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Apologies if this has been answered but I couldn't find in a search:
I'm about to restore my first piece of Tek kit. understand the potential issue with the silver deposit ceramic strips and have electronic solder to hand that is 95% Tin, 3.8% Silver and 0.7% Copper.
This appears to exceed comfortably the desired silver content, but it will be higher melting point (227 degC) than lead-containing variants.
My question is "do I need to buy yet another reel of solder such as Sn62/Pb36/Ag2 which will be 179 degC melting point but lower silver or can I use what I already have?".
Another way of asking: provided solder is silver-containing how much does temperature vs. silver content matter?
Thnak you.
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I have used lead free solder with success on the ceramic strips. The solder used was Kester 24-7068-1402 Sn96.5 Ag3.0 Cu0.5. My current understanding is the issue is not the lead it is the LACK of silver cant say for sure so I don’t have a large enough sample size but I have repaired a number of ceramic strip units with no trouble. 3% silver was the highest silver content I could find with out going highly exotic with highly exotic pricing. In terms of temp I used a really high powered iron Hakko FM203 with a thermal mass tip. I found the melting point of the solder to be less of an issue given how much heat the ceramic soaked out of the iron. I don’t mind working hot with an iron but I am also used to working fast.
Zen
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-----Original Message-----
From: TekScopes@groups.io <TekScopes@groups.io> On Behalf Of Richard Kelly via groups.io
Sent: Friday, December 27, 2024 2:48 AM
To: TekScopes@groups.io
Subject: [TekScopes] Solder - Tin/Silver or Tin/Lead/Silver?
Apologies if this has been answered but I couldn't find in a search:
I'm about to restore my first piece of Tek kit. understand the potential issue with the silver deposit ceramic strips and have electronic solder to hand that is 95% Tin, 3.8% Silver and 0.7% Copper.
This appears to exceed comfortably the desired silver content, but it will be higher melting point (227 degC) than lead-containing variants.
My question is "do I need to buy yet another reel of solder such as Sn62/Pb36/Ag2 which will be 179 degC melting point but lower silver or can I use what I already have?".
Another way of asking: provided solder is silver-containing how much does temperature vs. silver content matter?
Thnak you.
|
Hi Richard,
The lead free solder does indeed have a higher silver level and a considerably higher melting temperature than the usual silver-bearing leaded variety.
In addition to the preferred usage of silver, one of the other expressed concerns of Tek is the usage of excessive heat when working with the ceramic terminal strips.
I would think that so long as you use an appropriate wattage iron with good sized tip (ie with adequate thermal mass) you should be able to complete the soldering quickly without causing damage to the strip. Also, Tek has stated in their literature that for occasional repair work, regular tin/lead solder is acceptable.
Art
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The Tek 500 tube scopes of 1950s...1960s include a small roll of the original Tek silver soldering for ceramic strip repair
The 25 mm roll is usually on the chassis top, see service manual.
The proper iron, tip and solder are all needed to prevent strip destruction
Jon
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Greetings,
I have a TEK 575 curve tracer and on page 4-2 of the service section of the manual it states:
“It is advisable that you have a stock of solder containing about 3% silver if you frequently perform work on Tektronix instruments…”
It’s probably time for me to sell this curve tracer if someone is interested.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Ken C
From: TekScopes@groups.io <TekScopes@groups.io> on behalf of Jean-Paul via groups.io <jonpaul@...>
Date: Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 7:28 AM
To: TekScopes@groups.io <TekScopes@groups.io>
Subject: Re: [TekScopes] Solder - Tin/Silver or Tin/Lead/Silver?
The Tek 500 tube scopes of 1950s...1960s include a small roll of the original Tek silver soldering for ceramic strip repair
The 25 mm roll is usually on the chassis top, see service manual.
