When doing my latest alarm install i started out with some Radio Shack electrical solder... it seemed to work fine but until my SNAP-ON solder came in the mail, i realized how good it was. I was not impressed with SNAP-ON's solder at all, it wouldnt soak into the strands easily or even at all (used about 3 inches and set it down). anyways i feel like i wasted my money ($12.00) on this SNAP-ON solder and am almost out of my RADIO SHACK electrical solder, any reccomendations on something else that youve tried?

 

Before, I used the cheap ones found at AutoZone but they tend to mess up at the soldering tip. After installing an alarm on my brother-in-law's Tacoma (using a Radio Shack solder gun), I was very impressed with the results. Not too shabby for under $10.00!!

You can use the cordless, torch solders but they will run you about $75...without the fuel. We have one at work and it is very convenient.

 

Here is some good info on soldering... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder

This is the type of solder you need... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...older

You need to use a 60%/40%, [60% tin/40% lead] rosin core solder, over the years I have found Kester "44" rosin core solder to be the best, although there are others, Kester "44" is available in diff. thicknesses from very fine, [.020"] and up, I stock 3 sizes, .020", .040" and .062", use will depend on thickness of wiring I am soldering, I also have non rosin core solder, a flux past has to be used with this type of solder.
If the solder is not rosin core and you do not use a flux, the solder will not " soak in", is the Snap On solder you got rosin core, is it 60/40 solder? 94

 

I use 60/40 Rosin Core solder.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94_DC4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I use 60/40 Rosin Core solder.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ditto. Safe, cheap, and abundant.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by akunamatta &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> When doing my latest alarm install i started out with some Radio Shack electrical solder... it seemed to work fine but until my SNAP-ON solder came in the mail, i realized how good it was. I was not impressed with SNAP-ON's solder at all, it wouldnt soak into the strands easily or even at all (used about 3 inches and set it down). anyways i feel like i wasted my money ($12.00) on this SNAP-ON solder and am almost out of my RADIO SHACK electrical solder, any reccomendations on something else that youve tried?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not Snap-On's Fault. You just dont know what you are doing. The solder Snap-on provide you probably doesn't have a flux core.

The reason it doesn't soak into the strands is because there isn't enough heat. The correct term is "wicking". Flux allows solder to flow more freelly and allows the solder to wick into the strands easier.

There is no free lunch. The negative to using flux is that it is corrosive. Meaning over time your wire will corrode. If you have a wire sitting around that was solder maybe a year ago strip the insulation back and look at all the corrossion. It will travel all the way up the wire.

The trick is to only use minimal amounts of flux. With skill you dont need flux. If you do use flux try switching to "no clean" flux it's the least corrosive of the flux types.

Or switch to a sloder that has a "no clean" core.

 

Kester 44
63/37 in .040. It was $18 for a pound.

 

60/40 tin/lead rosin core solder is typically the best for electrical work.

Be sure to stay away from the new lead-free solders that are out now. They're terrible to work with, and they have long-term reliability problems (they grow "tin whiskers").