Re: Newbie Question - Solder

Posted by Jacques (A) on November 4, 2005 at 10:58:25

In Reply to: Re: Newbie Question - Solder posted by James L on November 4, 2005 at 00:37:28:

>Does flux affect how the solder flows, as Tweekeng suggests, or is it primarily a cleaning agent?
The flux solubilizes the (mainly) oxyde, (but also) carbonate and sulphur layer that built up onto
the bare metal. Then the solder can wet the metal. Without flux, solder would not wet metal through
this layer but on very clean small areas free of the oxydation layer.

It does not affect how the solder flows, but how it will wet the metals to be soldered.

>As one's soldering skills increase are there good reasons to use solders with a different type of flux?
I don(t know shether it's a question of skill or not, but you can use different fluxes for soldering
through-hole components, SMS components or wires : not easy to clean flux off a wire .
Easier with a board. So you use no-clean flux with wires, panel mounted components etc. You use solvant or water-soluble flux with
boards that you will clean. With SMS components, you need a more viscous flux which will prevent the component standing up (tombstone effect).

But for now, you should buy solder as advised by J.Risch or by Tweekend.

Buy several diameters, 1.2 mm2 (useful for ground and large components), 0.7mm2 for standard
soldering, 0.3mm2 for SMS and fine fixes.

Also be careful, flux fumes are nasty and are said to trigger lung problems like asthma with
sensitive persons. An air extractor is a good idea if confined. Anyway, do not breathe them.
If you have pet birds, never expose them to these fumes.

Also, wash your hands after soldering, since you have plenty of grey lead on them. Lead poisoning
makes ppl dumb. Depends whether it's important to you or no ;-)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Newbie Question - Solder - James L 10:44:35 11/03/05 (20)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - Julien43 05:01:50 11/06/05 (0)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - pkell44 12:47:23 11/04/05 (2)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - Pars 13:24:01 11/08/05 (1)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - pkell44 08:53:49 11/09/05 (0)

Get a big enough iron - jnorv 20:30:39 11/03/05 (4)

What about for terminating cables? - James L 23:02:57 11/03/05 (3)

Re: What about for terminating cables? - Pars 11:20:43 11/09/05 (0)

Re: What about for terminating cables? - jnorv 18:24:28 11/04/05 (0)

IC's are not the place to start - Russ57 09:20:00 11/04/05 (0)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - Jon Risch 18:44:32 11/03/05 (9)

Second your recommendation of 'Multicore' - gads 04:30:28 11/05/05 (1)

Third recommendation of Multicore - Duster 08:28:57 11/05/05 (0)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - James L 00:37:28 11/04/05 (6)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - Jacques 10:58:25 11/04/05 (4)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - jneutron 11:13:19 11/04/05 (3)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - Jacques 14:19:31 11/04/05 (2)

Aha..found it.. - jneutron 07:40:59 11/07/05 (1)

Re: Aha..found it.. - Jacques 16:10:39 11/07/05 (0)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - jneutron 10:39:08 11/04/05 (0)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - Tweekeng 13:08:15 11/03/05 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - Jacques 10:58:25 11/04/05 (4)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - jneutron 11:13:19 11/04/05 (3)

Re: Newbie Question - Solder - Jacques 14:19:31 11/04/05 (2)

Aha..found it.. - jneutron 07:40:59 11/07/05 (1)

Re: Aha..found it.. - Jacques 16:10:39 11/07/05 (0)

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