Soldering Iron wanted!

PartsConnexion has better prices than on eBay, though availability might be different for where you're at.

Thanks for the link. These all seem to be top notch solders so I guess the brand shouldn't matter much. But if you had to choose a brand, which one would it be?

Bowtieguy- your solder went into the mailbox today but after the mailman came. It should be picked up on tomorrow's rounds (are they still doing Saturday mail? I remember some talk about the USPS stopping Saturday service). Sent you about 10gms which is somewhere between 12-14 feet I think. It should last you quite a while. Please post your thoughts on it when you use it. Enjoy!

Zeebit- I use Geitsnote to buy my solder in anything less than a roll. If I'm going to buy a roll I have a friend who sells boutique audio components who gets it for me as a favor at dealer cost. Best way for infrequent soldering is to just buy 50gm for around $10-12 on eBay from Geitsnote. The Cardas Quad is the best as far as melting temp, flow, and joint strength. The also carry a Tri-Eutectic without lead but I was not impressed with it. Removing the lead just seems to ruin all of the great qualities IMO. There are a coup,e other companies that sell a similar quad mix but Cardas proportions of each component seems to give it the best characteristics mentioned. Mundorf, Kester, and Wonder solders are all touted as "the best solders" in the class including Cardas but my experience with them all is Cardas is really in a league of its own. Mundorf even sells a solder with gold mixed in but it doesn't flow as well and it is stupid expensive. Reserved mostly for those snooty audio affecianados who believe in all sorts of snake oil audio treatments and gadgetry and who have money to burn. I doubt adding 0.4% gold to an almalgum of lead, tin, and coper is really doing anything more than giving a placebo type effect often seen in the HiFi audio circles. In the end I recommend Cardas Quad from Geitsnote (authorized dealer) and start with 50gms. Also get some of the flux Flamingoyro sells. I don't know where he gets it or what's in it but it works better than anything else I've used.

Thank you, I'll be on the lookout for it. Probably show up around mid wk.
Wow, you're right, that amount will last me quite awhile.
I was only expecting a "sample", maybe a foot or so! Much appreciated. :beer:

I just acquired a spool of Alpha Telecore Plus 63/37 solder and its a little less than a quarter pound left but this will last a long time. It expired back in '09 but the flux is still very good.

@Jmillerdoc - How many grams are in a foot of the cardas quad?

I sent you exactly 10 grams of Cardas Quad but I did not measure the length. When you get it there is two pieces, one about ten foot and the other about 2-3 foot. The two pieces together weigh 10gms on my wife's Weight Watcher's kitchen scale (not sure how accurate it is, there isn't anything less than a gram in scale so it could be 10-10.9gm unless the scale splits the difference). So if you'll measure the total length the divide 10 by the length you'll have your answer. The short answer is 0.6 to 0.8 grams per foot estimated. I can't remember the diameter of the solder but it is probably about 0.6-0-7mm thick. Very thin solder, some of the thinnest I've worked with.

Flag was still out on my mailbox when I left to work this evening. Either the mailman didn't push it in or he didn't come yet. You should have it by Wednesday or Thursday I would bet. Let me know when it arrives. I put one of the stickers on the envelope the company I used to buy it from sent with their shipments. It was still in the empty bag I used to bag yours up. That company is still selling it on eBay for around $12 per 50gm. I can't remember the exact spelling but I believe it is Geitsnote. They are authorized dealers and sell the real stuff. I've heard of others selling knock-off Cardas by the gram so be careful to use an authorized dealer especially when buying large quantities.

I'm very interested in trying this Cardas Quad solder...! :beer:

Jim

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

I'm sure I could spare another few grams of my roll. PM me with your mailing address and I will send you up to 10gm (whatever I can send for the cost of a postage stamp to Greece). I haven't sent a letter overseas in a while but if it's just a couple dollars I will send you some as well.

PM'ed you, thank you very much! :beer:

Jim

Can I have a little bit too?

I just realized I confused Zeebit with Bowtieguy. If you read the post below with that in mind it will make sense.

Zeebit- I can spare another sample. PM me your mailing address and I will get it out when I get Jimdt7's out, probably Wednesday.

Jmillerdoc said:

I sent you exactly 10 grams of Cardas Quad but I did not measure the length. When you get it there is two pieces, one about ten foot and the other about 2-3 foot. The two pieces together weigh 10gms on my wife's Weight Watcher's kitchen scale (not sure how accurate it is, there isn't anything less than a gram in scale so it could be 10-10.9gm unless the scale splits the difference). So if you'll measure the total length the divide 10 by the length you'll have your answer. The short answer is 0.6 to 0.8 grams per foot estimated. I can't remember the diameter of the solder but it is probably about 0.6-0-7mm thick. Very thin solder, some of the thinnest I've worked with.

Flag was still out on my mailbox when I left to work this evening. Either the mailman didn't push it in or he didn't come yet. You should have it by Wednesday or Thursday I would bet. Let me know when it arrives. I put one of the stickers on the envelope the company I used to buy it from sent with their shipments. It was still in the empty bag I used to bag yours up. That company is still selling it on eBay for around $12 per 50gm. I can't remember the exact spelling but I believe it is Geitsnote. They are authorized dealers and sell the real stuff. I've heard of others selling knock-off Cardas by the gram so be careful to use an authorized dealer especially when buying large quantities.

Click to expand...

Jmillerdoc, I've received my very generous sample of Cardas Quad solder today. This should keep me in solder for quite some time!
:thanks: very much!

+1 for your generosity :beer:

BowtieGuy said:

Jmillerdoc, I've received my very generous sample of Cardas Quad solder today. This should keep me in solder for quite some time!
:thanks: very much!

+1 for your generosity :beer:

Click to expand...

You are quite welcome. For the others who have requested some I have not had the time to make it to the PO to get international stamps. I am hoping my schedule will allow a quick trip there sometime tomorrow. It may be a few more days until I can get is done but I will let you know when it's made it out in the mail.

Cheers,
JM

I noticed the reference to Partsconnexion above just now. I haven't checked with them in a while but as I recall shipping is from Canada and it always seemed very expensive for small purchases. Maybe that's changed. I used to buy all sorts of larger ticket items from them but when it came down to buying one or two boutique caps or resistors it seemed like half of the expense was shipping. They are excellent suppliers though and I highly recommend them for anything they sell.

Always stick to a good brand for a soldering iron or for solder.
Trust me,it does make a difference. I have a metcal iron but that is out of your price range I'd recommend this Weller for you.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000A...d25eaef6#ref=mp_s_a_1_2&qid=1393550745&sr=8-2

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Idk why I missed this tread up until now... considering the amount of soldering I do on a regular basis, lol.

This video I made a bit ago but it is pertinent to the conversation. The technique shown in it is only doable with a temp. controlled iron and eutectic solder. I had a hard time balancing the camera directly in my line of vision and soldering at the same time, not something I had any practice doing (balancing the camera! I do the solder technique all the time!). It is a LOT easier to solder when both your hands can rest on the work surface and not be floating in mid air, as I did in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9qcl0nBl1w


I use both radioshack brand 0.050 and MG Chem 0.032 63/37 Eutectic solders. Rosin Core Flux only.