In a burst of enthusiasm when I was much younger, I bought a large reel
of solder which I barely used.

It must have been at least 20 or more years ago. It looks similar to
this:
http://img-europe.electrocomponents....C557130-01.jpg

Now I need to do some soldering again. Would that old 60/40 multicore
of mine have deteriorated?

I'm thinking the rosin in the multicores may have gone off in some way
because when I tin the tip and then leave it unused for 10 minutes, it
turns brown and uneven on the tip. I'm using brand new tips.

Maybe this is normal and happens even with less old 60/40 solder?

Jack Jones wrote:
In a burst of enthusiasm when I was much younger, I bought a large reel
of solder which I barely used.

It must have been at least 20 or more years ago. It looks similar to this:
http://img-europe.electrocomponents....C557130-01.jpg

Now I need to do some soldering again. Would that old 60/40 multicore
of mine have deteriorated?

I'm thinking the rosin in the multicores may have gone off in some way
because when I tin the tip and then leave it unused for 10 minutes, it
turns brown and uneven on the tip. I'm using brand new tips.

Maybe this is normal and happens even with less old 60/40 solder?



It's normal:

Wipe the unused solder's grey oxide layer off with a tissue taking care
not to stretch the solder and break up the flux inside it and then see
how it solders.

Rosin flux always goes brown as the volatiles come off as smoke and then
the remainder goes brown and then black. That's why you have a damp
sponge handy to wipe off the gunk with.

In message , Jack Jones
writes
In a burst of enthusiasm when I was much younger, I bought a large reel
of solder which I barely used.

It must have been at least 20 or more years ago. It looks similar to
this:
http://img-europe.electrocomponents....C557130-01.jpg

Now I need to do some soldering again. Would that old 60/40 multicore
of mine have deteriorated?

I'm thinking the rosin in the multicores may have gone off in some way
because when I tin the tip and then leave it unused for 10 minutes, it
turns brown and uneven on the tip. I'm using brand new tips.

Maybe this is normal and happens even with less old 60/40 solder?

Unlikely. I've got solder from over 40 years ago, and I can't say I've
noticed any oddities with it. Are your new tips hotter than they used to
be? Does your iron have a thermostat, and is it stuck? Have you tried a
different iron?
--
Ian

won't be any good...you need the new improved DIGITAL solder with things
removed so you don't hurt yourself .......

In message , Jack Jones
writes
In a burst of enthusiasm when I was much younger, I bought a large reel
of solder which I barely used.

It must have been at least 20 or more years ago. It looks similar to
this:
http://img-europe.electrocomponents....C557130-01.jpg

Now I need to do some soldering again. Would that old 60/40 multicore
of mine have deteriorated?

I'm thinking the rosin in the multicores may have gone off in some way
because when I tin the tip and then leave it unused for 10 minutes, it
turns brown and uneven on the tip. I'm using brand new tips.

Maybe this is normal and happens even with less old 60/40 solder?


Solder flux was definitely different - I was convinced it smelled
different in the 1960s

And I dug this up :-

"As I mentioned, pine rosin is often the main ingredient of the
flux. In a pinch, I have used raw rosin scraped from a pine tree,
but the smell is pretty bad. [Still, I prefer it to the perfume
several manufacturers added to solder in the 1960's that smelled
of cheap incense. But hey, it WAS the 1960's.]"

Http://yarchive.net/metal/soldering_flux.html

Brian
--
Brian Howie

Jack Jones wrote:

Now I need to do some soldering again. Would that old 60/40 multicore
of mine have deteriorated?

Sad to say it has definitely gone off. Safe disposal will be costly so
please pack it carefully and send it to me QTHR where I will dispose of
it at no cost to you (probably on ebay).

I have solder well over 20 years old that is still fine to use...

--
Visit the Amazing Online Fleamarket at http://www.fleamarket.org.uk

Always lots of amateur radio gear!