The proper iron, tip and solder are all needed to prevent strip destruction
Jon
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On 29 Dec 2024 9:28 am, Jean-Paul wrote: The Tek 500 tube scopes of 1950s...1960s include a small roll of the original Tek silver soldering for ceramic strip repair So did the first Tek portable solid state 'scopes beginning in 1966, which also used the ceramic strips. When I bought my Tek 453 about 1994 the roll was missing, but I already owned a spool of Pb/Sn/Ag solder for work. -- Dale H. Cook, GR/HP/Tek Collector, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA https://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/
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If you would prefer the ease of use of tin/lead/silver solder, you should look for Sn62Pb36Ag2 solder. Kester, AIM Solder, and ChipQuik all make it. Digikey has Kester and ChipQuik in stock. Mouser stocks Kester and AIM. ChipQuik solder can also be bought from their own website. Kester and AIM only offer pound rolls; ChipQuik has smaller ones. Like 63/37, it's a eutectic alloy. It's even nicer to work with than 63/37, and suitable for general soldering, but it's more expensive because of the silver content. As always with solder containing lead, use it responsibly and always wash your hands after working with it. Once upon a time, Radio Shack sold small rolls of a similar solder. The revived website briefly had them but they are not currently available. Use 'em if you've got them! On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 7:18 AM Dale H. Cook via groups.io <bridgewaterma= plymouthcolony.net@groups.io> wrote: On 29 Dec 2024 9:28 am, Jean-Paul wrote:
The Tek 500 tube scopes of 1950s...1960s include a small roll of the original Tek silver soldering for ceramic strip repair
So did the first Tek portable solid state 'scopes beginning in 1966,
which also used the ceramic strips. When I bought my Tek 453 about 1994
the roll was missing, but I already owned a spool of Pb/Sn/Ag solder for
work.
--
Dale H. Cook, GR/HP/Tek Collector, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA
https://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/
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My 547 still has it's original roll. Other than requiring two (such an unreliable machine!) tube replacements, it has never required a component replacement.
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On 30 Dec 2024 11:15 am, Shirley Dulcey KE1L wrote: If you would prefer the ease of use of tin/lead/silver solder, you should
look for Sn62Pb36Ag2 solder. I am using a similar mix but with 3% Ag, because the Tek service manuals specify a minimum of 3% Ag for use on the ceramic terminal strips. -- Dale H. Cook, GR/HP/Tek Collector, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA https://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/
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The problem is that tin-lead-silver alloys with 3% or more silver is unobtanium now; nobody makes them any more, likely because of limited demand caused by the cost of silver. If you want it you'll have to track down old stock. Tek may recommend 3% or more silver, but surely 2% is better than 0%. Lead free solder with 3% silver is readily available; the SAC305 alloy that is the most popular lead-free solder fills the bill for that. I'm fond of the Special Blend solder that Sparkfun sells, with a small amount of antimony added; it flows a bit better than standard SAC305. But most lead-free solders have a higher melting point than 63/37 or 62/36/2 (bismuth alloys are the notable exception), so you'll have to work more carefully with them. On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 6:50 PM Dale H. Cook via groups.io <bridgewaterma= plymouthcolony.net@groups.io> wrote: On 30 Dec 2024 11:15 am, Shirley Dulcey KE1L wrote:
If you would prefer the ease of use of tin/lead/silver solder, you should
look for Sn62Pb36Ag2 solder. I am using a similar mix but with 3% Ag, because the Tek service manuals
specify a minimum of 3% Ag for use on the ceramic terminal strips.
--
Dale H. Cook, GR/HP/Tek Collector, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA
https://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/
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I give you ... not 2%... not 3%... but 4!%, yes four whole percent!.. :-) https://a.co/d/5nPeVdHAnd if you don't like Amazon: https://www.parts-express.com/WBT-0800-Silver-Solder-4-Silver-Content-1-8-lb.-093-586?quantity=1(don't read the PE product text too closely, as the audio-phoolery may cause brain damage.) That said, AFAIK, WBT is still producing it: https://wbt.de/produkte/a/detailansicht/Artikel/silberloetzinn.htmlIts leaded too. WBT makes a WBT-0805 that's lead free.... (Not cheap tho....) David On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 7:13 PM Shirley Dulcey KE1L via groups.io <mark@...> wrote:
The problem is that tin-lead-silver alloys with 3% or more silver is
unobtanium now; nobody makes them any more, likely because of limited
demand caused by the cost of silver. If you want it you'll have to track
down old stock. Tek may recommend 3% or more silver, but surely 2% is
better than 0%.
