What do you use for solder wire?

[MaximRecoil]

When I worked at a PCB factory, we used Alpha Metals SMT Core Plus (63/37) with a flux percentage of "P1" (nominally 1.1%). Most of my soldering was done on through-hole terminal blocks, and I used .025" diameter for that. For SMT rework I used the same stuff, but in .015" diameter.

I consider this solder to be perfect. It wets and flows beautifully, even on surfaces that aren't perfectly clean. Also, since the spool of it that I have (which I got from work in 1999) is now ~15 years old, and still performs as well as it always has, I can report that its flux has no apparent limit on its shelf-life.

Unfortunately, the 1 lb. spool of it that I got from work is .015", which is less useful to me than .025" (my boss wouldn't give me a spool of .025", because it was in much higher demand at work, thus more likely to be missed). I've looked for some from time to time online, but it is hard to find the exact combination I'm looking for (.025", P1 flux%, SMT Core Plus). This is complicated by the fact that I don't think Alpha Metals calls it "SMT Core Plus" anymore; they have "SMT Plus" ... does anyone know if that's the same thing? This site suggests that it is the same thing, as it is referred to as "SMT Core Plus" in the description, despite only saying "SMT Plus" on the actual label. On the other hand, my label says "SMT Core Plus":

[johansen]

I stumbled across
Alpha Reliacore 15

62 tin
36 lead
2% silver.

I found 2 pounds of it on ebay last year for less than the price of the silver in it (at the time)
The flux in it isn't super strong but the silver keeps the solder shiny.. and that's worth it lol...

[mariush]

I'm using Multicore 63/37 0.56mm (i suppose it's 0.022") with probably 2% or 2.2% no clean flux.

http://www.newark.com/multicore-solder/mm00975/solder-wire-63-37-sn-pb-1lb/dp/32M7025

Ignore the picture, it's not the right one.

Excellent for my needs, works fine.

[Macbeth]

My trusty "Adepto" rosin cored reel of solder 60/40 tin/lead 500g from Maplin has been my faithful servant for over 20 years! 0.7mm dia.

I recently purchased 250g of 99.3/0.7 tin/copper multicomp solder from farnell, 0.5mm dia. I prefer my leaded solder.

[Fsck]

huge fan of good old kester 44 63/37.

[MaximRecoil]

huge fan of good old kester 44 63/37.

That's one of the most popular, but I've never used it. What is the flux percentage, and do you clean the flux residue after soldering with it? Have you ever used no-clean Kester 245? If so, how does it compare?

[Fsck]

huge fan of good old kester 44 63/37.

That's one of the most popular, but I've never used it. What is the flux percentage, and do you clean the flux residue after soldering with it? Have you ever used no-clean Kester 245? If so, how does it compare?

flux percentage based on core size.
usually don't clean residue, since I'm lazy. unless it's something I intend to use often or want to beautify.
bought 2 spools of 245, haven't had a chance to use it yet.

[MaximRecoil]

flux percentage based on core size.

Why? Since it is a percentage, the overall quantity of flux is automatically relative to the wire diameter anyway, that is, for example, 2.2% = greater quantity of flux with .032" diameter solder wire than with .020". I like to have the same flux percentage regardless of wire diameter so that the soldering characteristics remain the same.

usually don't clean residue, since I'm lazy. unless it's something I intend to use often or want to beautify.
bought 2 spools of 245, haven't had a chance to use it yet.

I've been thinking of trying Kester 245, simply because it is a no-clean solder wire that seems to have a good reputation, and may be easier to find than Alpha SMT Core Plus. I wonder if you can buy it in small quantities to test out. A whole pound would last me for decades.

[Fsck]

the thing is, with kester, depending on the exact series of solder, you can have a choice of core sizes.
50 = 1.1% ; 58 = 2.2% ; 66 = 3.3%

and, for some diameters, you have a choice of multiple core sizes.
like 1mm kester 245 comes in all 3 core sizes. was quite confusing when I ordered it, I just picked haphazardly.

[mcinque]

Stannol HS10. The best for me!

[nanofrog]

Kester 44 (63/37, 66 core) is my preferred choice for rosin, and Kester 245 (63/37, 58 core) for no-clean.

Easy to find in the US, and usually at a decent price if you hunt around a bit (i.e. all-spec has good prices currently if anyone needs a spool).

[Fsck]

Kester 44 (63/37, 66 core) is my preferred choice for rosin, and Kester 245 (63/37, 58 core) for no-clean.

Easy to find in the US, and usually at a decent price if you hunt around a bit (i.e. all-spec has good prices currently if anyone needs a spool).

actually, if you get lucky, you can find old well kept kester 44 on ebay for pretty cheap, if you're in the US it's way easier (shipping).
from what I can tell, age doesn't noticeably degrade it's performance.

[ddrl46]

I use Stannol 0.5mm HS10 (Sn60Pb39Cu1), it's absolutely great stuff.

[echen1024]

I use some MG Chemicals 4894. Rosin Activated, 60/40, 0.025". Pretty good for the price

[nanofrog]

Kester 44 (63/37, 66 core) is my preferred choice for rosin, and Kester 245 (63/37, 58 core) for no-clean.

Easy to find in the US, and usually at a decent price if you hunt around a bit (i.e. all-spec has good prices currently if anyone needs a spool).

actually, if you get lucky, you can find old well kept kester 44 on ebay for pretty cheap, if you're in the US it's way easier (shipping).
from what I can tell, age doesn't noticeably degrade it's performance.

Possible.

Most of the time I've checked though, the expired/nearly so spools sold on eBay are close to what you can get a new spool for. And you know what you have with a new spool (no potential storage issues). As per flux degradation, it's been so long ago I used it new (bought in '90), that I can't recall any significant difference between then and now (works just fine today FWIW). I just don't go through it that fast.

