Where to buy solder

[t.jo13]

just got 16 ch Dc controller, and soldering station. Now I need to know where to buy good quality solder. I am not sure if if there is different grades of solder, but I know that there is big differences. in the quality of welding wire. For example, If you buy welding wire from a place like harbor freight the wire is cheap in price and quality (my opinion ) the same holds true to sweating solder.

[SteveMaris]

Although I hate the place, I just get it from Radio shack.
 I use the .32 diameter 60/40 rosin core.
Works great for me.

[sebjsan]

I use this one and many others do as well
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[lineman]

I also radio shack works for me

[njKeever]

I bought You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login from CSI when I bought my station. Soldered 5 LE, a SS hub, and a few other small projects. I would buy again, but at this rate I think I'm set for life!

[Dennis Cherry]

My personal choice is SN63 solder that it what the part assembly companies use.

Have used it for years and will not use 60/40 anymore. Why? that is because the 63/37 has the perfect properties to go from a solid to a liquid state back to a solid state and not have the dreaded PLASTIC state. What that means is if the wire moves while cooling the solder joint could fracture and the solder joint looks very dull and takes on the appearance of cracked glass.  The SN63 greatly reduces that problem and makes a much nicer faster solder joint.

Hear is one choice:

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[t.jo13]

Thanks for the info solder ordered

[Penfold]

You can probably get some nice Kester 63/37 .031 like Dennis stated on ebay.  I remember being able to find a 1lb roll of it for about $16.00.

[chrisatpsu]

what if you need smaller diameter solder, where would you find it?

[Dennis Cherry]

what if you need smaller diameter solder, where would you find it?

Go to the same website I posted and you will find it as small as .015. That is what I use, but not for every ones taste.

[pk]

To add to what Dennis said - With the .015 DIA solder you do have better control on the amount of solder that is applied.  You will have to feed a longer piece of solder into the joint do to the smaller diameter solder having less volume per inch.  It feels you are using more solder but you are not.  (Which weighs more?  A pound of 0.031 DIA solder or a pound 0.015 DIA solder?) 

[sebjsan]

What weights more a ton of gold or a ton of feathers?

[rwave]

What weights more a ton of gold or a ton of feathers?

Neither, a ton of quarks weighs more!   

Richard (from SoCal)   

[pk]

Hey guys.. we are drifting off topic.

[tbone321]

To add to what Dennis said - With the .015 DIA solder you do have better control on the amount of solder that is applied.  You will have to feed a longer piece of solder into the joint do to the smaller diameter solder having less volume per inch.  It feels you are using more solder but you are not.  (Which weighs more?  A pound of 0.031 DIA solder or a pound 0.015 DIA solder?)

It's not so much a matter of weight as a matter of time.  The longer you are feeding that thin solder into the joint, the longer you are keeping heat on the joint and th components.  If you are using flux core solder then you are probably not getting the proper amount of flux on the joint either if you are using thin solder on a large joint.  They make different size solders for a reason and it really is best to use the correct size for the joint that you are soldering.  I have about 3 different sizes with .031 on the stand and .015 near by.  I don't remember the size of the third one but it is a heavy solder that I use for large components and heavy wire.