Solder???

engtaz
engtaz Posts: 7,663
edited December 2007 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
What brand and type of solder does everyone use?

Thanks
engtaz

I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
Post edited by engtaz on
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,645
    edited August 2007
    I don't know about everyone, but I prefer 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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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited August 2007
    The two soldering projects that I've done recently, Cardas answered the call.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    edited August 2007
    Kester is the time-honored choice of repair-people and the downscale DIY audiophile.
    http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=370-080
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2007
    Cardas
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited August 2007
    I use Cardas.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    edited August 2007
    okey-dokey, there you have it then.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited August 2007
    It depends on the project but I have Kester and Cardas on hand.
    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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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited August 2007
    Cardas Quad or Tri?
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited August 2007
    I use the quad, I believe that the tri is lead free....
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,645
    edited August 2007
    No you didn't. You have to compare apples to apples, big guy.

    http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73273 - one pound $100.00.

    http://www.soniccraft.com/products/connections/solder/cardas.htm - one pound $44.00.

    Still think you got ripped off?
    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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  • hypertone
    hypertone Posts: 150
    edited August 2007
    I have some Kester I bought at Canadian Tire. It says it contains lead on the container, which is kind of weird because I thought they stopped making lead solder.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,645
    edited August 2007
    Rounded off at 28 grams an ounce, 448 grams per pound. Exactly, 454 grams.
    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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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    edited August 2007
    yup. 454 g. alternatively: "a pint's a pound, the world around"

    If the Cardas solder can be had for $44 for a pound, it's well worth a try (i.e., I think I'll get me some of that, too).
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  • shadowofnight
    shadowofnight Posts: 2,735
    edited August 2007
    dorokusai wrote: »
    It depends on the project but I have Kester and Cardas on hand.

    That was to be my answer as well....but I had recently ran out of both and was in the middle of an order with parts express ( Had a good laugh at the parts express rapist thread...I always order enough from them to get free shipping ) and ran across this stuff http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=370-038
    so I grabbed a half pound ( Only comes in .5 pounds...equals out to be 47.60 a pound ) and will use it this weekend to finish my custom monitor 10 project.
    The first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,841
    edited August 2007
    I have a peg board full of Kester stuff. My dad used to do electronics repair and field work so he has tons of the stuff hanging around. It's all Kester though 'cause that was the standard and he could get bulk quantities. I haven't bought a roll of solder yet. I just grab what I need from the peg board.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,124
    edited August 2007
    Cardas quad.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited August 2007
    Why Quad over Tri?
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • bknauss
    bknauss Posts: 1,441
    edited August 2007
    Whatever's closest and thin.
    Brian Knauss
    ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited September 2007
    Cardas
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited September 2007
    Hello,
    I use Cardas solder, as well. I believe it is important to not disturb the solder connection once you've made it, until it completely cools. I make the mechanical connection, then solder and am very careful to not disturb the part or connecting wires. I let the joint cool slowly, wanting to get a bright solder connection. If it is a critical part, in the audio path, I wait an hour before I touch anything. Heat the junction, flow the solder, carefully return the iron to the holder, turn it off and leave. Do something else and come back in an hour or so. Then I measure the DC resisitance of the completed connection looking for "0" Ohms.
    Of course this explains why it takes me so long to finish a project.
    Ken
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited September 2007
    Brian and Ken
    Quad over Tri"
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited September 2007
    I use the thin stuff, tri I guess, I want the solder to melt and flow as quickly as possible. I will often use a magnifying visor while I solder, watching how the initial solder will, at first, create a dome shape (menscus?). Then, with a second or two of heat, the dome colapses and flows over the metal-to-metal contact area. Then I remove the heat and do my wait thing.
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  • najahaja
    najahaja Posts: 32
    edited September 2007
    Just a note :

    You can use Leaded (non-RoHS) solder on leadfree and leaded boards.

    However, you CANNOT use leadfree (RoHS) solder on leaded board.

    Ie, if you are unsure (or working on an old product, which most likely contains lead) err on the side of caution and use leaded solder.

    And they still make leaded solder, as some countries have not gone over to RoHS yet, it is mostly only the EU.
    Also, they need to make leaded solder for the millions of products out there that have been made with lead.
    Oh yes, and the Automotive and some special services (Medical and PC Networking) are exempt from Leadfree as they still have not proven 100% that there are no downfalls of Leadfree solder (small 'whiskers' are a concern amongst other things)

    We use Kester and Balver Zinn at our company, both extremely good solders.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,124
    edited September 2007
    engtaz wrote: »
    Why Quad over Tri?
    Only because it's what I ordered, no other reason. Sorry for the delay in answering engtaz. This forum can get quite busy from time to time.....

    I have not heard the difference [end result] or experienced the difference [end result] in both the types of solder yet, so I can not make a comment about the two.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,814
    edited October 2007
    FYI: Sonic Craft has just about everything on sale right now, 20% off. If you want to try the Cardas solder, you won't find it cheaper anywhere. ~$35+shipping. After years of using the cheap stuff, I'm finally splurging for the Quad.
    Lasareath wrote: »
    I bought a Pound of Cardas Quad from http://www.soniccraft.com/ for $44.00

    I did two projects so far and I probablly have enough for another 40 projects, LOL

    Cardas-Quad.jpg

    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited October 2007
    Thanks billbillw

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,814
    edited October 2007
    Man Sonic Craft is fast. I got mine today after ordering on Monday around lunchtime. I'll put it to good use this weekend when I start assembling my Pass DIY Pearl Phono stage.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • Deadof_knight
    Deadof_knight Posts: 980
    edited October 2007
    Kester silver solder
    :cool: " He who dies with the most equipment wins Right ? "

    Denon 3300 Adcom 535 BBe w/sub out 1 pr 4.6s 2 pr of 4 jrs Recent additions Samsung Lns-4095D LCD, Samsung hd-960 DVD, Monster HT-5000 Power center    ,HPSA-1000 18" sealed DiY home sub.:D
    Black Laquer 1.2tl's w/ upgraded x-overs and Tweets BI-Amped with 2 Carver tfm-35's Knukonceptz 10ga cables
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  • StephenEC
    StephenEC Posts: 57
    edited October 2007
    I'm going to start a project of re-doing my XO's on an ol' pair of MGII's. Do You think that the 100Gm Roll of Cardas QUAD EUTECTIC SOLDER be enough ? We're talking 1 inductor , 2 Dynamicaps , and 2 Obbligato film caps Per Speaker ?

    Thank You in Advance , Stephen
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited October 2007
    StephenEC wrote: »
    I'm going to start a project of re-doing my XO's on an ol' pair of MGII's. Do You think that the 100Gm Roll of Cardas QUAD EUTECTIC SOLDER be enough ? We're talking 1 inductor , 2 Dynamicaps , and 2 Obbligato film caps Per Speaker ?

    Thank You in Advance , Stephen

    Isn't that like 1/4 lb of solder?; if so you have more than you will need.
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