I use some MG Chemicals 4894. Rosin Activated, 60/40, 0.025". Pretty good for the price

MG Chemicals makes good stuff. As does Kester, Alpha Metals, AIM (American Iron & Metals), Indium, and Multicore (Henkel) for example.

Kester and AIM are easy to find IMHO in the US, and at decent prices. Indium and Alpha seem to be a bit harder to find, and in the case of Indium at least, more expensive last I checked. Multicore can be had, but seems to have even fewer distributors, possibly only one (digikey carries it, not sure of anyone else).

[wilheldp]

Multicore can be had, but seems to have even fewer distributors, possibly only one (digikey carries it, not sure of anyone else).

MCM carries Multicore.

[nanofrog]

MCM carries Multicore.

Good to know. Thanks. 

[peter.mitchell]

I'm currently using a 500g roll of MECHANIC 0.8mm 63/37 rosin core, it's ok, the rosin is very strong, I haven't used rosin core for a while so that probably is why it seems strong. Price; $ 30ea, free shipping
Before that, i was using a 500g roll of WiT 0.8mm 63/37 no clean, it was much better, flux not as strong and didn't need cleaning, less fumes too. Price: $34ea, free shipping
Before that, 500g roll Multicore C400 0.8mm 63/37 no clean, it was a little bit better than the wit, the flux didn't boil off as quick. Price: $45ea, $15 shipping.

500g rolls last a while so i don't buy very often, i do buy two rolls at a time though, It's good to have one in the portable kit as well.

As far as paste goes, i'm using Chipquik 63/37 no clean, T5 size, 250g jar. It's good, but pricey, also has a pretty high flux/suspension content because the small ball size.

[John Coloccia]

Kester 44 (63/37, 66 core) is my preferred choice for rosin

That's pretty much all I use now.  I clean the flux on my products, strictly for looks.  I've used Alpha too.  Kester is so widely available and easy to find just about everywhere that I decided to standardize on it, and that's that.  I also use Kestor's flux pens.

[MaximRecoil]

Kester is so widely available and easy to find just about everywhere that I decided to standardize on it, and that's that.

I would do the same thing if I soldered a lot at home. One pound of e.g. .032" solder wire = about 50,000 solder joints according to one article I read, and that is way more than I'll ever solder at home even if I live to be 120 years old. At work I soldered about 4,000 joints per night, so a pound of solder wire lasted a couple/few weeks, but at home most of my soldering is done to keep my classic video arcade machines running, along with fixing the occasional random electronic device for myself or people I know. So that's why I'm waiting to find a good deal on the exact combination I'm looking for (Alpha Metals SMT Core Plus, 63/37, 1.1% flux, .025"), because it is what I know and like, and one pound is a lifetime supply for me (barring any unforeseen changes in circumstances).

[John Coloccia]

I have a roll of Alpametals .025, 63/37 wire stamped AM-11652.  It's Rosin Core.  I don't know the percentage of flux, though.  I don't intend to ever use it.  It's not quite a full pound as I've used just a little bit....it's pretty close to new, though.  Why don't you contact them and see if it's what you're looking for.  If it is, shoot me a PM.   You can have it for $10, shipped to your door...basically my packing and shipping cost....and if you hurry I'll get it in the mail tomorrow and you'll have it Weds.

[MaximRecoil]

I have a roll of Alpametals .025, 63/37 wire stamped AM-11652.  It's Rosin Core.  I don't know the percentage of flux, though.  I don't intend to ever use it.  It's not quite a full pound as I've used just a little bit....it's pretty close to new, though.  Why don't you contact them and see if it's what you're looking for.  If it is, shoot me a PM.   You can have it for $10, shipped to your door...basically my packing and shipping cost....and if you hurry I'll get it in the mail tomorrow and you'll have it Weds.

Thanks for the offer, but if it says "Rosin Core" on it, it isn't what I'm looking for. I believe that what you have is like this, except yours is 1 lb. instead of 1/2 lb. and 63/37 instead of 60/40.

The stuff I'm looking for is no-clean, called "SMT Core Plus" (it seems to be just called "SMT Plus" these days). Alpha makes quite a few lines of no-clean flux core solder (e.g., SMT, SMT Plus, Telecore, Telecore Plus, Cleanline 7000, Fluitin, Synalow); I don't know what the differences are among all of them, and their site isn't very helpful in determining that.

My situation is that I have tons of experience with SMT Core Plus due to soldering thousands of joints per night with it for ~2 years at work, and little-to-no experience with anything else, so even if I had a bunch of samples of other types of solder wire, they could never be as "tried-and-true" from my perspective as SMT Core Plus, because I don't solder nearly enough at home to really test them out. That's why I want to specifically stick with SMT Core Plus.

[neslekkim]

This? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alpha-SMT-Plus-143367-032-P1-63SN-37Pb-No-Clean-Solder-Wire-1-lb-/181287481218

[MaximRecoil]

This? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alpha-SMT-Plus-143367-032-P1-63SN-37Pb-No-Clean-Solder-Wire-1-lb-/181287481218

Yeah, I saw that auction earlier, and it is almost exactly the ticket, except for the diameter (.032" instead of .025"). I would have bought it already if it was .025", since that is a decent price considering the free shipping. If all else fails I can buy it new/retail from here (4th one down on the list, item number 110302-1998) for $31.59, but then I'd have to pay shipping on top of that (it is one of those sites that doesn't tell you the shipping cost right up front, so I don't know how much).

[GreyWoolfe]

My main solder is an  Alphametals Reliacore  .020 63/37 2% flux.  I also have some Phillips ECG .047 60/40 2% and some Radio Shack silver bearing .022 62/36/2 for repairing costume jewelry for the women of the house.