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In Reply to: RE: Solder question posted by airtime on September 27, 2014 at 10:17:12
As previously posted lead free is almost imperative for video and digital repairs and construction, If used for analogue , it can sound a bit too bright.Bismuth solder has ultra low melting point below 200 degree F IIRC. This is marketed by Sony as an SMD chip removal solder, Add some of this solder to the legs of an IC and then you can literally flick away the chip with a paint brush, the melting point is so low and it literally floats the chip right off the board.
Interestingly, the best sounding solder I have found is the AQ solder. No word on the composition but it is advertised as having more silver than lead. Since most solders have a maximum of 4% silver in order to achieve reasonable working temperatures the lead component must be lower than that. Solder flows easy, looks like a lead free when cooled ( in other words like a cold solder joint), Bass is very solid and the top end is very good but not bright.The small amount of lead enables it to flow very easily too.
Edits: 10/01/14Follow Ups:
Bismuth solder was used extensively by IBM in the past for their digital
boards.
I spite of this, it is not used much now. Its biggest problem
is its brittleness. That is why it is not recommended for any equipment
which vibrates.
Last month I have ordered a roll of bismuth solder at work since
we had a problem with melting connector gaskets using high temperature
lead free solder. The brittleness causes another issue: Bismuth solder
is not available with flux core since the solder wire cannot be extruded
like a tube. One has to apply solder flux externally and it was too big
hassle for our factory. In addition, this solder is custom order
and the spool cost a few hundred Dollars.
I have an advantage over you in that I only use the Bismuth stuff for removal of SMD devices. I purchase it in lump form and simply file what I need using a coarse bastard file or even wire cutters to cut off smaller pieces. It is extremely cheap that way(lump form for jewelry repair,as it has so a low melting you can repair jewelry without stone removal in many cases)
I can sympathize with the pricing, though. Sony repair ( my local center) sold the bismuth solder for $60 for a two foot section ! Cheapskate that i am, I researched it and came up with an alternative which was OK for my use).
I picked up a small spool of Indium solder (50% IN) but haven't had a chance to evaluate the solder. IIRC, it had a much lower melting point but then it does use lead. I do notice that the Indium corp has many formulations of lead free solder wire which have very low melting point (as low as 118C), but I would not know if they would mechanically suit your purpose. Plus Indium is pretty expensive, too...
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