What is the best solder alloy composition to use for filling switch frogs?? I am looking for a hard metal that will resist wear from metal wheels (my latest turnouts are built into 42 inch radius curves on a 1.8% grade) and yet conduct electricity to yield a powered frog. Using the theory that silver-bearing solder is tougher than standard 60/40 lead/tin, I tried Radio Shack 96/4 tin/silver, with marginal results. Radio Shack also offers a 62/36/2 formula which contains lead. Does anybody have any experience or thoughts on solder hardness? Thanks.
Theoretically the wheels should have minimal contact with any solder and be running mostly on the nickle silver rails that make up the frog. I don’t know of anybody who’s had problems with regular rosin core solder.
Dave H.
I like to use silver bearing plumbing solder; I don’t have it handy but I think it’s about 96/4 tin/silver. It’s harder to carve from the flangeways than 50/50 or 60/40 tin/lead solder, but makes a very solid assembly. I get fewer failures at the point/throwbar connection than with solder containing lead.