Comments for Audioflair http://www.audioflair.co.uk Specialist Audio Services Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:47:45 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Silver solder by Adrian http://www.audioflair.co.uk/silver-solder/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Adrian Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:47:45 +0000 http://www.audioflair.co.uk/?p=481#comment-20 I think my issue turns out to be with lead-free solder, not silver solder. Tin has replaced lead and it means the melting point is about 100 degrees higher. For this reason it doesn`t `tin` as nicely, it has a melting range rather than a melting point, is more corrosive and costs nearly twice as much as lead. The extra cost of adding 4% silver to lead-free solder makes it even more profitable but not better to my mind. Ironically, tin may turn out to be worse for your health than lead too - but isn`t that often the way... I think my issue turns out to be with lead-free solder, not silver solder. Tin has replaced lead and it means the melting point is about 100 degrees higher. For this reason it doesn`t `tin` as nicely, it has a melting range rather than a melting point, is more corrosive and costs nearly twice as much as lead. The extra cost of adding 4% silver to lead-free solder makes it even more profitable but not better to my mind.
Ironically, tin may turn out to be worse for your health than lead too – but isn`t that often the way…

]]> Comment on Silver solder by Mike http://www.audioflair.co.uk/silver-solder/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Mike Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:32:20 +0000 http://www.audioflair.co.uk/?p=481#comment-19 So called "Silver" electrical solder is not that much different to "Lead" solder Electrical solder compared to non-electrical solder is much higher in tin content with Tin/Lead ratio for rosin core fluxed solder typically 95% tin & 5% lead & up to about 65/35 for specific applications Modern lead free solders that do not contain silver are usually somewhere about 99% tin and 1% copper So called silver solder is typically 4% silver 95% tin and 1% copper. Silver improves conductivity, not that 4% makes a huge difference Relative Conductivity of silver (the best known conductor of all metals) is 106 Copper is 85 to 100 depending on spec Tin is 13 Lead is 7 So whatever solder is used, it is mostly tin & not a very good conductor So called “Silver” electrical solder is not that much different to “Lead” solder
Electrical solder compared to non-electrical solder is much higher in tin content with Tin/Lead ratio for rosin core fluxed solder typically 95% tin & 5% lead & up to about 65/35 for specific applications

Modern lead free solders that do not contain silver are usually somewhere about 99% tin and 1% copper
So called silver solder is typically 4% silver 95% tin and 1% copper.

Silver improves conductivity, not that 4% makes a huge difference
Relative Conductivity of silver (the best known conductor of all metals) is 106
Copper is 85 to 100 depending on spec
Tin is 13
Lead is 7
So whatever solder is used, it is mostly tin & not a very good conductor

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