bad idea, but casual exposure to lead solder is rather harmless.

I would caution against "hardware store" solder as I have found that a lot of the "no name" stuff and the stuff from radio shack is complete garbage and some of it is not useable at all.

I prefer Kester '44' 63/37 solder, as it is an activated rosin core. Most of the "water base" stuff is hard to use. That is stay away from water based flux cores and wter based fluxes. If you are just learning to solder, then these will make things that much harder.

wfournier · 02/24/2011, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenpytho

what about just using silver solder?

If your asking this, you've never tried using it lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeanAnimal

I am not advocating anybody eat a lead sandwich for lunch and washing your hands is not a bad idea, but casual exposure to lead solder is rather harmless.

I would caution against "hardware store" solder as I have found that a lot of the "no name" stuff and the stuff from radio shack is complete garbage and some of it is not useable at all.

I prefer Kester '44' 63/37 solder, as it is an activated rosin core. Most of the "water base" stuff is hard to use. That is stay away from water based flux cores and wter based fluxes. If you are just learning to solder, then these will make things that much harder.

That's what I use, love it, easy to use.

DustinB · 02/24/2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeanAnimal

I am not advocating anybody eat a lead sandwich for lunch and washing your hands is not a bad idea, but casual exposure to lead solder is rather harmless.

I would caution against "hardware store" solder as I have found that a lot of the "no name" stuff and the stuff from radio shack is complete garbage and some of it is not useable at all.

I prefer Kester '44' 63/37 solder, as it is an activated rosin core. Most of the "water base" stuff is hard to use. That is stay away from water based flux cores and wter based fluxes. If you are just learning to solder, then these will make things that much harder.

I've never had any problem with the 60/40 rosin core from radio shack, used at least 10 large rolls of it.

kctango · 02/24/2011, 09:50 AM

Also you can change Dia. of the solder your using based on what you are doing

trina2498 · 02/24/2011, 05:14 PM

thank you all. I guess I must have been brain dead after reading the post it dawned on me to look it up on the web. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder And wow coffee shakes trying to solder are no fun.

BeanAnimal · 02/24/2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustinB

I've never had any problem with the 60/40 rosin core from radio shack, used at least 10 large rolls of it.

Rat Shack solder and hook-up wire are notoriously regarded as some of the worst stuff you can get. Many moons ago they carried quality materials, but in this era and economy, it is the lowest bidder. You simply never know what you are getting.

The purity of the alloy is only one aspect of the quality, the quality of the flux core is also very important. The Kester products have a high quality flux core, the cheap stuff, well...

Also note that solder (at least activated flux core solder) has a shelf life

zenpytho · 02/24/2011, 10:20 PM

actually i have used it as long as u have a good iron it works just fine i have never had issues with it

DustinB · 02/25/2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeanAnimal

Rat Shack solder and hook-up wire are notoriously regarded as some of the worst stuff you can get. Many moons ago they carried quality materials, but in this era and economy, it is the lowest bidder. You simply never know what you are getting.

The purity of the alloy is only one aspect of the quality, the quality of the flux core is also very important. The Kester products have a high quality flux core, the cheap stuff, well...

Also note that solder (at least activated flux core solder) has a shelf life

Good to know, thanks!

02/23/2011, 04:14 PM	#1
trina2498 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: central tx Posts: 5	Soldering question about the solder itself I am building my own LED lighting and I have probably read way too much. The question I have is on the actual solder. I have read a couple of posts about what not to use and everyone has thier own opinion. Why is tin in the solder a no no? And why lead free? I want to understand before I do the soldering. Most of the solder I have looked at are largely tin that are for electrical use.

02/24/2011, 03:06 AM	#4
TAB Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Fair Oaks Posts: 1,302	generally speak solders that contain silver have a higher melting point then those that just contain lead and tin. __________________ If its not Broken, play with it until it is.

02/24/2011, 06:43 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Use 63/37 solder as said above.. Doesn't have to be any of the fancier water based flux..just anything you can get at a hardware store for electrical use. AND MOST IMPORTANT wash your hands/wipe down the area after you are done to avoid getting lead anywhere you don't want it. Lead free is fine too, just a higher melting point.. Not difficult at all though.. __________________ Who me?

02/24/2011, 05:14 PM	#10
trina2498 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: central tx Posts: 5	thank you all. I guess I must have been brain dead after reading the post it dawned on me to look it up on the web. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder And wow coffee shakes trying to solder are no fun. __________________ Trina Current Tank Info: 14g bc softies 150g 30g sump currently fish only until i have everything I want for the tank

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02/23/2011, 09:16 PM	#2
kcress Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central California Coast. Posts: 5,383	All solder has tin in it. You definitely want to use lead based solder. The non-lead based is extremely difficult to use. I prefer the Kester 331 water soluble flux solder that' is Tin 63% and Lead 37%. But then it costs about $50 a roll.

02/23/2011, 09:46 PM	#3
zenpytho Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 160	what about just using silver solder?

02/24/2011, 06:58 AM	#6
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	I am not advocating anybody eat a lead sandwich for lunch and washing your hands is not a bad idea, but casual exposure to lead solder is rather harmless. I would caution against "hardware store" solder as I have found that a lot of the "no name" stuff and the stuff from radio shack is complete garbage and some of it is not useable at all. I prefer Kester '44' 63/37 solder, as it is an activated rosin core. Most of the "water base" stuff is hard to use. That is stay away from water based flux cores and wter based fluxes. If you are just learning to solder, then these will make things that much harder.

02/24/2011, 09:50 AM	#9
kctango Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Coastal Georgia Posts: 269	Also you can change Dia. of the solder your using based on what you are doing

02/24/2011, 10:20 PM	#12
zenpytho Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 160	actually i have used it as long as u have a good iron it works just fine i have never had issues with it