[sdiy] solder questions

[Metrophage]

I started off using Rat Shack solder and (horrible!) flux. I remember
one day a few years ago when my bench was in disarray from hunting
parts, and I fell asleep with the flux container tilted about 25
degrees on some other items. When I awoke the next morning, the
temperature had increased enough for the flux to turn liquid. Much of
it poured out of the container, a big puddle of the sticky stuff coated
everything which was loose on my bench! Aiieeee!!!!!!

Sometime that year I caved in and bought a roll of Kester SN63 solder,
and SP44 flux. The lame thing is that I still use my now ancient Rat
Shack 15-30 Watt pencil. It is not grounded nor temperature controlled.
At 30 Watts it is quite hot, I can often solder clean parts with no
flux when the contact is decent. The joints are shiny and strong, but
contact must be only for a very short time. Also, the Rat Shack tips
burn up very quickly. After a couple hours of use the point is chewed
and the plating has oxidized and burned off. The tips themselves appear
to be soft copper, I file them into a four-point pyramid and tin them
every few days, then they last me for a week or two of use. This is a
might bit ghetto, I am very much looking forward to buying a grounded
iron with temperature control and a selection of tips.

CJ


		
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