[sdiy] solder questions

[James Patchell]

Kester 44 is clasified, believe it or not, as a no clean flux...Kester 245 
just make less mess...

At 11:22 AM 9/7/2004 -0700, Tentochi wrote:
>Paul--
>
>I didn't know anyone was still regularly using rosin core such as Kester 
>44.  I only use it for
>very tricky jobs or specialized rework/repair; even then, I try and avoid 
>it.  Pretty much
>everyone has switched over to organic (water soluable) and no-clean 
>fluxxes.  In North America,
>most people are using the Kester versions (331 and 245 respectively) of 
>these.  I forget the brand
>they are typically using in Europe.  The following information is taken 
>from Dave B's excellent
>Hot Rod MOTM site (http://www.hotrodmotm.com) (pricing is a few years old, 
>so YMMV).  I know at
>least John Blacet (http://www.blacet.com) and Tony Allgood 
>(http://www.oakleysound.com) have
>followed in Paul Scheiber's footsteps (http://www.synthtech.com) in this 
>area.  Paul goes a step
>further in including these Kester solders in all of his MOTM kits.  Thanks 
>Paul!
>
>ORGANIC
>--Kester #24-6337-6401, 331 water soluble core, .020 dia., 1 lb. (This is 
>the water clean solder
>supplied in MOTM kits)
>**Allied #833-1455, 1-9 $16.67
>**Mouser #533-24-6337-6401, 1-9 $17.98
>
>NO-CLEAN
>--Kester #24-6337-8814, 245 no-clean, .050 dia., 1 lb. (This is the no 
>clean solder supplied in
>MOTM kits)
>**Mouser #533-24-6337-8814, 1-9 $ 12.06
>--Kester #24-6337-8800, 245 no-clean, .031 dia., 1 lb. (If you want a 
>thinner no clean solder)
>**Mouser #533-24-6337-8800, 1-9 $ 12.86
>
>The water-soluble flux is very corrosive (please correct me if I don't use 
>the right words
>describing this) and needs to be washed within an hour or so of usage.  I 
>use normal tap water,
>but some suggest using de-ionized or filtered water to avoid any 
>residue.  The flux is OSHAA
>approved to go down your household sink.  I use a small fingernail brush 
>to help out; some use a
>tooth brush.
>
>The no-clean type solder doesn't flow quite as well, but is typically used 
>on items that shouldn't
>get wet such as pots, jacks and hook-up wire.  The water-soluable type is 
>used on the balance.
>
>There is some flux residue from the no-clean flux, and it does not need to 
>be removed.  For
>cosmetic reasons, some people do remove it and there are several products 
>that are readily
>available commercially for this purpose.
>
> >  is there a solder type that is preferred these
> > days for general-purpose work (i.e. everything: outboard parts as well
> > as PCB work, tube sockets, perfboard, and other no-clean applications)?
> >   I'm still using the old-school stuff, Kester 44, and occasionally
> > silver solder for a few applications, but I know there's a wide variety
> > of other stuff available.  Is there any advantage to using the newer
> > products?
>
>This should increase your joy of soldering immensely.
>
>--Todd (fellow solder jockey)
>
>
>
>
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         -Jim
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http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell

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