I tried to buy plain 50-50 solder at local hardware store and Lowe’s. Neither had plain solder. Does any one have a good source for plain unfluxed solder? I want to use nokorode liquid flux to stay away from acid flux and rosin core solders.
It looks like Nokorode Aqua Flux is intended for plumbing/piping applications. Are you planning on using for electrical applications?
Not saying it won’t work, but I suspect something useful for a plumbing app is questionable around electrical connections. The standard for electrical work is pretty much rosin core. There would have to be a really good reason to deviate from that in my book. Why mess with success?
You want to stay away from acid fluxes ? … you know this stuff is made from ammonium chloride, right ? That’s what you get when you mix hydrochloric acid and ammonia.
Mark.
You need to use the right tool for the job. What do you plan on soldering? If it’s electrical equipment, you need solder that’s designed for that. Believe it or not, Radio Shack (if you have one) is a good start.
You want to stay away from acid flux solder(plumbing work). Rosin core solder in 60/40 has sort of been the standard for electrical work. Your local HW store is a bad start - They usually are thinking about copper plumbing.
You can buy a spool of .032" diameter solder from Radio Shack or virtually any electronics mail order house. I like this small diameter stuff for soldering model train stuff(like decoders). Also pick up some rosin soldering flux. Clean the surfaces, dip the wires in the flux and solder!
Jim
Yes, I know Nokorode is ammonium chloride flux. I am building an old Suydam roundhouse kit that requires lots of soldering as all the structural components are made up of soldered posts and beams. I build one of these about thirty years ago and it has held up very well. I used Nokorode flux and 50-50 solder before and then thoroughly washed the structure with clean warm water befor painting. The paint job has held up remarkably well with no rust or corrosion visible. I alway use rosin core solder for electrical work and have assembled many electrical components and done a fair amount of wire soldering. I use different irons for electrical components, wiring and flat sheet metal soldering. I also have done a far amount of copper pipe with MAP gas torch and rosin flux paste.
I just checked eBay and there were 61 listings for 50/50 solder, most of which would be useless to you, but there were some spools of plain 50/50 solder in the mix.
Interestingly, one of the listings referred to “stained glass” solder which was 50/50 without a rosen core. You might check your area for stained glass materials suppliers.
Dave
I have both a Lowes and Home Depot in my area, but since Home Depot was closer, thats where I went looking for solder when I ran out. They have Rosin Core solder in a couple of sizes, a small cylinder with .5 ounces and a larger roll of 3 hounces, about $3 and $8 respecitvely.
Cheers, Jim
James Moon,
I built about 5 E. Suydam Metal kits in the early 50’s and the only solder I could get at the time was 50/50. I was around 11 yrs old at the time, I found it was a little hard to get things lined up right using that solder and took longer. Later on I found the 60 lead, 40 tin rosin core worked the best on those Metal kits, lower melting point and easier to use. I have only used Kester’s and Oatey 60/40 rosin core. My Opinon only. But a lot of experience with Acetylene, Stick and Mig. I used to own My own semi’s and custom cars, that I did all my own work on.
Take Care!
Frank
Kester carry’s any kind of solder and alloys you want and flux:
I have also used Oatey. Radio Shack used to carry it:
http://www.oatey.com/Search/?usterms=Solder+and+flux
Frank