Solder paste, good to use?

LIONEL6457 posted:

I inherited some of this and was wondering if it is good to use with my Weller soldering iron when soldering wires.

Thank you

Yes, in my opinion, especially if you are using plain sold solder. However, for most all of my electrical soldering, I use rosin-core fine solder from Radio Shack.

Rosin- core solder is best for electric/ electronic work. Some of these fluxes are acidic and can cause electrical connections to degrade over time.

LIONEL6457 posted:

I inherited some of this and was wondering if it is good to use with my Weller soldering iron when soldering wires.

Thank you

I found some information on this stuff.  Although advertised as lead/acid free, it also is NOT recommended for electronic use (didn't say why).

Paul. 

Its okay for plumbing in some instances, or soldering non electrical items.  I would not use it on electronics.  It is a fairly active flux which is not good unless you have an inline chemical wash system.

I would recommend mechanically clean your surfaces or pre-tin them.  Then use tin lead solder with rosin flux.  Much lower heat than leadfree or SAC305 and much better solder joint. 

Thank you all!

I'll keep it with my Bernzomatic torch in case I have to sweat some copper pipes.

My solder does have an acid core.

Like previously stated, it's not recommended for electrical use, I'd heed that warning.

I have both paste and liquid ROSIN flux in my shop. Seperate rosin based flux can be useful when desoldering old, dirty connections on occasion. Or when soldering very old wire. This would be as a supplement to the flux that is in the solder. (Normally the extra flux is not needed)

I don't think Rosin flux is that commonly available. I've only seen it in a couple of stores, neither of which still exist. I suppose it is available online. 

It is not the same as the fluxes used for soldering metal or pipes. 

This is what I use if I feel the need for supplemental soldering flux.  One jar lasts a long time.

CAIG RSF-R80-2 DeoxIT Rosin Soldering Flux Jar 56g

I also use the DeoxIT Rosin Soldering Flux as needed, found it easy to apply with a  small hobby brush, like GUNRUNNERJOHN said a jar of this product the product lasts a long time. I used it primarily to solder track leads to the center rail of the Gargrave tin plate Phantom track after removing the black plating , the outside rails soldered easily with out this flux. This product should be easy to purchase from electrical/electronics supply distributors.   

LIONEL6457 posted:

Thank you all!

I'll keep it with my Bernzomatic torch in case I have to sweat some copper pipes.

My solder does have an acid core.

 

I love my Bernzomatic torch. I had to do some electrical work on my motorcycl, which entailed the need to solder a lot of 12 gauge wire. That torch in conguction with good rozen core solder and electrical grade liquid  flux made the project so much easier.

I so wish I could use it to solder the Ross track leads, but for obvious reasons, that would be a bad,  ad idea.