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OT: a quick question about solder

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K2QI

OT: a quick question about solder

I know that Elecraft states that rosin core solder is the only type that
should be used when it comes to circuit board assembly. However, can solid
wire solder (lead) be used as well? I have a whole spool of .020 solid wire
solder sitting around, and would like to know if I can use this stuff on the
K3.

James K2QI

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Brett Howard

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

The K3 was built on a RoHS process and technically you shouldn't mix the
processes (leaded solder with non leaded solder) that being said if
thats all you have then it will work. But the RoHS stuff can be had
fairly inexpensively...

~Brett (KC7OTG)

On Tue, 2009-08-18 at 00:05 -0400, James Sarte wrote:

> I know that Elecraft states that rosin core solder is the only type that
> should be used when it comes to circuit board assembly. However, can solid
> wire solder (lead) be used as well? I have a whole spool of .020 solid wire
> solder sitting around, and would like to know if I can use this stuff on the
> K3.
>
>
>
> James K2QI
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Merv Schweigert

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

I did not touch a soldering iron when assembling the K3, not sure what
there is to solder unless your making some mods.
And solid wire solder would be a bear to use with no flux. Sure would
not try using flux with it would be a huge mess of left over rosin.
Cheaper to go buy a few feet of the correct solder.
73 Merv KH7C

> The K3 was built on a RoHS process and technically you shouldn't mix the
> processes (leaded solder with non leaded solder) that being said if
> thats all you have then it will work. But the RoHS stuff can be had
> fairly inexpensively...
>
> ~Brett (KC7OTG)
>
> On Tue, 2009-08-18 at 00:05 -0400, James Sarte wrote:
>
>> I know that Elecraft states that rosin core solder is the only type that
>> should be used when it comes to circuit board assembly. However, can solid
>> wire solder (lead) be used as well? I have a whole spool of .020 solid wire
>> solder sitting around, and would like to know if I can use this stuff on the
>> K3.
>>
>>
>>
>> James K2QI
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

K2QI

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

Just to clarify, the solder I have is 63/37 solid wire; there is no core. I
wanted to know if I could use this stuff to perform a few mods to the RF
board.

I'll just pick up a spool of .020 and .032 RA or RMA Kester solder wire.
Truth be told, I don't even know where I got the spool of solid wire from.
just found it in my junk box.

Vy 73,

James K2QI

_____

From: Merv Schweigert [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:58 AM
To: Brett Howard
Cc: James Sarte; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: a quick question about solder

I did not touch a soldering iron when assembling the K3, not sure what
there is to solder unless your making some mods.
And solid wire solder would be a bear to use with no flux. Sure would
not try using flux with it would be a huge mess of left over rosin.
Cheaper to go buy a few feet of the correct solder.
73 Merv KH7C

The K3 was built on a RoHS process and technically you shouldn't mix the
processes (leaded solder with non leaded solder) that being said if
thats all you have then it will work. But the RoHS stuff can be had
fairly inexpensively...

~Brett (KC7OTG)

On Tue, 2009-08-18 at 00:05 -0400, James Sarte wrote:

I know that Elecraft states that rosin core solder is the only type that
should be used when it comes to circuit board assembly. However, can solid
wire solder (lead) be used as well? I have a whole spool of .020 solid wire
solder sitting around, and would like to know if I can use this stuff on the
K3.

James K2QI

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--... ...-- -.. . .--- .- -- . ...

K2QI

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

In reply to this post by Merv Schweigert

Correction - should have said type R or RMA solder; not RA.

James K2QI

_____

From: James Sarte [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:43 AM
To: 'Merv Schweigert'; 'Brett Howard'
Cc: '[hidden email]'
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] OT: a quick question about solder

Just to clarify, the solder I have is 63/37 solid wire; there is no core. I
wanted to know if I could use this stuff to perform a few mods to the RF
board.

