Solder Paste - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: John80
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 08:53:39 am
content: I was searching the forum and the net about a cheap solder paste for hobby projects. It seems that the eBay ones are cheap but not good quality and the ones came from shops like Farnell and RS are really expensive.Is it posible to propose any good non lead free solder paste from eBay (that you have used before with reasonably good results) or from any other online shop (preferably a shop that can ship to Europe without to much extra cost)?

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 09:24:47 am
content: I don't know what you have been looking for but the ones i have been using have been fantastichttp://dx.com/p/lodestar-soldering-paste-50g-4711?item=3

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 09:32:51 am
content: If you search for "mechanic" solder paste you can get 50g (well, usually they are about 30g, since they lie about the weight) - it works pretty well and the small quantity makes it cheap.

author: John80
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 11:11:15 am
content: Quote from: T4P on September 28, 2012, 09:24:47 amI will have a look at this paste... I know Deal Extreme from previous transactions but almost always it takes more than 30Days for an item to be at my frond doorQuote from: 8086 on September 28, 2012, 09:32:51 amYou mean something like this one:http://www.ebay.com/itm/50g-Mechanic-Soldering-Solder-Welding-Paste-Flux-MCN-300-SMD-SMT-Sn63-Pb37-Tool-/300716257323?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item460415f02b

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 11:15:31 am
content: Quote from: John80 on September 28, 2012, 11:11:15 amThat's the one.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 12:02:05 pm
content: The lodestar one is actual 50g instead of the mechanics "50g"

author: Nirios
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 04:01:01 pm
content: What about using Wahl Silver Solder Paste 7459? It's avail at Mouser for $5 a tube.or Solder-It Silver Bearing Solder Paste (available at Lowes for $3.5 a tube)

author: gxti
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 05:22:57 pm
content: If it's at Lowes, then it's for plumbing, not electronics, and will either not work or significantly shorten the life of your boards.

author: Nirios
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 06:11:48 pm
content: Quote from: gxti on September 28, 2012, 05:22:57 pmThe description for it says: Great for Electronics, extremely high electrical conductivity. The manufacturers website says similar.They do have another type of paste that is for copper pipes which appears to be formulated lead-free for plumbing.I was just curious if anyone has had experience with it. For the price, I'm going to get a tube, one of my old scrap boards and see how it works.The MSDS sheet says its made of:TIN < 80%SILVER < 5%BISMUTH < 5%PETROLATUM < 29%GLYCERINE < 6%ZINC AMMONIA CHLORIDE < 2%

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 06:38:48 pm
content: I've used these :http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Japan-Senju-Soldering-Repair-Sparkle-Paste-Paster-500g-/251061263512?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item3a746adc98http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Japan-Flux-Grease-Gel-Repair-Solder-Paste-MK-50L-500g-/251061264162?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item3a746adf22I prefer the first as it seems to flow better in the oven - parts self-align more easily.Note these are for printing, not dispensing so fairly high viscosity

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 07:53:12 pm
content: Quote from: Nirios on September 28, 2012, 06:11:48 pmI wouldn't be surprised if it melts at a high temp because it's lead free plus i'm afraid it might be ACID core flux, that stuff ruins electronics well in fact it melts at the same temp as Sn96Ag3Cu0.5 and definitely for plumbingQuote from: mikeselectricstuff on September 28, 2012, 06:38:48 pmBoth do not disclose their mixtureI have seen Sn42Bi58 500g Solder on taobao for 20SGD, not sure if you can find them on ebay. They melt even way lower than 63/37 and i guess it's pretty much what the chipquik uses (but they charge excessive price)

author: Nirios
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2012, 09:53:59 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on September 28, 2012, 07:53:12 pmManufacturer website says it flows at 430 F. Is that too high? I thought that temperature is in between leaded and lead-free solders. From the MSDS sheet, ZINC AMMONIA CHLORIDE is used as the flux. I'm not a chemist, so I couldn't say how acidic that would be to electronic components.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2012, 01:54:50 am
content: Quote from: Nirios on September 28, 2012, 09:53:59 pmOkay, it's fine as a electronics flux. But seriously 430F is not between lead and lead-free it's LEAD-FREE