Original poster: Terry Fritz <vardin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Hi Mark,I have used Radio Shack's "silver bearing" solder (64-035) but it is just regular lead solder with silver added (62/36/2). I like it when greater strength is needed. and it does solder very well with just a little more heat. I have not tried the 96/4 tin-silver stuff (64-025 64-026).
Digikey lists the silver bearing alloys, but doe not stock them (Oh oh!!) The kind I did not like was KE1351 which is (97/0.2/0.8/2) or "Saf-a-lloy". Kester may no longer sell it since I can't find it on their site and DK does not have it in stock. I got it when it first came out so maybe I was part of the "guinea pig" test... All the other lead frees have silver too except the 100% tin.
The Radio Shack stuff is a nice trial price so I will pick so up and give it a try. I think 96/4 comes from the stained glass industry. Typically, electronics stuff should not have silver in it due to a nasty thing known as silver migration. But I don't think that is a big deal for the hobbyist types. The military and the medical stuff will have big heart burn over the silver however!
Hopefully they will find something that works well. Perhaps just the 100% tin with the right flux, but they could not charge enough money for that :o)) I'll have to keep an eye out incase they don't find a good new solder and the lead solder starts to disappear. Might have to get a lifetime supply of Kester 44 RA ;-))
Cheers,
Terry
At 08:21 PM 12/15/2005, you wrote:
I've been using the 96/4 lead free solder from Radio Shack (see link below) for 6 years now, almost exclusively. So long as a decent soldering iron is used, I've never had any difficulties. In fact, I'd say that I solder *better* with it than good ole 60/40. :o But I've been told on many occasions that I'm "odd" :)This stuff (sorry for the wrapped link): http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062723&cp=2032058.2032236.2032313&allCount=53&fbn=Type%2FLead+Free&f=PAD%2FProduct+Type%2FLead+Free&fbc=1&parentPage=familyIt's definately a bit expensive for a big-time hobbyist, but that bit there is *ample* for a medium-sized TC. But it seems to be a stock item at every store I've been to, so the convenience factor is high.Cheers! Mark Broker On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 20:56:08 -0600, Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Original poster: Terry Fritz <vardin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Hi, At 07:12 PM 12/15/2005, you wrote:Well now you have me thinking that I must be really good at soldering... I have been using lead free solder for a year now, with decent results, it does help to make sure you soldering iron tip is compatable with it though (lead free solder would not tin my old tip, I bought a new one that said it was for lead free use, and it worked a lot better).What type/manufacturer of solder???? The special tip is a new to me *;-))) Cheers, Terry