I'll just pick up a spool of .020 and .032 RA or RMA Kester solder wire.
Truth be told, I don't even know where I got the spool of solid wire from.
just found it in my junk box.

Vy 73,

James K2QI

_____

From: Merv Schweigert [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:58 AM
To: Brett Howard
Cc: James Sarte; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: a quick question about solder

I did not touch a soldering iron when assembling the K3, not sure what
there is to solder unless your making some mods.
And solid wire solder would be a bear to use with no flux. Sure would
not try using flux with it would be a huge mess of left over rosin.
Cheaper to go buy a few feet of the correct solder.
73 Merv KH7C

The K3 was built on a RoHS process and technically you shouldn't mix the
processes (leaded solder with non leaded solder) that being said if
thats all you have then it will work. But the RoHS stuff can be had
fairly inexpensively...

~Brett (KC7OTG)

On Tue, 2009-08-18 at 00:05 -0400, James Sarte wrote:

I know that Elecraft states that rosin core solder is the only type that
should be used when it comes to circuit board assembly. However, can solid
wire solder (lead) be used as well? I have a whole spool of .020 solid wire
solder sitting around, and would like to know if I can use this stuff on the
K3.

James K2QI

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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--... ...-- -.. . .--- .- -- . ...

daleputnam

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

In reply to this post by Merv Schweigert

I would use the solid core with the correct amount of flux for the connection to be made. The correct amount of flux is that needed to clean, and distribute the heat, but not run off onto the PCB. When that happens, a quick cleanup may be needed for asthetics, depending on how much excess has escaped.

--... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy

.
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Matt Palmer-4

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

Any amount of flux you add will be too much, that's why they use rosin
core in industry as well.

Matt
W8ESE
心正即刀正

On Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 8:15 AM, Dale Putnam<[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> I would use the solid core with the correct amount of flux for the connection to be made. The correct amount of flux is that needed to clean, and distribute the heat, but not run off onto the PCB. When that happens, a quick cleanup may be needed for asthetics, depending on how much excess has escaped.
>
>
>
> --... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy
>
>
>
> .
> _________________________________________________________________
> Hotmail® is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast.
> http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_faster:082009
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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Paul Alexander-4

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

In reply to this post by K2QI

Before purchasing my K3, I e-mailed Elecraft and specifically asked if
the K3 was built on a RoHS process. I was told that units destined
for the US were built using leaded solder. My concern was that I did
not want a radio built using a RoHS process and this was a reason for
purchasing the K3 rather than something else. I hope I was not given
incorrect information.

Paul Alexander
wb9ipa

Message: 11
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:39:45 -0700
From: Brett Howard <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: a quick question about solder
To: James Sarte <[hidden email]>
Cc: [hidden email]
Message-ID: <1250570385.19212.75.camel@lappy>
Content-Type: text/plain

The K3 was built on a RoHS process and technically you shouldn't mix the
processes (leaded solder with non leaded solder) that being said if
thats all you have then it will work. But the RoHS stuff can be had
fairly inexpensively...

~Brett (KC7OTG)
______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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David Cutter

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

Hi Paul

I think it will soon be impossible to buy any electronic apparatus built using machine soldering that is NOT RoHS compliant. That will cover all manufacturing: amateur, professional, domestic, military. The manufacture of parts has swung that way and soldering baths have been re-filled with lead-free solder. Anything not lead-free must be made on a separate production line and it will soon be uneconomic to run two lines in the same factory because the parts will not be available.

I think you will have a tough time finding a manufacturer who can tell you they do not use RoHS components. Of course if they have stock left over, you have a chance, but that can only be on older designs. All new designs will use RoHS-compliant parts.

Pretty much all of EU is now RoHS and we buy most of our parts from the East. I don't know the situation in the US but I can't see them being able to make a non-RoHS compliant product when the big eastern suppliers turn to RoHS compliance.

I am intrigued to know what it is about the RoHS process that you don't like.

