Solid State Guitar Amp Forum | DIY Guitar Amplifiers

I have some older solder (among various types and ages)

seems like it would be awesome due to the diameter

but maybe it is so old the rosin stuff inside has degraded?

the reason I ask is everytime I try to use it I get awful crumbly crap. it will every so often behave and melt nicely but then mess up again.

I thought maybe it was just the end of it exposed to air amd moisture maybe it would get better but it hasnt.

hate to toss it but I cant get it to work.  I have other stuff that works good.

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thanks for your help

Well it might be Lead free solder which is really hard to work with at home.
For the humble home hobbyist far better to use lead solder.
Label will say 60/40, 60% Tin, 40% Lead.

Lead-free (Pb-free) solder really needs to be done in a factory that is setup for it. Yes it crumbles and does not flow like 60/40 solder.
Phil.

Quote from: phatt on April 21, 2023, 09:37:27 PMWell it might be Lead free solder which is really hard to work with at home.
For the humble home hobbyist far better to use lead solder.
Label will say 60/40, 60% Tin, 40% Lead.

Lead-free (Pb-free) solder really needs to be done in a factory that is setup for it. Yes it crumbles and does not flow like 60/40 solder.
Phil.

Agreed.  Even newer lead free solder is miserable to work with (though significantly better than the old stuff).  I still use 60/40 or 63/37.

Regardless, if it is soldering poorly I would pitch it.