I inherited a 5lb spool of Kester 63/37 solder. About .040" dia. Solid core. Probably from the early 1960's.
Would this be good for soldering feed wires to my bus wire? I'm used to seeing resin core solder.
Thank you
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I inherited a 5lb spool of Kester 63/37 solder. About .040" dia. Solid core. Probably from the early 1960's.
Would this be good for soldering feed wires to my bus wire? I'm used to seeing resin core solder.
Thank you
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Yes, it's rosin core solder so you're good to go.
You'll probably need some flux, you can buy rosin in a tin and brush it on the connection before you solder. I keep a tin of it around to dip problem wire into before soldering, it helps with the process.
It might be easier to just obtain some rosin core solder.
Joe,
Marked on the end of the spool is SOLID CORE, not Rosin core.
Thank you
It is perfectly fine to use, but as GRJ mentioned, use flux to help it flow. Rosin core solder is typically only 1% rosin anyway, and the fraction is the amount of tin and lead, so you now have a lifetime supply of solder. Get the soldering iron, or gun out and have at it.
I don't think it's worth the bother to tote around a separate container of rosin core flux so you can use this solid core solder.
I think solder is cheap.
LIONEL6457 posted:Joe,
Marked on the end of the spool is SOLID CORE, not Rosin core.
Thank you
Sorry, didn't catch that.
C W Burfle posted:I don't think it's worth the bother to tote around a separate container of rosin core flux so you can use this solid core solder.
I think solder is cheap.
Au contraire! Solder is most assuredly not that cheap, have you priced it?
Au contraire! Solder is most assuredly not that cheap, have you priced it
An 8 oz spool of 60/40 Rosin Core solder( .062) is listed at 14.49 at Radio Shack.
Kester "44" rosin core solder, also 60/40 (.031) is listed at $23.80 for a 1 pound spool on Amazon.com.
Kester "44" rosin core solder, 63/37 (.031) is listed at $24.99 for a 1 pound spool on Amazon.com.
It would take me years to go through a pound spool.
To me, solder is cheap.
I believe it will be fine to use, but I agree with previous posts...use flux! I used to have problems with soldering, until I started using flux. Flux makes the difference. It's almost, but not as dramatic, as trying to weld with a 7018 rod without flux on the rod...it doesn't work.
Glad I bought my lifetime supply years ago, when it probably was cheap.....I also use this little jar of flux and solder paste, which works best for me when soldering sheet brass...
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