In message , Richard G3CWI
writes
Jack Jones wrote:

Now I need to do some soldering again. Would that old 60/40
multicore of mine have deteriorated?

Sad to say it has definitely gone off. Safe disposal will be costly so
please pack it carefully and send it to me QTHR where I will dispose of
it at no cost to you (probably on ebay).

I have solder well over 20 years old that is still fine to use...

I was also going to suggest that, but I realised that it would be being
a bit cheeky!
--

For rosin read resin.
Or as multicore called it - "Ersin"

Theo wrote:
For rosin read resin.
Or as multicore called it - "Ersin"



As a youth I used Bakers Soldering Flux and Aluminium foil to make
Hydrogen for our lighter than air balloons. Bakers Soldering Flux was
32% Hydrochloric Acid.

Jack Jones wrote:

In a burst of enthusiasm when I was much younger, I bought a large reel
of solder which I barely used.

It must have been at least 20 or more years ago. It looks similar to
this:
http://img-europe.electrocomponents....C557130-01.jpg

Now I need to do some soldering again. Would that old 60/40 multicore
of mine have deteriorated?

I have an ancient reel of solder. I can't say I've noticed it 'go off'. It
may vary with the flux formulation.

Graham

A few years back I bought a pound roll of fine Ersin multicore. I do so
little soldering nowadays that this roll is likely to outlast me, even if I
live another 20 years.

The flux isn't exposed to air, so the only way it can deteriorate is the
normal thermal degradation that any organic substance undergoes. I suspect
this occurs very slowly.

Again, we turn to the Lady from Philadelphia for advice: "Why don't you just
try soldering few test joints and seeing how well the solder works?" Duh.

PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels on
the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really /don't/
believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the water
supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the amount of
lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any hard science on
this?), while the reliability of electronic products is likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance. The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

In article ,
William Sommerwerck wrote:
PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels
on the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really
/don't/ believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the
water supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the
amount of lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any
hard science on this?), while the reliability of electronic products is
likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance. The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I believe - in Europe at least - it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

--
*Money isn‘t everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
William Sommerwerck wrote:

PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels
on the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really
/don't/ believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the
water supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the
amount of lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any
hard science on this?), while the reliability of electronic products is
likely to decline.
I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance.
The hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I believe -- in Europe at least -- it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

I know of no cases of lead poisoning from the use of lead-based solder. I
touch solder directly when I work with it, and am not worried about lead
getting into my system.

I have no argument with people worrying about the huge amounts of electronic
equipment being dumped into landfills. The issue is whether potentially
hazardous substances in that equipment actually get into the air or water.

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
William Sommerwerck wrote:
PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels
on the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really
/don't/ believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the
water supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the
amount of lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any
hard science on this?), while the reliability of electronic products is
likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance. The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I believe - in Europe at least - it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

More like job creation for the legislators in Brussels.
--
Ian

"Davo" wrote in message
...
Theo wrote:
For rosin read resin.
Or as multicore called it - "Ersin"



As a youth I used Bakers Soldering Flux and Aluminium foil to make
Hydrogen for our lighter than air balloons. Bakers Soldering Flux was 32%
Hydrochloric Acid.

Caustic Soda and Aluminium works much better for producing hydrogen, but you
have to watch the temperature as the mixture gets mighty hot and tends to
produce steam too.

In the days of coal gas, I used to inflate balloons using our gas tap under
the sink. I once let one go with a card attached and I got a reply from over
100 miles away!

The gas we get now jest aint light enough!

William Sommerwerck wrote:

A few years back I bought a pound roll of fine Ersin multicore. I do so
little soldering nowadays that this roll is likely to outlast me, even if I
live another 20 years.

The flux isn't exposed to air, so the only way it can deteriorate is the
normal thermal degradation that any organic substance undergoes. I suspect
this occurs very slowly.

Again, we turn to the Lady from Philadelphia for advice: "Why don't you just
try soldering few test joints and seeing how well the solder works?" Duh.

PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels on
the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really /don't/
believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the water
supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the amount of
lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any hard science on
this?), while the reliability of electronic products is likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance. The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

You're quite right.

I discovered that the real reason for going lead-free ( at least in the EU ) was
to make recycling less hazardous, yet the associated WEEE ( recycling )
legislation is now about a decade behind. We have products here that have a
symbol that says they mustn't be disposed of with normal domestic waste, yet
nothing has been put in place to deal with it.

So what do people do ? They put it in with the normal domestic waste anyway.

In the meantime, commercial concerns have found that electronic waste has a
bitter taste and contains no profit to recycle, so THEY aren't going to do
anything about it.

And of course, the absence of lead leads to reduced product life and
unreliability, hence MORE total waste will result. Lead was added to tin in
solder precisely to make it more reliable in the first place.

This is what happens when 'politicians' run things. 'Off with their heads', I
say.

Graham

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

William Sommerwerck wrote:

PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels
on the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really
/don't/ believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the
water supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the
amount of lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any
hard science on this?), while the reliability of electronic products is
likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance. The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I believe - in Europe at least - it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

Not even remotely. Aside from the non-existent electronics recycling plants.

Graham

William Sommerwerck wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
William Sommerwerck wrote:

PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels
on the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really
/don't/ believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the
water supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the
amount of lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any
hard science on this?), while the reliability of electronic products is
likely to decline.
I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance.
The hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I believe -- in Europe at least -- it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

I know of no cases of lead poisoning from the use of lead-based solder. I
touch solder directly when I work with it, and am not worried about lead
getting into my system.

I have no argument with people worrying about the huge amounts of electronic
equipment being dumped into landfills. The issue is whether potentially
hazardous substances in that equipment actually get into the air or water.

Certainly in the UK, landfills should be surrounded by impermeable clay. The
likelihood of lead getting through that is miniscule ( as is the amount of lead
tipped ).

Graham

William Sommerwerck wrote:
A few years back I bought a pound roll of fine Ersin multicore. I do so
little soldering nowadays that this roll is likely to outlast me, even if I
live another 20 years.

The flux isn't exposed to air, so the only way it can deteriorate is the
normal thermal degradation that any organic substance undergoes. I suspect
this occurs very slowly.

Again, we turn to the Lady from Philadelphia for advice: "Why don't you just
try soldering few test joints and seeing how well the solder works?" Duh.

PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels on
the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really /don't/
believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the water
supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the amount of
lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any hard science on
this?), while the reliability of electronic products is likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance. The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).



I'm not so sure, here in Western Australia we had hundreds, if not
thousands of birds literally falling out of the sky from lead poisoning.
The whole town of Esperance was polluted and had to be cleaned at great
expense. Lead is still being found in rainwater tanks.
Lead is a deadly poison that accumulates in the body, it's not excreted.

Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
William Sommerwerck wrote:
PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels
on the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really
/don't/ believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the
water supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the
amount of lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any
hard science on this?), while the reliability of electronic products is
likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance. The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I believe - in Europe at least - it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

More like job creation for the legislators in Brussels.

Oh those morons. They screwed this one up rotten. Heard of WEEE ? Implemented
nowhere as far as I can see. My local council didn't even reply to a request as
to where I should dispose of old computers or CFLs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_E...nt_Directiv e

Graham

Davo wrote:

William Sommerwerck wrote:
A few years back I bought a pound roll of fine Ersin multicore. I do so
little soldering nowadays that this roll is likely to outlast me, even if I
live another 20 years.

The flux isn't exposed to air, so the only way it can deteriorate is the
normal thermal degradation that any organic substance undergoes. I suspect
this occurs very slowly.

Again, we turn to the Lady from Philadelphia for advice: "Why don't you just
try soldering few test joints and seeing how well the solder works?" Duh.

PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS labels on
the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really /don't/
believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into the water
supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in the amount of
lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any hard science on
this?), while the reliability of electronic products is likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance. The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I'm not so sure, here in Western Australia we had hundreds, if not
thousands of birds literally falling out of the sky from lead poisoning.
The whole town of Esperance was polluted and had to be cleaned at great
expense. Lead is still being found in rainwater tanks.
Lead is a deadly poison that accumulates in the body, it's not excreted.

Where did the lead come from ? I wouldn't mind betting it's natural, as is Radon
gas in Cornwall, UK from decaying isotopes in granite.

Graham

Theo wrote:
"Davo" wrote in message
...
Theo wrote:
For rosin read resin.
Or as multicore called it - "Ersin"


As a youth I used Bakers Soldering Flux and Aluminium foil to make
Hydrogen for our lighter than air balloons. Bakers Soldering Flux was 32%
Hydrochloric Acid.

Caustic Soda and Aluminium works much better for producing hydrogen, but you
have to watch the temperature as the mixture gets mighty hot and tends to
produce steam too.

In the days of coal gas, I used to inflate balloons using our gas tap under
the sink. I once let one go with a card attached and I got a reply from over
100 miles away!

The gas we get now jest aint light enough!





We made our hydrogen in coke bottles, and sometimes the reaction got so
hot the bottle shattered. One day we thought it would be a great idea to
put a fuse on the balloon and light it so that when the balloon got up
in the sky a bit it explode. The fuse was made from paper that had been
saturated in a potassium nitrate solution, (tell the chemist you mum
needs it to make sausages). The paper was dried and it becomes our fuse
paper.
However, as one of us held the balloon and the other lit the fuse the
flame from the match went on the balloon and it blew up in our faces
leaving us with the smell of singed eyebrows.
We eventually got it to work.

P.S Don't try this at home kids.

In message , Theo
writes

"Davo" wrote in message
...
Theo wrote:
For rosin read resin.
Or as multicore called it - "Ersin"



As a youth I used Bakers Soldering Flux and Aluminium foil to make
Hydrogen for our lighter than air balloons. Bakers Soldering Flux was 32%
Hydrochloric Acid.

Caustic Soda and Aluminium works much better for producing hydrogen, but you
have to watch the temperature as the mixture gets mighty hot and tends to
produce steam too.

In the days of coal gas, I used to inflate balloons using our gas tap under
the sink. I once let one go with a card attached and I got a reply from over
100 miles away!

The gas we get now jest aint light enough!

"When I were a lad"....

4 aluminium milkbottle tops (the tops, not the bottles!), Tizer bottle,
conc hydrochloric acid, balloon stretched over neck of bottle. When
balloon full, remove from bottle, and tie neck.

Prior to release, cotton string plus Jetex fuze wrapped around neck of
balloon. Light string, and blow out flame, leaving it to smoulder.

Release. Balloon rises into the blue. Smouldering string reaches Jetex
fuze. Fuze ignites and fizzes. Balloon explodes with either a loud bang
(if the hydrogen contains a fair proportion of air), or a whoop (if it
is pure).

You'd probably get 20 years for doing that today!
--
Ian

In article ,
William Sommerwerck wrote:
I believe -- in Europe at least -- it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

I know of no cases of lead poisoning from the use of lead-based solder. I
touch solder directly when I work with it, and am not worried about lead
getting into my system.

Oh indeed. But the cynic in me says H&S legislation is more to prevent any
chance of an employer being sued than the actual health of the workforce -
especially if any incurred charges can be past on to others.

I have no argument with people worrying about the huge amounts of
electronic equipment being dumped into landfills. The issue is whether
potentially hazardous substances in that equipment actually get into the
air or water.

Well lead is one of the easiest extracted metals so certain parts of the
world are already 'contaminated' with it. It's a bit different when it's
modified so large concentrations can be airborne.

--
*It IS as bad as you think, and they ARE out to get you.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

Well lead is one of the easiest extracted metals so certain parts of the
world are already 'contaminated' with it. It's a bit different when it's
modified so large concentrations can be airborne.

