[sdiy] 0.100 pin header reliability.

[David G. Dixon]

> I have rarely (in fact never) seen aluminum as a metal in connector pins.
> Usually they are steel (cheap) or brass, or beryllium copper...
> 
> Aluminum does not solder well at all using any standard electronic
> solders... (i hear there are fluxes for this, but have never needed
> them...)

In my experience, aluminum repels solder, which forms droplets with acute
contact angles when splashed onto aluminum.

For what it's worth, my crimping tool looks like a big pair of pliers, and
those crimped joints ain't coming apart anytime soon!  The wire would break
before those bad boys came loose, and in any case, there is no pulling
stress on them, as I always leave some slack in the wire.