Old Solder

Ginsly

Ginsly

Well-known member
I got a few big spools of Kester 44 from a buddy, but there’s a little catch… they’re 20-25 years old!

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I’ve read that the rosin core can dry out and the solder itself can kinda oxidize. I figure if I cut off the first few wraps maybe it’ll be ok..? I’d love to hear an informed opinion rather than Google Garbage!

Even my newer roll of 44 solder was made in like 2020- some seem to think it needs to be used within a couple years of the manufacture date…
 
I mean. You can try it.
But I wouldn't bother. The rosin is probably gonna splatter everywhere except where you want it. At least that's my experience with (not as) old solder. It'll melt. But it won't flow great.
 
Nostradoomus said:
no it's definitely expired, you should send them to me for proper disposal
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Hey, that joke expired 20 years ago too, kid!
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jwin615 said:
I mean. You can try it.
But I wouldn't bother. The rosin is probably gonna splatter everywhere except where you want it. At least that's my experience with (not as) old solder. It'll melt. But it won't flow great.
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Rats! Yeah… I kinda figured it might not be worth the trouble. What a waste! I guess I’ll give it a shot on some scraps, but I don’t have high hopes. Why would old rosin splatter?
 
Yesterday a friend showed me his grandfather's 5lb (now likely more like 2 lb) spool he's been using in his lutherie projects for years. It can't be newer than the late 80's but looks like it could be decades older. He said it flows better for him than the modern stuff he had on hand. Whatever works, right? 🤷‍♂️
 
Mentaltossflycoon said:
Yesterday a friend showed me his grandfather's 5lb (now likely more like 2 lb) spool he's been using in his lutherie projects for years. It can't be newer than the late 80's but looks like it could be decades older. He said it flows better for him than the modern stuff he had on hand. Whatever works, right? 🤷‍♂️
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Maybe it was solid, no core? In that case there wouldn’t be any rosin to go bad…
 
I swear there was a conversation about this recently… maybe on the legume log. The stuff I'm using, Kester 60/40, is at least 20 years old (just checked and it's 20 years this November), and the only issue I have is when the small amount of rosin in the core gets burned (really only during rework/removal of stuff like pots, but it cleans right up). I use a jagundaload of no-clean flux anyway, so it's never been a problem.

I think the topic of the erstwhile thread was if the oxidation proves problematic. Only flow issues I have noticed recently is on ground plane pads, but then again I need a new tip for my iron. Doesn't flow hardly at all without additional flux, and it makes my worry wort sense tingle, so flux.
 
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