Recommended Solder and Where to Buy
Lead Based solder is easily purchased in the U.S. and Europe. Here are three direct quick links to order solder from on-line suppliers:
http://tinyurl.com/o2zgf (www.rapidonline.com) - ships to U.K. and Eu
http://snipurl.com/vmpz (www.digikey.com) - ships to U.S. and Eu
http://snipurl.com/vgt6 (www.mouser.com) - ships to U.S. and Eu
The following vendors will carry the following lead-content solders
as long as they are available for sale and use in the United States. (Which
appears to be for the foreseeable future.) These solders are widely available
and can be ordered via each distributor's web page or over the phone.
Note: All vendors shown below offer flux-cored solder wires with other flux
chemistries and content. The products shown below have been tested and found suitable for assembly of Elecraft kits. Other flux types and
chemistries may (or may not) be suitable, but have not been tested.
DigiKey www.digikey.com
(800) 344-4539
See: http://snipurl.com/vmpz
KESTER
.015" Dia. (28 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| DigiKey # | Kester # | Description |
| KE1110-ND | #24-6337-0007 | Kester '44' RA (Rosin, Highly Active) 3.3% Flux |
| KE1203-ND | #24-6337-9703 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| KE1405-ND | #24-6337-8806 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
.020" Dia. (25 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| DigiKey # | Kester # | Description |
| KE1201-ND | #24-6337-9702 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| KE1401-ND | #24-6337-8807 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
| KE1409-ND | #24-6337-8834 | '245' No-Clean 2.2% Flux |
.025" Dia. (23 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| DigiKey # | Kester # | Description |
| KE1109-ND | #24-6337-0018 | Kester '44' RA (Rosin, Highly Active) 3.3% Flux |
| KE1202-ND | #24-6337-9718 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| KE1404-ND | #24-6337-8809 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
Mouser www.mouser.com
(800) 346-6873
see: http://snipurl.com/vgt6
KESTER
.015" Dia. (28 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| Mouser # | Kester # | Description |
| 533-24-6337-07 | #24-6337-0007 | Kester '44' RA (Rosin, Highly Active) 3.3% Flux |
| 533-24-6337-9703 | #24-6337-9703 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| 533-24-6337-8806 | #24-6337-8806 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
.020" Dia. (25 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| Mouser # | Kester # | Description |
| 533-24-6337-0010 | #24-6337-0010 | 'Kester 44' RA (Rosin, Highly Active) 3.3% Flux |
| 533-24-6337-9702 | #24-6337-9702 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| 533-24-6337-8807 | #24-6337-8807 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
| 533-24-6337-8834 | #24-6337-8834 | '245' No-Clean 2.2% Flux |
.025" Dia. (23 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| Mouser # | Kester # | Description |
| 533-24-6337-18 | #24-6337-0018 | Kester '44' RA (Rosin, Highly Active) 3.3% Flux |
| 533-24-6337-9718 | #24-6337-9718 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| 533-24-6337-8809 | #24-6337-8809 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
Newark www.Newark.com
(800) 463-9275
KESTER
.015" Dia. (28 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| Newark # | Kester # | Description |
| 34C5653 | #24-6337-0007 | Kester '44' RA (Rosin, Highly Active) 3.3% Flux |
| 34C5666 | #24-6337-9703 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| 34C5662 | #24-6337-8806 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
.020" Dia. (25 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| Newark # | Kester # | Description |
| 93B8307 | #24-6337-0010 | Kester '44' RA (Rosin, Highly Active) 3.3% Flux |
| 90B5872 | #24-6337-9702 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| 00Z1222 | #24-6337-8807 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
| 34C5665 | #24-6337-8834 | '245' No-Clean 2.2% Flux |
.025" Dia. (23 AWG) 63 Pb/37 Sn 1 lb roll
| Newark # | Kester # | Description |
| 34C5654 | #24-6337-0018 | Kester '44' RA (Rosin, Highly Active) 3.3% Flux |
| 34C5667 | #24-6337-9718 | '285' RMA (Rosin, Mildly Active) Flux |
| 01C6854 | #24-6337-8809 | '245' No-Clean 1.1% Flux |
MULTICORE (previously Ersin Multicore)
63 Pb/37 Sn 5-Core 370 Rosin Flux 1 lb roll
| Newark # | Kester # | Description |
| 72C1193 | MM00979 | .022" (0.56 mm) Dia. |
| 72C1194 | MM00980 | .024" (0.61 mm) Dia. |
In the U.K.:
Rapid Electronics have supplies of 18 and 22 swg 60/40 tin lead solder.
http://tinyurl.com/o2zgf
(www.rapidonline.com)
18g part number: 85-0610 @ £5.40 per 500g
22g part number: 85-0595 @ £6.00 per 500g