Lead additives in petrol / gasoline stopped so long ago, that should be no
problem for airborne pollution.

Graham

Eeyore wrote:



Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
William Sommerwerck wrote:
PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS
labels on the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I
really /don't/ believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites
into the water supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any,
reduction in the amount of lead (and lead compounds) in our water
supply (is there any hard science on this?), while the reliability of
electronic products is likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance.
The hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I believe - in Europe at least - it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

More like job creation for the legislators in Brussels.

Oh those morons. They screwed this one up rotten. Heard of WEEE ?
Implemented nowhere as far as I can see. My local council didn't even
reply to a request as to where I should dispose of old computers or CFLs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_E...nt_Directiv e

Graham

Here in the former Colonies, we have solved a more vexing disposal problem:
what to do with nuclear power plant waste. We just keep dumping it into
the pools conveniently located adjacent to each plant. After a while, it
decays to (um) lead?

In message , Bryce
writes



Here in the former Colonies, we have solved a more vexing disposal problem:
what to do with nuclear power plant waste. We just keep dumping it into
the pools conveniently located adjacent to each plant. After a while, it
decays to (um) lead?


And then you all die of lead poisoning.

Actually, I'm just in the process of having a small house extension
built. The flashing (where the new lean-to roof meets the old wall) is
lead. Should I be worried?
--
Ian

Actually, I'm just in the process of having a small house extension
built. The flashing (where the new lean-to roof meets the old wall) is
lead. Should I be worried?

Cautious. I'd replace it with something else.

You don't want to dump the lead flashing, especially when you should be able
to get some money for it at a scrap-metals dealer.

Davo wrote:

Lead is a deadly poison that accumulates in the body, it's not excreted.

It is excreted, but fairly slowly. It tends to hang around in the bones
longer than in the other tissues.

--
~ Adrian Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk

"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , Bryce
writes



Here in the former Colonies, we have solved a more vexing disposal
problem:
what to do with nuclear power plant waste. We just keep dumping it into
the pools conveniently located adjacent to each plant. After a while, it
decays to (um) lead?


And then you all die of lead poisoning.

Actually, I'm just in the process of having a small house extension
built. The flashing (where the new lean-to roof meets the old wall) is
lead. Should I be worried?
--
Ian

Wash your hands and face before eating, rubbing your eyes, smoking or
picking your nose. A dust mask should be sufficient.

"Eeyore" wrote in message
...


"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

Well lead is one of the easiest extracted metals so certain parts of the
world are already 'contaminated' with it. It's a bit different when it's
modified so large concentrations can be airborne.

Lead additives in petrol / gasoline stopped so long ago, that should be no
problem for airborne pollution.

Graham

It is an issue when the Lead is heated to the point of vaporization. Allow
adequate exhaust ventilation. This also applies to various fluxes which can
lead to respiratory damage or discomfort. I tended to hold my breath when
soldering and allow the air to clear before breathing.

On Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:53:54 +0100, Eeyore wrote:


Where did the lead come from ? I wouldn't mind betting it's natural, as
is Radon gas in Cornwall, UK from decaying isotopes in granite.

Well, you lost that bet. It came from lead ore dust from ship load
operations. They jusyt didn't wet it down in what is/was basically a hot
dry and windy location.

"Eeyore" wrote in message
...


"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

William Sommerwerck wrote:

PS: I'm bothered that electronic products increasingly have RoHS
labels
on the box, and statements that they use non-lead solder. I really
/don't/ believe that a lot of lead is leaching from waste sites into
the
water supply, so we aren't likely to see much, if any, reduction in
the
amount of lead (and lead compounds) in our water supply (is there any
hard science on this?), while the reliability of electronic products
is
likely to decline.

I like to say that there is no such thing as a hazardous substance.
The
hazard occurs from how the substance is used (or misused).

I believe - in Europe at least - it's more to do with H&S in the work
place rather than the environment.

