Solder thickness?

thefader

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What solder do you use use when working on these monitor boards? They have more kinds and thicknesses than the grocery store has salad dressing. Thanks.
 
Monitors don't matter... I normally pull out the el-cheapo .062

I normally use .050 andd .031 for most pcb work, and .020 for surface mount.
 
I use the .032 60/40 for just about everything, although I have some much smaller stuff for fine work...
 
I use the smallest stuff I can get. What I have now is about 1/2 as thick as mechanical pencil lead. I use it for everything... I just got spoiled with it I guess... melts super fast, easy to work with, and I get it by lb from eBay.

I'm pretty sure it was .020, and it was either a 5 or 8lb spool... but I can't find it on there now. I need to start keeping my eyes open for it now because I'm starting to run a little lowish. But, it was a massive spool and it was $18... I remember that.

Good stuff.
 
What solder do you use use when working on these monitor boards? They have more kinds and thicknesses than the grocery store has salad dressing. Thanks.

Sizes = 0.015, 0.031 and 0.062 depending on what I am working on. Most often 0.031".

Composition = 63/37 alloy for rework. Don't use lead free for rework of old boards.

#44 Rosin core is fine for rework. You can also go with no-clean core solder. No-Clean leaves less mess behind.

For rework -- I most often use Kester #245 (No-Clean), 63/37 solder.

I use Kester water soluble for assembly of new boards. NEVER use water soluble for rework - if you don't get all of the flux off, it WILL eventually start corroding metal objects (IC legs, pads, etc).

-- Ed
 
For monitor boards, almost always .032 . I use that stuff for most through-hole stuff in general. For finer pitch stuff, either .022 or .015 .

DogP
 
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