[Amps] current threads about silver solder and resoldering

[Randall, Randy]

I am out there looking for 60/40 solder too.  Scored a big 5 lb. roll from RCA in Indianapolis.  It was 7 years old, but still shrink wrapped, shiny and clean for $5.00!!  I should have bought the 2 other rolls.  Ersin multicore is one of my favorites too.  Got a 1 lb. 2% silver roll at a tractor show for $3.00.  You never know where it will turn up!  At the same show I also got 5  new B&K 100 MHz scope probes and a bunch of other cables for $10.00 and 4 500' rolls of silver plated Teflon wire  for $40.00.

Randy.


Randy E. Randall AB9GO
Network Engineer
UC Health
Randy.Randall at UCHealth.com
Phone 513-585-7146
Fax 513-585-7159


-----Original Message-----
From: Amps [mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Gene May
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 12:11 PM
To: Amplifier Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Amps] current threads about silver solder and resoldering


Some discussants in this have mentioned buying old solder at hamfests, etc.  I do the same, but it is important to read labels carefully.  The solder that has the lowest melting point is (by weight) 63% tin (Sn), 37% lead (Pb).  This ratio also has the same temperatures for "starts to melt" and "completely melted"; i.e., no temperature range with "pasty" solder.  Note well the greater amount of tin, not lead, because tin melts at a lower temperature than lead.  Note also that tin is more expensive than lead.

60Sn/40Pb melts very close to 63Sn/37Pb, and has only a small pasty range.  Unfortunately, I have occasionally seen "60/40" solder for sale that, upon reading the SMALLER print, is 60Pb/40Sn.  This stuff melts at a significantly higher temperature than 60Sn/40Pb and has a large "pasty" temperature range, and IMHO, is a pain to use.

Of course, I'm sure that no one is trying to mislead anyone in order to save a few cents.

Gene May
WB8WKU


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