Best solder?

zingo
zingo Posts: 11,258
edited December 2010 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
I am going to be building some nicer ICs, speaker cables, etc, and was wondering what is the best solder sound quality wise people have used. I know many like the Cardas Quad-Eutectic stuff, but there is also the WBT Silver, TRT Wonder Solder, and Mundorf Silver/Gold. I currently have a bunch of Radio Shack Silver solder which I've been happy with for electronics building, but I just want to make sure I'm using good stuff when cable building as there are so few component/joints.

Any suggestions and chatter would be appreciated!

alfred-e-newman-how-to-solder.jpg
Jake
Post edited by zingo on
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2010
    I find that Cardas flows the best, YMMV.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited November 2010
    I use
    ERSIN Multicore 60/40 ( Made in USA )
    with very good results
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2010
    I like Cardas but any quality solders that you mentioned aside from RS are very nice as well. Get whatever is cheaper out of the four.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2010
    Silver solder is the way to fly for electronics projects. 60/40 is best left to other types of repairs and projects.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited November 2010
    I agree Silver Solder is preferred.

    the content being from 0.03 to 80%
    traditionally 2 parts Silver 1 part Pin Brass
    Common Silver Solder has 66.66% Silver 22.22% Copper 11.12% Zinc
    Lesser Common Silver Solder has 50 % Silver 33.33% Copper 16.67 Zinc

    I only suggest the 60/40 percent ratio as only a possibility.
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  • jinjuku
    jinjuku Posts: 1,523
    edited November 2010
    I use 4% Silver Solder. I have a coil of it from Parts Express. WBT is supposed to be the schnizit. You will most likely be fine with the Rat Shack stuff.

    When I run out of this (that will be forever) I will give WBT a shot.
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited November 2010
    found this pdf for more information
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    I have always used leaded solder (in fact I have some old 100% lead solder), but anyone noticed a difference between the new lead vs no-lead?
    Jake
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2010
    The WBT is harder to work with than most.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited November 2010
    I just ordered some 20% off Sonicaps and Mills resistors from Sonic Craft, and got I believe 24' of Cardas for $6. I know from experience it flows well, so that makes it pretty hard to beat in my book.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited November 2010
    I have used Wonder Solder and thought it was nice, but I also find the Cardas to be the easiest to use. You get nice, clean, and well formed solder joints.

    Can't honestly say anything about the audio differences between the two types as I have not done comparisons.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2010
    No sonic difference and a good soldering iron should also be a consideration. Pen's are for fly by nighters, guns are for weirdos....get a station.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2010
    Cardas and a solder station,,,gives me a buzz just thinkin' bout it :smile:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2010
    george daniel wrote: »
    Cardas and a solder station,,,gives me a buzz just thinkin' bout it :smile:
    It will without a fan. :biggrin:
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    I'm leaning toward the Cardas or WBT stuff, but what do you mean the WBT Silver solder is hard to work with Ben?
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2010
    The fumes must have gotten to him. :biggrin:
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2010
    WBT likes to be too hot for delicate work. Joints on connectors and such can be difficult. Still my favorite by far is the silver solder Rat Shack has. Again not the crap in the tube, but the real fine stuff on a little spool. If you are ordering anyways you can get a piece of Cardas for not much money. Those who scoff at my Rat Shack solder need to shut there pie hole till they try it:biggrin:
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2010
    Ben has more experience with WBT than I but when solder is chunky when your trying to do delicate work, that's not good and you want it to flow well. Too much heat to do one job might end up being more work to fix what you were trying to do in the first place.

    I've tried the RS solder Ben and never said it wasn't good, it's simply not my choice. It's perfectly fine to use for xover work. I think I may have done a few more things w/ Polk before you even joined speakerboy :biggrin:
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,654
    edited November 2010
    Cardas.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2010
    I'm ordering a 1 lbs spool of Cardas Quad through Sonic Craft at their 20% November Sale price; should hold me over for a while. Thanks for all the suggestions and chatter folks and now I just have to start soldering.
    Jake
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2010
    That's enough for 100 xover upgrades.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2010
    wisechoice.jpg
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2010
    dorokusai wrote: »
    That's enough for 100 xover upgrades.

    It was on sale... :tongue:
    Jake
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  • silvertuner
    silvertuner Posts: 496
    edited December 2010
    ive always used silver solder from ratshack for anything audio related, but a 60/40 rosin core for other electronics. never had an issue or complaint

    some cheap free sony speakers
    psw125
    denon 1610
    3.1 channel because i hate cables ran across the living room like that
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited December 2010
    I went to Radio Shack today to check out their silver solder.
    They had several types most say "silver bearing" solder, and one a rosin core "silver bearing solder".
    I am wondering which would be best for crossover work?
    I think they were 2% silver bearing, and seemed reasonably priced compared to the "audiophile" solder.

    Which would be best for x-over work?

    Thanks
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2010
    pepster wrote: »
    I went to Radio Shack today to check out their silver solder.
    They had several types most say "silver bearing" solder, and one a rosin core "silver bearing solder".
    I am wondering which would be best for crossover work?
    I think they were 2% silver bearing, and seemed reasonably priced compared to the "audiophile" solder.

    Which would be best for x-over work?

    Thanks

    Either one. I prefer rosin core.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,304
    edited December 2010
    Cardas!!!!
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Cardas!!!!

    ROLLSLDR.jpg
    Jake
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited December 2010
    Cardas.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited December 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    I'm ordering a 1 lbs spool of Cardas Quad through Sonic Craft at their 20% November Sale price; should hold me over for a while. Thanks for all the suggestions and chatter folks and now I just have to start soldering.

    That's a good price for a pound. I might get me some.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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