Want to buy leaded solder, but don't have a trade account.

[TonyRPH]

Does anyone know where I can buy some leaded solder? (I don't want the lead free stuff)

All the usual outlets limit sales of said solder to trade account holders only, and I'm just a hobbyist so no trade account...

[Penelope Stopit]

There is Tin/Lead solder for sale at ebay UK

[TonyRPH]

Cheers, I did look but got 1000's of hits all lead free stuff.

Searching for "tin lead solder" found what I wanted thanks!

[Penelope Stopit]

ok

[anonymous-user]

Don't buy the cheapest stuff out there (Chinese) - it's bloody aweful. Stinks and doesn't flow well. I binned a roll recently. I solder a lot, amost every day.

I use Polish leaded solder:

Cynel is a good brand "CYNEL TIN LEAD SOLDER WIRE"

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CYNEL-TIN-LEAD-SOLDER-W...

as opposed to this chinese solder:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273608371388

stinky and doesn't flow well.

[TonyRPH]

RogerDodger said:

Helpful stuff

Cheers for that.

[mph999]

hobbyrc.co.uk sells it

[Durzel]

I just bought some on Amazon..

Weller El60/40-100 Electronic Solder Resin Core https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001P1724/ref=cm_sw_r...

I'm guessing from your question that you're looking for large quantities of it though?

[TonyRPH]

Durzel said:

<snip>

I'm guessing from your question that you're looking for large quantities of it though?

Not looking for large quantities at all!

A 500g reel lasts ages...

I did search on Amazon, but just came up with lead free stuff all the time.

[timmymagic73]

Is anyone using "silver bearing" type solder? 62/36/2. I'm pretty happy with the 60/40 lead solder I've got, but shinier joints would be nice - I don't do enough soldering to worry about the initial cost of a roll!

Cheers.

[megaphone]

RS do loads of different option, can be a bit pricy though.

eg https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/solders/7568881/

[Durzel]

TonyRPH said:

Not looking for large quantities at all!

A 500g reel lasts ages...

I did search on Amazon, but just came up with lead free stuff all the time.

I can recommend the stuff I linked. I'm crap at soldering and I'm crapper still with lead free stuff. I recently had to do some work on a 20 year old pinball machine and used lead-free stuff (which is all you seem to be able to get without looking for leaded stuff specifically) and had a nightmare with it.

The stuff I linked by comparison melted really easily, could be worked nicely and left a nice silver blob when done.

[shtu]

Durzel said:

I can recommend the stuff I linked. I'm crap at soldering and I'm crapper still with lead free stuff. I recently had to do some work on a 20 year old pinball machine and used lead-free stuff (which is all you seem to be able to get without looking for leaded stuff specifically) and had a nightmare with it.

That's probably down to the leadfree solder having a higher melting point. So if you're using the same iron you've had for decades, it won't work well at all as you're not getting it hot enough to flow nicely. Ask me how I know. :|

One of the sub-£20 Hakko 936 copies from eBay solved that problem.

[Durzel]

I'm using a portable one (Sealey SDL6) which probably isn't the best tool for the job either, but it is battery powered and that appealed to me. It handles the leaded stuff perfectly well, so I'm happy

[TonyRPH]

I have a decent temperature controlled iron (well two actually) both capable of 400 - 420 deg C.

And I've worked with electronics for about 45 years - and this lead free stuff just does my head in, it won't flow, yields horrible looking joints, and is just generally crap to work with.

I realise that the solder I'm using could be cheap - but it's branded stuff!

[TonyRPH]

RogerDodger said:

Don't buy the cheapest stuff out there (Chinese) - it's bloody aweful. Stinks and doesn't flow well. I binned a roll recently. I solder a lot, amost every day.

I use Polish leaded solder:

Cynel is a good brand "CYNEL TIN LEAD SOLDER WIRE"

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CYNEL-TIN-LEAD-SOLDER-W...

@RogerDodger

Just popping back to say thanks for the recommendation of Cynel - I bought some and it's good stuff.

So nice to have shiny joints again!!!