What solder to purchase

[21QUEST]

Question for the soldering gods. (Shouts out to Viney,Sid,Rictus,Embee,TimW,Ape ...)

I hate electrical stuff and have always had someone good to do any tricky bits. Failing that I just bodge way out Subsequently never had to do much soldering . I need to do some rewiring(bike) and my electrical maestro hasn't got the time so now is as good a time as any to see what all the fuss is about :P

Quick look at maplin provided two different types of solders one of which is almost twice the price of the other. Question is is it worth bothering with the expensive one or will the cheaper one suffice. Link below

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?...25m7&source=15

Any suggestions , tips welcome


Cheers
Ben

None of those are necessary. Silver solder requires higher temperatures to work. Lead free solders are generally used in plumbing. Standard electronic resin-core solder is what you want. Electronics shops and hobby shops will have the correct stuff.

[21QUEST]

Thanks Andy.

Will any of the above be okay though? Maplins is the only place I can think of at the moment which is handy for me on my travels.

Cheers
Ben

No problem with any of those. A 250gm reel of the 1mm lead-free stuff should last you a long time. "Rosin" cored solder (almost all these days) cleans the metals to help the solder take to the joint easily.

Quick tips (in this order):

1) wipe the tip of the HOT iron on a damp sponge to remove oxidised solder
2) "Tin" the tip with a small blob of solder (Aids heat transfer)
3) Offer the tip to the terminal / wire and watch for the solder "wicking" along / into metal.
4) offer the solder wire to the joint until it flows in a modest covering
5) Remove solder wire THEN.........
6) Remove soldering iron.

Do all of the above in a couple of seconds (unless heat transfer is slow). If the wires insulation starts melting, you've been in there too long. Oh yes.... and feel free to practice with some off-cuts of wire on a bench before starting.

Hope this helps.

Garry

Hope this helps.

[21QUEST]

Originally Posted by independentphoto

Good Stuff...

Garry

Hope this helps.

Oooo....h , so that's what all the fuss is about .


Cheers
Ben

[tigersaw]

60/40 multicore is the easiest to use. Being phased out, health and safety, but get it if you see it.

[northwind]

Why bother, use molten flesh like I always end up doing

[21QUEST]

Originally Posted by tigersaw

60/40 multicore is the easiest to use. Being phased out, health and safety, but get it if you see it.

Tiger , why is it easier to use and what's the H+S deal with it ?.

Cheers
Ben

[tigersaw]

Originally Posted by 21QUEST

Tiger , why is it easier to use and what's the H+S deal with it ?.

Cheers
Ben

60% lead, 40% tin, with flux in the core.
melts at low temp, flows easily, does not erode the soldering iron tip, (much).

Think its the fumes that getting it phased out. Fortunately we have about 50 years worth stashed.

Resin core solder is crap, Just use solid solder with bakers flux