Soldering

[Heavy Metal]

For some applications I like a few % silver content in the solder especially high current connections subject to heating like Tallman said. I prefer to use it on high current RF connections like in amplifier tank circuits.It also tends to bond better to some metals

What I did would it benift me or 60/40 or 63/37 be about right? And lead or lead free? Lead does t bother me at all just prefer best bang for the buck to do the job. Just little things like that and cable connectors is about it for now lol.

 

[Beetle]

What I did would it benift me or 60/40 or 63/37 be about right? And lead or lead free? Lead does t bother me at all just prefer best bang for the buck to do the job. Just little things like that and cable connectors is about it for now lol.

When you see the two numbers (like 60/40), that tells you that the first one is the percentage of TIN (chemical symbol Sn), and the second number is the percentage of LEAD (Pb). So 60/40 is 60% tin, 40% lead; the label might say "Sn60". If there are three numbers, the third one will be small, usually not over 5, and that represents the percentage of SILVER in the alloy. One or both of the other numbers will be smaller so that the total of the three numbers is 100%.

So if you have "60/40" solder, it is, by definition, 40% lead. You can't have lead-free tin/lead solder.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

What I did would it benift me or 60/40 or 63/37 be about right? And lead or lead free? Lead does t bother me at all just prefer best bang for the buck to do the job. Just little things like that and cable connectors is about it for now lol.

For what you did 60/40 is 100% fine and is "normal" solder. Leaded or lead free is your choice but read my post above again regarding my dislike of lead free solder. I try and use a low percentage of silver in my solder for cable connections but that is just me being anal about my RF connectons.

 

[Heavy Metal]

So I would not go wrong with lead 60/40. So might as well go that way then.

 

[crappykraco]

60/40 is all I've ever used.

My soldering is just ok. Really would like to learn hands on from a seasoned pro.

 

[Tallman]

My soldering is just ok. Really would like to learn hands on from a seasoned pro.

Try this online course.Sorry I did not realize it was a course you might need to pay for.

http://circuittechnology.com/online-training-classes/

 

[BBB]

Here's a "tip" for soldering that heavy heat sink stuff like chassis grounds and wire terminals. Use your old trusty Weller soldering gun and some 12 or 14 gauge solid wire in place of the stock tip (which is worthless)

Works like a charm on the BIG stuff...