[guest1632]

I think the Electrowise is like $30 a pound. So not bad.

I had some hopes for the AIM SN100C (which is the lead-free solder Electrowise sells) a while back. It's not a bad solder but the flux eats tips for breakfast. I stopped using it and went back to the Johnson IA-423 with their OR-120 water soluble organic flux which has been a favorite of mine for quite a while.

I recently discovered that Kester is licensed to make the SN100 alloy and they're selling it as K100LD with their 331 organic flux (as well as with their 48 activated rosin core and 275 no clean flux). Been meaning to get some to try but haven't got 'round to it yet.

I still have some of the AIM SN100C here. I'd be happy to send you a sample of it along with some IA-423. Just shoot me an EMail with a mailing address.

se

Hi Steve,

This LeadFree stuff is seemingly a real PITA. This Johnson IA423 stuff, the water soluable flux, isn't that fairly corrosive? I have a friend who bought several rolls of the stuff, and his first roll was freat to work with. The second one he is now on, doesn't work as well. Both are Lead free.

See my email address below.

raybronk@comcast.net

I'll take you up on your offer, so email me, and I'll give you my address.

Ray Bronk

[Steve Eddy]

This LeadFree stuff is seemingly a real PITA. This Johnson IA423 stuff, the water soluable flux, isn't that fairly corrosive? I have a friend who bought several rolls of the stuff, and his first roll was freat to work with. The second one he is now on, doesn't work as well. Both are Lead free.

The water soluble flux residue should be washed off. But the nice thing about it is you can simply wash it off with nothing more than water.

Just sent you an EMail.

se

[DaveC113]

Check this out:

http://www.johnsonmfg.com/forms/quote423.htm

1 lb solder, 1lb flux for $25. The only place I know that sells it (Parts Connexion) charges $60 / lb w/ AR100 flux core.

It works well most of the time. The high melting temp is a PITA, and it doesn't wet very easily. Sometimes additional flux is needed, and it won't wet copper with any corrosion at all.

I don't need more solder right now, but I think I'll take them up on the offer 

Dave

[Steve Eddy]

I don't need more solder right now, but I think I'll take them up on the offer 

Before you do, check to make sure it's not a solid core solder.

se

[randytsuch]

This LeadFree stuff is seemingly a real PITA. This Johnson IA423 stuff, the water soluable flux, isn't that fairly corrosive? I have a friend who bought several rolls of the stuff, and his first roll was freat to work with. The second one he is now on, doesn't work as well. Both are Lead free.

The water soluble flux residue should be washed off. But the nice thing about it is you can simply wash it off with nothing more than water.

Just sent you an EMail.

se

We use water soluble flux at work, and I have been hesitant to use if at home because it is conductive.  I have seen problems at work, caused by a little flux not washed off.  It caused errors in analog circuits.  We have a fancy washing machine to clean the boards, but some times, when they rework it, they will try to just clean the spot that was reworked, and that's usually when there are problems.

I was not sure if a little flux would affect the sound of a circuit, but I bought a lb of ersin multicore silver solder a while back, and have just been using that.

Randy

[Steve Eddy]

We use water soluble flux at work, and I have been hesitant to use if at home because it is conductive.  I have seen problems at work, caused by a little flux not washed off.  It caused errors in analog circuits.  We have a fancy washing machine to clean the boards, but some times, when they rework it, they will try to just clean the spot that was reworked, and that's usually when there are problems.

I was not sure if a little flux would affect the sound of a circuit, but I bought a lb of ersin multicore silver solder a while back, and have just been using that.

Yeah. And and high input impedance devices like JFETs can have problems with that bit of conductivity.

By the way, had an odd conversation with the guy at Johnson today.

I'd got my stash of IA-423 with the OR-120 flux from a company I was doing some work for some years back. I'm down to my last quarter pound so I called 'em up today to see what pound spools of the 0.025" diameter solder were selling for.

The guy said he had to go check. He came back and told me that "the boss" said he didn't think they could even draw the solder that small. I told him I was sitting looking at a spool of it as we spoke. He said it must've just been something they had done just to see if they could do it.

So it appears that Johnson has no interest in serving the electronics industry.

se

[KBK]

OK. So What's the consensus? What RoHS compliant solder sounds the, uh..er..best?

OR do I have to make 10 identical interconnects with the only difference being the solder..to find out?

[Ray Collins]

I use Radio Shack brand and it works just fine.  It is about the same stuff I used when I was a kid fooling with ham radio gear.  I just can't get in a twist over it...

Ray

[whubbard]

I'm going to go ahead and put another recommendation in for Cardas Quad. The stuff is amazing, and compared to everything else in the Audio World, its cheap.

-West

[mgalusha]

Another vote for the Cardas. I don't know if the Cardas sounds any better or not but it is very nice to work with and easy to clean up the residual flux. Good stuff IMO.