Silver Solder

Can anybody suggest a silver solder to get? I have tried using the small bits from Maplin, but that was bloody awful to use.

Is the 96SC Colophony Free Solder (RS #362-8077) any good?

95·5% tin/ 3·8% silver/ 0·7% copper alloy with eutectic melting point of 217°C
Ecosol 105 colophony (rosin) free flux cored
Fast soldering on brass and copper
Soldering iron bit temperature of 340°C recommended
Compatible with 96SC CR32 and 96S RM89 solder pastes

Cheers,
Phill

 

I have found tandys stuff in the tube quite good, melts nicely and is easy to use.
maplin solder is pretty bad.

 

I use the Shark stuff I got from Maplin and have no complaints.

Michael.

 

Maplin's single packed silver solder pieces are listed as being 5.5 %, where as WBT silver solder is 4%.

I have tried both and found that for some reason, the WBT solder looks much cleaner and shiny than the maplin. Not sure if this will make any different in sound though. Could be just all down to the flux and other agents.

Wonder whether 5.5 % silver solder would sound better than 4% ?

Not something I'm going to fuss too much about though!

 

I've been using both the Maplin (shark) and the WBT stuff recently and the WBT solder seems to flow a hell of a lot better and is easier to use.

Could just be because the small bit of WBT I have is thinner than the Maplin stuff.

Michael.

 

I don't think so, I think maplin own brand stuff is not much good...diplomatic
I will only ever buy decent brands now I have learned the hard way.

 

Ill agree with Mr Data
The maplins stuff is god awfull to use and the source of many of my bad joints. switched to better solder and not had a dry joint since

 

I have been using silver solder from Maplins for ages. Haven't had any problems.

I don't know of any alternative suppliers though.
Is Tandy still in business in the UK? The solder recommended by 'Lt Cdr Data'; is it silver solder?

 

The Maplins stuff is fine, but you need a slightly higher tip temperature.

 

Yes, I eventually worked that out too. I have my iron on almost it's hottest setting (about 400C) and then it works pretty well.

Michael.

 

Me too. But my soldering iron don't have any kind of temperature control. It is a Remploy 30 Watt (must be over 30 years old) that I inherited from my Dad. I clean the bit with fine emery paper and it does its job with silver solder.

 

just ordered some multicore lead/tin myself, from farnell. My bro uses it, and I tried it, was SO much better than that craplin eastern shite, a pleasure to use.

They also have some interesting looking silver stuff in a reel for about £15 its low melting and I will bet its what russ andrews uses for his wonder solder. Probably as good as any. its multicore which is 5 cores of flux for great eveness and melting nice.

 

Can you actually notice a difference between using normal solder and silver stuff? Are all the components in CD players and amps etc. soldered with silver solder or do they just use normal?

 

its only 2-4 per cent silver. pretty insignificant if you ask me. no idea about commercial. probably not.

 

Silver solder forms a strong joint in copper, one which is less likely to corrode.

In electrical circuitry as it has the highest electrical conductivity of any metal.

 

Blue Max,

I bought my WBT silver solder from:

http://www.audiocom-uk.com/

which is also a great site to buy other components.

I have bought many Black Gate caps from there.

 

Many useful stuff and mods there.
Thanks

 

Well I got the Multicore 96SC Colophony Free Solder (RS #362-8077), which is lead and Rosin free.
It's nice enough to use, wets up and flows well and seems to melt at the same temp as 60/40. It is quite difficult to get nice looking shiny joints though, but it has been suggested to me that might be caused by using lead-free solder with components that are already tinned with leaded solder.
I'm not sure if these duller looking joints will sound bad and I still haven't finished anything yet!

 

to add weight to the sound:MILD:
i use good old 60/40 for almost everything

 

Name another metal which is solid at room temperature, but melts at relatively low ones (327.5C), copper melts at over 1000C and silver over 900C.