[sdiy] solder questions

[WeAreAs1 at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/8/04 8:02:44 PM, scott at tellun.com writes:

<< My current project is replacing all the caps in a 1940-something 
Hammond and I'm appalled at the state of the old solder in that 
beast. Taking the old caps out is like trying to solder with dog p**p. >>

Liquid flux -- or maybe even paste flux (which is likely what was used when 
they built that Hammond)-- would probably be of help to you in this situation.  
Also, make sure you're working with a hot enough iron, and add extra fresh 
solder to help wet things up.

BTW, I recently did some soldering inside a very old tube guitar amp.  I 
needed to solder to the terminals on the fuse holder, and I just couldn't get the 
solder to stick.  The metal of the terminals had oxidized (or something like 
oxidation), and it just would not accept the solder.  The solder would just 
bead up and fall off the terminal.  Finally, in frustration, I got out the Dremel 
tool and used it to grind away the cloudy oxidized surface of the terminal, 
after which the new solder worked perfectly.  I didn't like having to do that 
to the part, because that freshly exposed steel surface may more readily 
attract rust or corrosion, but it was so stubborn that I felt like I had no choice.  
I did make sure to cover as much of the newly exposed metal with solder, 
which may help protect the metal.

Does anyone here know when "Rosin-Core" solder first appeared on the scene?  
As far back as I can remember, it's always been around.  My dad was a Ham 
radio operator when I was a kid in the 1950's, and he always used that multicore 
rosin core solder.  Big, thick stuff compared to what any of us use, with gooey 
gobs of rosin leaking out of the end.  (He also had a big black Weller "gun" 
with a red "trigger" and the built-in flashlight-bulb work light.  I learned 
to solder with that Weller of his.  I hated having to hold the trigger while 
you waited for it to heat up)  I always liked the picture on those old solder 
boxes, which depicted the solder coming at you coiled like a snake, and showing t
he cross-section view of the amazing five rosin core veins in the end of the 
snake.  I wonder, now as I did then -- how the heck do they make that stuff, 
anyway?

Michael Bacich