FS (US) Kester Solder on EBAY - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: amwales
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2014, 09:21:57 am
content: Hey guys I just spotted on ebay1LB Roll Of Kester Solder Wire SN63PB37 CORE66, - .38mm (DIA.015") 24-6337-8853 $20http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1LB-Roll-Of-Kester-Solder-Wire-SN63PB37-CORE66-38mm-DIA-015-24-6337-8853-/121196567825?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c37e0dd11I am not affiliated in anyway I just ordered one from the UK and he has more available.I wonder how the age ( 1998 ) affects it, if at all.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2014, 03:19:37 pm
content: It's expired according to their website:http://www.kester.com/kester-content/uploads/2013/02/Shelf_Life_Policy.pdfThe metals won't expire however the surface can oxidize, unless its bad you can always wipe it down with alcohol prior to soldering. Inside the first layer on the spool it should be nice and shiny. I've got 30 year old rosin core and it still works ok, your solder however is no clean so depending what they used it might not wet properly.Try it against some new solder on a bare bit of board. Make two thin pools with a hot iron and compare the two. Cut through the pools sharply with the pointy corner of an old flat blade screwdriver trying to lift the solder off, take some photos should be interesting to see.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2014, 05:22:15 pm
content: I am still using a very old roll of this very same solder. It is probably 10 years old and still works perfectly. I think it is one of the best solder ever made. It flows better than any other solder I have ever used. And the price seems extremely good too. Thanks for posting it, I will order a roll.

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 09:49:46 pm
content: Don't worry about expiration for Hobby use. 0.015 is really thin for general use unless all you do is tiny smd and in that case solder paste might be a better choice. I was using 0.40 and it was too thick for some stuff then I got 0.015 and it was too thin for some stuff or I had to feed too fastI got 0.025 a couple of weeks ago, Kester Vintage 2007 3 spools, one unused and two used (like 2 full spools) for $20They have good deals all the time on ebay. Just buy Kester and as new as possible with resin core

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 10:08:39 pm
content: Quote from: casinada on May 19, 2014, 09:49:46 pmThis in a nutshell.about 0.6-0.8mm seems pretty good for me.

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2014, 06:32:04 am
content: dang, ordered this one, but yeah, 0.6mm would suit better.Those imperial measures..

author: amwales
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2014, 11:07:28 am
content: Just updated my forum country to UK.Getting Kester 63/37 .4mm in the UK from Farnell is £98 before postage so I'm willing to give this old stuff a try.I've beeing looking for some for ages.Yes, I started practicing SMT soldering, tqfp44 and 805s and it was a lot easier than I thought.Ordered some boards from OSHpark so am pretty excited waiting for delivery

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2014, 11:23:38 am
content: Quote from: amwales on May 20, 2014, 11:07:28 amI have some solder i got around 1986, I guess it was already some years then, and it still is very good solder. Don't know what brand it is though, but solder do seem to be fine after many many years..

author: lpc32
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2014, 08:09:09 pm
content: Quote from: amwales on May 20, 2014, 11:07:28 amI don't understand these insane prices, also in some other stores. Like Mouser's price of about $120 for Kester SAC305 .020", which can be had elsewhere for about half the price (which is still not cheap).

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2014, 08:28:25 pm
content: @amwales : you can get Multicore 63/37 with no clean flux for about 44 uk pounds, including the 16 pounds charge for bringing it from US:http://uk.farnell.com/multicore-solder/mm00975/solder-wire-63-37-sn-pb-1lb/dp/2305441You can buy three of them 500g spools for the 98 pounds you'd pay for kester (3 x 27.14 + 15.95 = 97.37 pounds) ...It's the same solder I use... not that it says much, but I like it a lot.

author: Po6ept
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2014, 03:36:23 am
content: I am still using several rolls of Kester rosin core solder that I bought in 1980. It still wets and flows well. I know it had an expiration date but so far it performs exactly as it did when new.

author: amwales
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2014, 07:52:07 am
content: The roll arrived a few days ago. Shiny, wets well, I used a flux pen as I do normally. Very happy with my 1998 expired .38mm solder wire

author: ivaylo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2014, 09:11:55 pm
content: QuoteWTF, the dude is in San Francisco... First time I am segregated for living in California.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 12:57:35 am
content: Quote from: ivaylo on May 26, 2014, 09:11:55 pmHopefully his local supermarket will refuse to sell him. He is punishing the wrong people.Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 04:42:23 am
content: Quote from: zapta on May 27, 2014, 12:57:35 ameverything is illegal in kalifornia. easy enough solution: move to another state.