What type of solder?

[landm]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this but here goes. :) OK all you soldering gurus out there I have been told that for soldering PE that solid wire is best. I went to get some today and it is hard to find except in some of the thicker gauges. All the fine wire had a rosin core. So what do you guys use?

Mike

[Andrew Hall]

Hi Mike,

I've found it best to use seperate solder and flux. You should be buying specific solder/flux for brass.

I'm in the UK as you know and we have a popular brand for modellers/railwayers/scale engineers called Carrs. They list several solders and the one recommended for brass is called Detailing Solder and melts around 145°. I use this in conjunction with their Green Label flux which is designed for brass (the purpose of flux is to remove oxidisation from the metals surface). I've used the normal electrical multicore thin stuff before but only on really fine joints.

IIRC you have Radio Shack over there (or at least the last time I was in the States) which you could get it from? Or Sears Tools maybe. Otherwise it's a trip to a railway hobby shop!

FWIW I've got three soldering irons a 40w, 25w and a butane pencil soldering iron which is excellent.

Cheers _ Andrew

[Sticky]

Hi, I use 2 types of solder. My mainstay is Tix a low melt solder from MicroMark. I also use the Tix Flux. I also use silver bearing solder, which is a higher melting temp.

HTH.

[mnickolson]

Mike if you are in the US you might try Radio Shack. They have a few sizes of solder where I get mine and flux also. But be careful if you get the paste type. It is hard to use if it is too thick.

Mike

[landm]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the tips. I did go by the local Radio Shack but all they had in stock was the rosin core stuff. I'll check one near where I work maybe they'll have a different stock. If that doesn't work, Micro Mark. :)

Cheers,
Mike