Posted by Poindexter [ 4.63.6.102 ] on December 31, 2004 at 23:31:08:

In Reply to: Re: Need recommendations on which solder to use posted by BillEpstein on November 24, 2004 at 18:12:44:

The old RatShack 62/36/2 with the red label was pretty good solder, except that it was so skinny that it took a foot of it to make a joint. The current one with the purple/magenta label is just rubbish. Literally; it's just dirty. If you keep your tip really, really clean you can get an okay joint from it, but why?

The Cardas is just beautiful. Easy to melt, good active flux that's easy on the surfaces, wets readily, leaves a clean shiny joint, just the right gauge for electronics (though a little skinny for, like, speaker wires). I've been building a lot this last year, and I've hardly put a dent in that half pound spool.

Listen to ya Unca Poinz; go on down to the sewing store, and get a lump of beeswax. Make sure it's real 100% beeswax. With your iron, sweep over one flat side of the lump, and stick it to your stand, right next to the sponge. Not too close to the iron holder, now.

No cheating, each and every time you pick up the iron out of the stand, touch it to the wax, wipe well on the sponge, and give it a little tin with the Cardas. Perfect joints every time, and no overheating of the circuit.

Prosperous New Year, guys,

Poinz

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