Tinning New Tips- Rosin Core or Solid Wire? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Mitchell Andrews
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 05:44:14 pm
content: Which is best for Tinning NEW Soldering Iron Tips? Leaded Rosin-Core Solder or Leaded Solid Wire Solder (no flux).Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 06:00:19 pm
content: Rosin. I assume your tip is going to contact rosin flux practically every time it is used, why avoid it on the first tinning?

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 06:11:59 pm
content: I would not go out of my way to get solid .It would seem to me that the rosin burns off , so no point .I clean my tips frequently and have a dish of flux next to the soldering station and when impurities / burnt flux starts adding up , I wipe the tip and dip in flux .And never put a tip away without being tinned .

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 07:20:54 pm
content: You want flux during tinning as well making a joint, so get flux cored solder wire.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 07:29:26 pm
content: Flux is needed to clean any oxides away, so use the fluxed core, the solid stuff is best reserved for plumbing.

author: Mitchell Andrews
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 07:55:24 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on December 19, 2013, 06:00:19 pmAs common knowledge, the first tinning, when done correctly at the right temperature, is very important since it will impact how well the tip performs over it's life. I question if the flux leaves behind unnecessary residue . I imagine the first tinning fills in a certain amount of porosity which becomes a permanent to a certain point. But I'm no expert, which is why I ask.Most of my leaded solder is solid core wire and that's all I've ever used. In the past I have preferred controlling how much flux and where exactly it's applied using a fine tipped brush with flux paste. When I apprenticed, 20 some years ago (mostly just soldering what I was told to), in a Sony Certified Service/Repair Shop, Solid Core is all that we used. Am I just behind in the times?

author: Hideki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 08:24:43 pm
content: Maybe you have been living in a parallel reality where solid core is what people typically use?In my reality, all solder used for electronics will have some kind of flux inside. Sometimes even a no-clean flux instead of rosin. For non-electronics use, anything goes.

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 08:44:19 pm
content: Quote from: Mitchell Andrews on December 19, 2013, 07:55:24 pmWhere are you getting soldering iron tips that dont come tinned already? The first tinning is usually done by the mfg, and youre just adding more solder from then on

author: Mitchell Andrews
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 09:08:57 pm
content: Quote from: Hideki on December 19, 2013, 08:24:43 pmIf you could kindly provide a manufacturer data sheet for any "Standard Leaded Solid Wire Solder" for electronics use, that contains flux. I would then consider this a true reality.Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 09:43:51 pm
content: Who said anything about 'solid wire solder'? Flux-cored solder is obviously not solid. But here you go, this is thedatasheetfor what I'd consider bog standard leaded electronics solder. The name and the logo of this particular company even emphasize the multiple flux cores.

author: Mitchell Andrews
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 10:32:38 pm
content: User: Hideki says that ALL solders for electronics have some kind of Flux....I disagree. Plus, the title of this thread is based on the pros and cons of Solid Wire Solder vs Flux core for tinning NEW tips. Which is best.I will add that I like Solid Wire Solder because of it's long shelf life. But, what's best for New Tinning?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 10:49:47 pm
content: I have searched and never found fluxless solid core electronics solder wire in any shop. I would like to own some if I could ever find it.That said, new tinning never happens. The tips are pre-tinned when they come from the factory. When I use a tip for the first time I simply apply regular flux cored electronics solder, wipe it clean and start soldering.

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 11:00:34 pm
content: At work we do have various solder wire sizes (no flux core made by consolidated alloys) but these are used in the workshops on mechanical jobs not electronic (PCB etc). Various Flux types are always used depending on what is being soldered.As for electronic use, from a major equipment manufacturer to my current employment, I have always used rosin cored solder from the first use of a new iron tip to its worn out end!.Perhaps if you have two new tips you could do an experiment to see which lasts longer, one tinned using no flux and one with flux!.

author: Mitchell Andrews
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 12:12:52 am
content: Quote from: lowimpedance on December 19, 2013, 11:00:34 pmGreat idea! Thank you for sharing your professional advice and experience!Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 12:48:39 am
content: Why are so many people argumentative , do not read the question and have responses that do not take in the question ?Soldering is a process and over time requires various actions .Rosin , flux & acid are all cleaning agents to help the chemical reaction called timing , each of the cleaners have different applications .Rosin or fluxes are generally for electrical , acid is generally mechanical and almost never electrical .To the question its just a mater of getting the new tips to tin for a number of reasons .If I remember correctly fluxes are like pine-resin found in nature and fluxes are petroleum chemical mixes that vary depending on a number of design outcomes .So rosin can have more burn residues and fluxes vary much more .But the question is what to use for new tips , I do not think it matters much , what matters is what the end product needs are .

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 03:59:36 am
content: Quote from: KD0CAC John on December 20, 2013, 12:48:39 amThe existing tinning on a tip as well as solder wire can oxidize. By using flux cored wire, the oxides get cleaned off, allowing the solder to wet the tip properly. Proper tip cleaning removes the flux residue off of the tip.Oxidation of solder wire and tips are more of an issue for hobbyists IMHO since we tend to use solder at a much slower rate than production, and spare tips might sit in a drawer for years before ever being used.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 05:13:32 am
content: QuoteEh? That is crazy. The infamous "Multicore" Rosin Flux 60/40 solder has been the standard solder of choice since I was born in the 1970's, and I certainly used it all the time in the 80's/90's when I was a college student, apprentice, then an employed bench service engineer. I have never used solid core with an additional flux. Of course that is all changed now with BGA's, solder paste, etc.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 07:50:49 am
content: Quote from: Mitchell Andrews on December 19, 2013, 07:55:24 pmUps, this is the first time that I hear that solid core was used in consumer electronic repair. I used 60/40 rosin core from when I was a boy. I don't think I even knew there was other soldering wire than 60/40 with rosin core. All I knew was there was solder for plumbers, and soldering wire for electronics. The later with rosin core. The plumber stuff requiring nasty, aggressive flux paste or fluids, eating away on copper and other metals.When I worked in a repair shop for some professional equipment, more than just your 20 years ago, it was 60/40 with rosin core and a Weller iron for almost everything. I can hardly remember cases where solid core was required. Only on special instructions from the manufacturer. And these jobs were always done by the shop's most senior supervisor. Now that I think about it, these might have been jobs using silver solder, not 60/40.Or maybe you are ahead of your time. With the diameter of soldering wire going down for fine work the flux in the wire is often not sufficient any more. Thats why these days adding extra flux has become more common, not to say the norm, when using thin soldering wire.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 08:08:24 am
content: Quote from: KD0CAC John on December 20, 2013, 12:48:39 amBecause it asks about a variant (using solid core) that is hardly known in the industry, and not only today, but apparently is almost unknown to those practicing the art all around the world for decades. It further implies an importance to the procedure that those practicing the art all around the for decades typically don't ascribe to it. Actually, a bit more and I would have considered the question a trolling attempt. Just for the record, I didn't, but it was a close call, especially taking the OP's reaction to the first few answers into account.Further, we are not paid consultants with an obligation to answer at all, or answer in a satisfying way. We discuss what we want, when we want.