[sdiy] solder questions

[mark s]

FWIW, i clean my kester 331 (or AIM Solder equivalent ORJ 2%) with a 
toothbrush under tap water for a few minutes. fast and efficient.

big props to paul schreiber for turning me on to organic solder.

mark



>James Patchell wrote:
>
> > Leaving Kester 44 alone is a lot better than doing a half ass job of
> > cleaning it.  I have stuff around here that is 30+ years old that was
> > assembled with Kester 44 and never cleaned...still works just fine.  If you
> > live where the is 100% humidity all the time, you might have a problem.
> >
> > At 05:59 PM 9/7/2004 -0700, Tentochi wrote:
> > >Do most people *not* clean their Kester 44 boards?  I think I still have a
> > >couple of rolls on the
> > >bench somewhere.
> > >
> > >I received 2 boards from Cyndustries like this (uncleaned 44), and
> > >cosmetically it looked terrible
> > >especially next to my other shiny boards.  I was surprised to say the 
> least.
> > >
> > >For people that *do* clean their Kester 44 boards, what methods do you use
> > >to clean them?
> > >
> > >I do believe the majority of active synth DIYers have switched over to 331
> > >and 245 though, right?
> > >
> > >--Todd
> > >
> > > > Kester 44 is clasified, believe it or not, as a no clean 
> flux...Kester 245
> > > > just make less mess...
> > >
> > > > >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)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >_______________________________
> > >Do you Yahoo!?
> > >Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now.
> > >http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush
> >
> >          -Jim
> > ***************************************************************
> > http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell
> >
> > ***************************************************************