What do you use for solder wire?

[nanofrog]

As for someone living in the EU (Netherlands) i'm not using Stannol anymore, because I bought a few years ago from stores through Ebay some factoryfresh spools of Kester 44 RA 63/37 3,3% core66 in the sizes of 0,80mm (ThruHole) and 0,50mm/0,40mm (SMD). Much, much better solder than Stannol HS10/HF32 I used before. 

If I must buy again, I will get the same Kester 44 or Kester 285 (RMA) even if it's more expensive than the local Stannol stuff. It's such a joy to work with.... 

The Kester products you mention are wonderful to work with IME, as are Alpha Metals' products (very competitive on price here in the US), as are Indium and MG Chemicals' products.  My favorite is definitely Kester though (flux products as well; 1544 & 186-18 RA & RMA respectively, and 951 no-clean). Best yet, it's readily available here and it's well priced as well.    In the case of flux however, MG Chemicals 835 (RA) is sold in hobbyist friendly sizes (100ml & 1L vs. Kester only comes in 1gal or larger or expensive disposable pens  ). There are eBay sellers who break down bottles of Kester however, and I've found a seller that I'm satisfied with (product seems genuine IME). 

Sadly, that's not the case in the EU as I understand it (63/37 seems a LOT harder to find in the EU, let alone at a reasonable price based on what I've seen). Based on what I've seen, 60/40 is FAR more available in the EU/UK market. At least MG Chemicals' 835 is available there as well. 

[stj]

63/37 isnt hard to find, but it is expensive (lead is expensive) and not legal for many uses either.
so the company's dont sell much.

[helius]

63/37 isnt hard to find, but it is expensive (lead is expensive) and not legal for many uses either.
so the company's dont sell much.

Lead is one-tenth the price of tin by weight. It is also not extracted through tribute to warlords (one of the sources of Cassiterite is in Somalia).
Much of the world's lead is recycled from old car or truck batteries, making it a renewable material.

[David Hess]

Sadly, that's not the case in the EU as I understand it (63/37 seems a LOT harder to find in the EU, let alone at a reasonable price based on what I've seen). Based on what I've seen, 60/40 is FAR more available in the EU/UK market. At least MG Chemicals' 835 is available there as well.

I do not know of any applications where the difference between Sn60Pb40 (183C/190C) and eutectic Sn63Pb37 (183C) is significant.  If I wanted a more universal and stronger tin/lead solder, I would use Sn62Pb36Ag2 (179C).

[nanofrog]

63/37 isnt hard to find, but it is expensive (lead is expensive) and not legal for many uses either.
so the company's dont sell much.

I've not spotted it from many EU manufacturers (namely Stannol). IIRC, I did find 2 companies in Poland that make 63/37 in small spools (and I've lost the links  ). 

What I primarily see however is Farnell importing Kester from the US. And yeah that 20USD shipping fee tacked on stings  (the same fee is applied here for items that come out of their UK & EU facilities).

I do not know of any applications where the difference between Sn60Pb40 (183C/190C) and eutectic Sn63Pb37 (183C) is significant.  If I wanted a more universal and stronger tin/lead solder, I would use Sn62Pb36Ag2 (179C).

FWIW the history that's been recounted to me is 60/40 was simply cheaper.

As per 62/36/2, I used to do that actually.  But with the cost of silver lately, I changed my mind on that one.  I do have some I got cheap from a RadioShack that closed; otherwise ~$60 per spool last I checked. 

[madires]

63/37 isnt hard to find, but it is expensive (lead is expensive) and not legal for many uses either.
so the company's dont sell much.

I've not spotted it from many EU manufacturers (namely Stannol). IIRC, I did find 2 companies in Poland that make 63/37 in small spools (and I've lost the links  ). 

Stannol sells 63/37 only as solid wire (no flux) and solder bars. But they got Sn60/Pb40 and Sn60/Pb39/Cu1 solder wire with flux. I'm using Sn60/Pb38/Cu2 (Felder) mostly.

[stj]

i buy from here:
https://www.rapidonline.com/solder

[CraigHB]

I've been using Kester 63/37 with the 285 RMA core for quite a long time now.  I actually like it better than the 44 core, seems to work better for me.  I use the Kester 186 liquid flux in a pen and out of the bottle.  The 186 is also an RMA flux, but for whatever reason the stuff they put in the solder is called 285 where the stuff that comes in a bottle is 186.  Vendors most commonly stock 2.2% or 3.3% core sizes, but Kester does offer a 1.1%, might be hard to find though.  The Kester stuff is the best I've used, but being in the EU it might not be the best in terms of price and availability.

[mariush]

Farnell has some good solder in stock..

 1+ £35.82 MULTICORE / LOCTITE  DLMP24 250G REEL  Solder Wire, LMP, 0.56mm Diameter, 179°C, 250g 3% flux : http://uk.farnell.com/multicore-loctite/dlmp24-250g-reel/solder-wire-lmp-0-56mm-250g/dp/419552
 1+ £40.10 MULTICORE / LOCTITE  DLMP26 250G REEL  Solder Wire, 62/36/2, 0.46mm Diameter, 179°C, 250g  3% flux : http://uk.farnell.com/multicore-loctite/dlmp26-250g-reel/solder-wire-62-36-2-179-c-250g/dp/419564
 1+ £48.88 KESTER SOLDER  24-6337-8806  Solder Wire, 63/37, 0.4mm Diameter, 183°C, 490g  1.1% or 2% Kester 245 no-clean flux http://uk.farnell.com/kester-solder/24-6337-8806/solder-63-37-0-4mm/dp/1610447

Rs Online also stocks multicore with 60/40 and 62/36/2

24 euro , multicore 60/40 0.5mm 2.2% no clean flux , 250g http://ro.rsdelivers.com/product/multicore/288498/multicore-05mm-wire-solder-183-%e2%86%92-188%c2%b0c-melting-point-40-lead-60-tin-250g/4364831

34 euro Multicore 60/40  0.5mm 3% rosin flux , 250g http://ro.rsdelivers.com/product/multicore/442570/multicore-05mm-wire-solder-183-%e2%86%92-188%c2%b0c-melting-point-40-lead-60-tin-250g/4364881

[MaximRecoil]

My solder came in the mail the day before yesterday (very fast shipping):



All brand new, still wrapped in plastic, and the total price with shipping was $45. $11.25 per pound for that stuff is a hell of a deal, considering it usually retails for about $35 a pound, and I'll never have to buy solder again.

[nanofrog]

All brand new, still wrapped in plastic, and the total price with shipping was $45. $11.25 per pound for that stuff is a hell of a deal, considering it usually retails for about $35 a pound, and I'll never have to buy solder again.

Now that's a steal deal.