RS Pro Tin 60/40 or Multicore 60/40 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Yaroooo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2019, 07:18:16 am
content: Any advice between this 2?I've tried a lot of Chinese tin, but all of them are very low quality, quite impossible to solder.I want to buy something of good quality, maybe not the best, but good enough for non professional 8 hours continuous welding.I've found, that I can buy at normal price from my country, this two brand. First one cost half of the second one. This price is somehow increased just for brand name Loctite? Anyone tried RS Tin?Thanks!

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2019, 12:06:51 pm
content: I'd be happy with the RS solder.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 24, 2019, 12:58:20 pm
content: I prefer 63/37 as it is eutectic.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2019, 01:04:16 pm
content: In practice it makes little to no difference as long as your iron has decent heat capacity and is capable of maintaining the tip temperature but it is simpler to make good joints with eutectic solder if your technique and/or equipment is poor..

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2019, 02:15:24 pm
content: Previous company had multicore solder for over 15 years, I also use it since late 90's a very good brand.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2019, 09:17:28 pm
content: If there is any advantage to a multi-core solder, I have never observed it. Who manufactured the solder seems more relevant to the quality and performance.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2019, 04:08:40 am
content: Quote from: David Hess on April 25, 2019, 09:17:28 pmMulticoreisa brand of solder. (Now owned by Loctite, which seems to be little by little phasing out the multicore brand name.)

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2019, 01:18:14 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on April 26, 2019, 04:08:40 amBut multi-core is a type of solder which has multiple flux cores. Multicore may or may not be a good brand but the same applies to Kester, Alpha, whatever.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2019, 01:25:11 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on April 26, 2019, 01:18:14 pmMulticore as a brand is good quality stuff, multi-core as a type is also good to have but buy a quality brand

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2019, 01:37:13 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on April 26, 2019, 01:18:14 pmThe thread title doesn’t ask “single core 60/40 or multi-core 60/40”, so it’s obvious the OP is asking about the Multicorebrand. (And yes, Multicore is a premium solder brand.)Also, the only other brand of multiple-flux-core solder I’m aware of, beside Multicore, is Stannol. Kester and Alpha (and MG Chemicals, Felder, and every other random solder I’ve encountered) has a single flux core.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 07:13:02 am
content: Quote from: tooki on April 26, 2019, 01:37:13 pmFor some reason I think it's the same company (Loctite).

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 08:11:06 am
content: Loctite 60/40 is what I mostly use. I bought ten rolls of it from eBay user “follymodels” recently. Should last a few years:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BULK-PACK-OF-10-x-110-GRAM-REELS-OF-HIGH-QUALITY-LOCTITE-MULTICORE-LEADED-SOLDER/312232426709Multicore and Loctite are same stuff.I prefer 62/36/2 but it’s really expensive. Think I paid £27 for 250g of it.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 09:05:49 pm
content: BTW, I'd happily buy a solder wire without any flux in it if it was easily available. While I'm a happy user of stannol solder wires (with HS10 flux), I found flux of a limited use. Basically, it only works if parts are new and shiny. Otherwise external flux is needed anyway. I also had to tune temperature when I was soldering wires. There was a sweet spot when it worked, otherwise external flux was needed.Another reason I want a solder wire without flux is I don't know properties of their flux (basically corrosivness and conductivity). I know it's "no clean", but this really means nothing without numbers (=sir test).

author: ElectronicCat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 09:16:26 pm
content: Quote from: exe on April 27, 2019, 09:05:49 pmIf you buy from any reputable seller they should list details on the type of flux and it's properties. If you really want solder without flux look at plumbing solder, although this tends to be quite thick.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 09:34:40 pm
content: Quote from: ElectronicCat on April 27, 2019, 09:16:26 pmI'm yet to see a flux with any good specification. I have like 15 fluxes, none of them have any important details, including amtech, etc. No flux specifies resistance, esp. at different temperatures. No flux specifies acidity when not activated (useful for hand soldering), etc.So, the only real solution is clean it well (but may not work well for bga). Or characterize manually (that's what I did). I have only one flux that is claimed to be compatible with precision equipment, but again doesn't tell if its claimed resistance is unconditional, or after full activation.Why not clean it? I found that good cleaning is quite difficult. Probably, an ultrasonic bath with full submerge is the only solution. Cleaning with a tooth brush is not efficient, imho. It's hard to clean clean under ICs, for example. It's not easy to clean solidified flux residue.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 09:37:20 pm
content: You should be able to buy good solder from Farnell Italia :All solders:https://it.farnell.com/c/strumenti-e-forniture-di-produzione/stazioni-saldanti-e-accessori/saldatura/filo-saldanteLoctite / Multicore, Kester Solder, Stannol, Edsyn ... good brands.There may or may not be a problem buying them as a private person (some new regulations not allowing lead based stuff to be sold to private persons I think)If that's the case, maybe order from Digikey in US? You get free shipping with a minimum order, and customs/DHL/UPS people probably won't be aware of these regulations or won't care.If you want liquid fluxes, you should check out TME.EU ...https://www.tme.eu/en/katalog/fluxes_100484/They stock fluxes from a Polish company (AG Thermopasty) and they're quite OK, and cheap for the volume :long link

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 10:02:22 pm
content: Quote from: mariush on April 27, 2019, 09:37:20 pmI'd recommend stick to tk83 (abbreviated to "tk" on tme) and rf800, the latter seems to be a less concentrated tk83. I tested them, look to be non-corrosive, non-conductive once dried. Others, afaik, have a special purpose. With some luck it's possible to find very minimal info on their websitehttp://termopasty.pl/en/products-en/welding-brazing/. Again, no datasheets or something (available documents are almost useless). I also requested info directly from the factory by email, no reply whatsoever.

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 10:26:17 pm
content: Quote from: exe on April 27, 2019, 09:05:49 pmstannol has many flux options - you can get something more agressive, but you may need to clean it off afterwards.you could try kristall511, or 2630 variants.https://www.stannol.de/products/solder-wires/?L=1

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2019, 10:54:45 pm
content: Quote from: exe on April 27, 2019, 07:13:02 amOh wow, yes they are! I had no idea. But it’s not obvious — they don’t market themselves as being part of Loctite/Henkel. It’s just mentioned casually on the company history page. But it definitely explains why they are the only other brand with multiple flux cores.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 10:07:01 am
content: The sticker on the spool looks with the exception of the brand name identical.

author: malagas_on_fire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 12:22:43 pm
content: I've picked up this MBO 60 Sn / 38 Pb, 2% Cu 0.5mm solder and performs pretty well and has a dataheet:https://www.electronicaembajadores.com/en-GB/Productos/Detalle/HRJ1221/tool-instrument/soldering-consumables-and-accesories/mbo-soldering-tin-60-sn-38-pb-2-cu-0-5-mm-250-g

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 04:39:42 pm
content: i had a reel of MBO, the flux was not as good as stannol IMO

author: malagas_on_fire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 06:25:40 pm
content: Gotta try next time some stannolHas anyone tried also donau solder 60 Sn 38 Pb Cu 2%? I was also OK

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 27, 2019, 06:29:26 am
content: In case anyone missed it, there was little difference between the major brands when I tested them. Having said that - if Multicore solder is an option, it would always be my default as it's excellent quality and always consistent.