Not even remotely. Aside from the non-existent electronics recycling
plants.

Graham

Actually there is a lot of home recycling of electronics in 3rd world
countries with high concentrations of various contamination. Imagine little
children smashing batteries and carrying the dust in baskets on their heads
for 20 cents a day.

In message , Ian Jackson
writes
Release. Balloon rises into the blue. Smouldering string reaches Jetex
fuze. Fuze ignites and fizzes. Balloon explodes with either a loud bang
(if the hydrogen contains a fair proportion of air), or a whoop (if it
is pure).

You'd probably get 20 years for doing that today!
You'd be lucky to get prison time, more likely to get shot in the head
by an armed copper.
--
Clint Sharp

Jack Jones wrote:
In a burst of enthusiasm when I was much younger, I bought a large reel
of solder which I barely used.

It must have been at least 20 or more years ago. It looks similar to this:
http://img-europe.electrocomponents....C557130-01.jpg

Now I need to do some soldering again. Would that old 60/40 multicore
of mine have deteriorated?

I'm thinking the rosin in the multicores may have gone off in some way
because when I tin the tip and then leave it unused for 10 minutes, it
turns brown and uneven on the tip. I'm using brand new tips.

Maybe this is normal and happens even with less old 60/40 solder?

It's fine. Don't worry about it.

--
W
. | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because
\|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est
---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------

On Apr 10, 8:40*am, Jack Jones wrote:
In a burst of enthusiasm when I was much younger, I bought a large reel
of solder which I barely used.

It must have been at least 20 or more years ago. It looks similar to
this:http://img-europe.electrocomponents....C557130-01.jpg

Now I need to do some soldering again. *Would that old 60/40 multicore
of mine have deteriorated?

I'm thinking the rosin in the multicores may have gone off in some way
because when I tin the tip and then leave it unused for 10 minutes, it
turns brown and uneven on the tip. *I'm using brand new tips.

Maybe this is normal and happens even with less old 60/40 solder?

I'm still using 30 year old Sn/Pb cored solder - it's perfect.
Last year I picked up a few more 1 lb reels of "63/37" in case the
RoHS-police stopped the sale of the stuff - should last me out in this
hobby.
My old company went Pb-free around 2007 - what a headache!
Cheers,
Roger

"Jack Jones" wrote in message
g...
I'm thinking the rosin in the multicores may have gone off in some way
because when I tin the tip and then leave it unused for 10 minutes, it
turns brown and uneven on the tip. I'm using brand new tips.

Are they Antex bits? I've noticed some "new" (old stock) tips which I have
are so & soes to "tin". Even the normal "Bib" tip tinner didn't help. Once
tinned they are fine.


--
73
Brian, G8OSN
www.g8osn.org.uk

In article ,
Ian Jackson wrote:
Actually, I'm just in the process of having a small house extension
built. The flashing (where the new lean-to roof meets the old wall) is
lead. Should I be worried?

It's the only material which does that job properly, so no.

--
*According to my calculations, the problem doesn't exist.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
Ian Jackson wrote:
Actually, I'm just in the process of having a small house extension
built. The flashing (where the new lean-to roof meets the old wall) is
lead. Should I be worried?

It's the only material which does that job properly, so no.

Thanks for that advice. I won't bother to rip it out. Anyway, the
cement/mortar has gone hard now. I guess I'll just have to suffer the
consequences.
--
Ian

In article ,
Ian Jackson wrote:
In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
Ian Jackson wrote:
Actually, I'm just in the process of having a small house extension
built. The flashing (where the new lean-to roof meets the old wall) is
lead. Should I be worried?

It's the only material which does that job properly, so no.

Thanks for that advice. I won't bother to rip it out. Anyway, the
cement/mortar has gone hard now. I guess I'll just have to suffer the
consequences.

Indeed. If you drink the rainwater collected from it for the next 100
years or so you might notice some effects.

--
*Aim Low, Reach Your Goals, Avoid Disappointment *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.