David
G3UNA

---- paul alexander <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Before purchasing my K3, I e-mailed Elecraft and specifically asked if
> the K3 was built on a RoHS process. I was told that units destined
> for the US were built using leaded solder. My concern was that I did
> not want a radio built using a RoHS process and this was a reason for
> purchasing the K3 rather than something else. I hope I was not given
> incorrect information.
>
> Paul Alexander
> wb9ipa
>

Matt Palmer-4

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

Military will always use lead solder, it is the easiest way for wider
pitch parts to self mitigate for tin whiskers.

Matt
W8ESE
心正即刀正

On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 6:54 AM, <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Paul
>
> I think it will soon be impossible to buy any electronic apparatus built using machine soldering that is NOT RoHS compliant. That will cover all manufacturing: amateur, professional, domestic, military. The manufacture of parts has swung that way and soldering baths have been re-filled with lead-free solder. Anything not lead-free must be made on a separate production line and it will soon be uneconomic to run two lines in the same factory because the parts will not be available.
>
> I think you will have a tough time finding a manufacturer who can tell you they do not use RoHS components. Of course if they have stock left over, you have a chance, but that can only be on older designs. All new designs will use RoHS-compliant parts.
>
> Pretty much all of EU is now RoHS and we buy most of our parts from the East. I don't know the situation in the US but I can't see them being able to make a non-RoHS compliant product when the big eastern suppliers turn to RoHS compliance.
>
> I am intrigued to know what it is about the RoHS process that you don't like.
>
> David
> G3UNA
>
>
> ---- paul alexander <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Before purchasing my K3, I e-mailed Elecraft and specifically asked if
>> the K3 was built on a RoHS process. I was told that units destined
>> for the US were built using leaded solder. My concern was that I did
>> not want a radio built using a RoHS process and this was a reason for
>> purchasing the K3 rather than something else. I hope I was not given
>> incorrect information.
>>
>> Paul Alexander
>> wb9ipa
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

David Cutter

Re: OT: a quick question about solder

Matt

I would say that's confined to a few and they are probably mostly US firms. I've read the stuff about tin whiskers and it fills me with dread for aerospace applications where very long life is required. On the ground so to speak, military stuff goes out of use a bit quicker and (I'm guessing) does not pose so much of a problem. I know military suppliers in EU that are fully RoHS compliant and (I think) would not get work if they were not!! Aerospace is different. Those that desire "special" production for lead soldering will charge accordingly but the rest of the world will not.

Elecraft and other non-aerospace suppliers are in a corner and RoHS is their only option. How much tin whisker growth can be expected on their circuits (and from other manufacturers in amateur radio) will have to wait for the test of time. I suppose we could do our own conformal coating if we are particularly worried.

73

David
G3UNA

---- Matt Palmer <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Military will always use lead solder, it is the easiest way for wider
> pitch parts to self mitigate for tin whiskers.
>
> Matt
> W8ESE
> 心正即刀正
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 6:54 AM, <[hidden email]> wrote:
> > Hi Paul
> >
> > I think it will soon be impossible to buy any electronic apparatus built using machine soldering that is NOT RoHS compliant. That will cover all manufacturing: amateur, professional, domestic, military. The manufacture of parts has swung that way and soldering baths have been re-filled with lead-free solder. Anything not lead-free must be made on a separate production line and it will soon be uneconomic to run two lines in the same factory because the parts will not be available.
> >
> > I think you will have a tough time finding a manufacturer who can tell you they do not use RoHS components. Of course if they have stock left over, you have a chance, but that can only be on older designs. All new designs will use RoHS-compliant parts.
> >
> > Pretty much all of EU is now RoHS and we buy most of our parts from the East. I don't know the situation in the US but I can't see them being able to make a non-RoHS compliant product when the big eastern suppliers turn to RoHS compliance.
> >
> > I am intrigued to know what it is about the RoHS process that you don't like.
> >
> > David
> > G3UNA
> >
> >