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[@markphilpot8734]

When it comes to soldering, I consider myself a soldering fanatic. I make no excuses for my choices of soldering wire and flux core. This is part of my soldering training in the Air National Guard. We used only leaded solder that was a pure eutectic alloy with an RMA flux core. This has proven over decades to be the best combination to produce joints of the best appearance, best quality and best reliability. Joints produced using a pure eutectic alloy have only two states of being, liquid or solid. This is the easiest solder to learn with because of this point. RMA flux core is the best because it produces the best appearance and the joints endure G forces, physical and mechanical stresses and thermal inversions. This is the level of quality and reliability necessary for avionics, aerospace, biomedical electronics and even high end audio. When human life and class A assets are involved, failure is not an option nor is mission failure. For those who go with lead free, ask someone else. For leaded soldering, there are get by solder wire and there are pure eutectic alloys with RMA flux cores which deliver the ultimate in soldering excellence. This isn’t opinion, it is proven fact over decades of use. Kester, AIM, Alpha Metals and Multicore are the brands who have proven themselves over time. Each must use what they can afford and tolerate. Having a solder which only has two states, liquid or solid, and a proven flux core of decades of use that endure the worst of conditions make the best solder joints you can deliver. It won’t make you a solder expert, but it will give you the ability to produce this level of quality and reliability with practice, practice, practice! It’s up to you and your budget. If you only want to produce the best results, you need the solder wire that yields this. A pure eutectic leaded solder alloy, Sn63, 63% tin/37% lead or Sn 62, 62% tin, 36% lead and 2% silver are the best choices. The solder’s flux core that makes the best joints is RMA, Rosin Mildly Activated. When decades of proven results tell you that you have made the best choice, no argument exists. Save yourself frustration, use only a pure eutectic alloy with an RMA flux core. You can’t lose. Frustrations melt away when you use the best solder!

[@AlexandreKandalintsev]

I think lead-free solder is quite different and has the following problems: 1) it may form tin whiskers 2) afaik, it less mechanically robust, lead has much more plasticity and better reacts on thermal stress 3) requires higher soldering temperature, this becomes a problem when soldering big ground polygons, additional equipment like bottom heater may be needed 4) wetting is much worse 5) it tends to form solder bridges on fine-pitched ICs. To have same soldering experience, lead-free requires more aggressive fluxes, flux becomes more important. Most of these observations come from my personal experience (except tin whiskers and mechanical properties, I read about these, but haven't experienced myself yet).

[@dj1sh820]

Here is a tip from Germany: Flux residues (rosin) left by the Felder solder can be removed with 99% ethanol. Felder "RA" is activated with halide, so I would highly recommend it when it comes to soldering very old components.

[@garygullikson6349]

What's with all the videos about solders and soldering? Use name brand 60/40 or 63/37 alloy tin/lead solder with rosin core and rosin flux. A name brand 67 watt soldering iron with available replaceable tips is fine for most RC hobby soldering. A 100watt iron may be necessary for heavy gage wire. Watch videos about care of iron tips, stripping and "pre-tinning" of insulated wires, use of a "bridge" of molten solder to quickly transfer heat. If in fear of "lead fumes" work in a ventilated area. "Unleaded" solder requires higher heat and more skill to make reliable connections, can damage plastic connector bodies. A " soldering station" is nice but a simple iron and safety holder is OK for hobby use. Good soldering requires practice and experimentation, watching solder flow.

[@ThingsWhichArentWork]

Wow.. that is one comprehensive collection of solder you have there. Thank you so much for doing these test. Cheers!!

[@elchuco00]

You are missing 12 other types! I wish you would have been more thorough bud....... lol kidding, great info! Thanks!

[@emrehoskeser5807]

The quality of solder wire is related to its flux. Flux needs to be active to achieve good soldering good wetting. However it also need to have very reliable residues after soldering. If you have very active flux, means too much acids in it, you do very quick and perfect soldering but in couple of months you start to see very electrochemical reactions. This is why you need to more focus on flux reliability details on product datasheets especially if you are soldering fine pitch components and highly populated boards. We do not recommend post-cleaning after soldering if you use no-clean products.

[@mbosschaart]

In short, it's all good enough, just buy the cheapest one ;) Nah, just kidding. I hate cleaning flux so the cheapest one that doesn't spit will do ;)

[@treishtrei]

Why does shiny matter?

[@George-gz5zm]

Great tests, thanks. Would love to see some mechanical vibration or stress tests to simulate how they may perform in a working environment over time.

[@TheMechatronicEngineer]

Greatest soldering wire comparison on YT. Hands down.

[@turtletrading4207]

I bought the Mechanic solder. Really happy with the result. It behaved just as you showed. Thanks!

[@how-about-that]

Thank you for taking the time to help us all pick the right product for each of us. Well done !

[@faramund9865]

Love these sort of videos, nothing was spared to give us the information we need to choose a solder to work with! Thanks!

[@nunogarcia9446]

Starving EE students everywhere thank you for this, and the flux review videos. You've earned a new subscriber. Keep up the good work!

[@Hackvlog]

Extensive, great test! Thank you for making this comparison.

[@edward_grabczewski]

Well, you can't get much more comprehensive that this. Thanks a lot for being so fair. I was beginning to wonder about lead-free solders, but you've convinced me that they're worth looking at.

[@mefca86]

this was insanely informative. I always felt so lost going to the store to buy solder. I feel like i could make really informed ecisions now. Thank you so much.

[@ae6850]

Useful information and test methods. Thank you for the tremendous effort.

[@Duglum666]

This Video and the flux comparison you did are both extremely informative and helpful, thanks! :)