Enlighten a total novice

[John Speth]

I've only been lightly scanning this thread and I know there's been some 
talk of using organic based solder using different names.  I've used rosin 
core solder for years but until I started assembling MOTM kits, I'm sold on 
the MOTM's "organic" solder which is supplied with every kit.

I can't say when it should or shouldn't be used but it works great for the 
MOTM PCBs.  It melts nicely, smells kinda lemonny (I think they use citric 
acid), and there's no real rush to wash it off.  You are instructed to wash 
it off occasionally (maybe once every half hour) and never leave it 
unwashed when done.  But it cleans up with just a soft brush and warm water 
and it leaves you with bright shiny solder joints that make the board look 
like it was mass-produced.  I haven't seen any hint of acid-like corrosion 
while I was working with it and the longest I left it on was maybe 1.5 
hours.  I'll bet you can leave it on much longer.

Maybe I'll do a test and solder some junk parts and leave it dirty.

John Speth
Object Engineering, Inc
mailto:johns at oei.com