Lead free solder with 3% silver is readily available; the SAC305 alloy that
is the most popular lead-free solder fills the bill for that. I'm fond of
the Special Blend solder that Sparkfun sells, with a small amount of
antimony added; it flows a bit better than standard SAC305. But most
lead-free solders have a higher melting point than 63/37 or 62/36/2
(bismuth alloys are the notable exception), so you'll have to work more
carefully with them.
On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 6:50 PM Dale H. Cook via groups.io <bridgewaterma=
plymouthcolony.net@groups.io> wrote:
On 30 Dec 2024 11:15 am, Shirley Dulcey KE1L wrote:
If you would prefer the ease of use of tin/lead/silver solder, you should
look for Sn62Pb36Ag2 solder. I am using a similar mix but with 3% Ag, because the Tek service manuals
specify a minimum of 3% Ag for use on the ceramic terminal strips.
--
Dale H. Cook, GR/HP/Tek Collector, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA
https://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/
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Nice to know it exists. I wouldn't have thought to look for audiophile solder! I wonder what else is in it? On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 7:36 PM David Holland via groups.io <david.w.holland@...> wrote: I give you ... not 2%... not 3%... but 4!%, yes four whole percent!.. :-)
https://a.co/d/5nPeVdH
And if you don't like Amazon:
https://www.parts-express.com/WBT-0800-Silver-Solder-4-Silver-Content-1-8-lb.-093-586?quantity=1
(don't read the PE product text too closely, as the audio-phoolery may
cause brain damage.)
That said, AFAIK, WBT is still producing it:
https://wbt.de/produkte/a/detailansicht/Artikel/silberloetzinn.html
Its leaded too. WBT makes a WBT-0805 that's lead free....
(Not cheap tho....)
David
On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 7:13 PM Shirley Dulcey KE1L via groups.io
<mark@...> wrote:
The problem is that tin-lead-silver alloys with 3% or more silver is
unobtanium now; nobody makes them any more, likely because of limited
demand caused by the cost of silver. If you want it you'll have to track
down old stock. Tek may recommend 3% or more silver, but surely 2% is
better than 0%.
Lead free solder with 3% silver is readily available; the SAC305 alloy
that
is the most popular lead-free solder fills the bill for that. I'm fond of
the Special Blend solder that Sparkfun sells, with a small amount of
antimony added; it flows a bit better than standard SAC305. But most
lead-free solders have a higher melting point than 63/37 or 62/36/2
(bismuth alloys are the notable exception), so you'll have to work more
carefully with them.
On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 6:50 PM Dale H. Cook via groups.io <bridgewaterma=
plymouthcolony.net@groups.io> wrote:
On 30 Dec 2024 11:15 am, Shirley Dulcey KE1L wrote:
If you would prefer the ease of use of tin/lead/silver solder, you should
look for Sn62Pb36Ag2 solder. I am using a similar mix but with 3% Ag, because the Tek service
manuals
specify a minimum of 3% Ag for use on the ceramic terminal strips.
--
Dale H. Cook, GR/HP/Tek Collector, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA
https://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/
|
Never could find a product specification PDF... "Halogen free flux" is about all. I can say I have used it on assorted Tektronix ceramic strips, successfully. (Re a 575 mostly, few other odds and ends here and there.) I'm in Dayton, Ohio, and Parts-Express is local to me. I squigged the parts in where I could, and used very little silver solder, and so I still have most of the 1/8 lb roll I bought some time ago. On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 7:57 PM Shirley Dulcey KE1L via groups.io <mark@...> wrote:
Nice to know it exists. I wouldn't have thought to look for audiophile
solder! I wonder what else is in it?
On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 7:36 PM David Holland via groups.io
<david.w.holland@...> wrote:
I give you ... not 2%... not 3%... but 4!%, yes four whole percent!.. :-)
https://a.co/d/5nPeVdH
And if you don't like Amazon:
https://www.parts-express.com/WBT-0800-Silver-Solder-4-Silver-Content-1-8-lb.-093-586?quantity=1
(don't read the PE product text too closely, as the audio-phoolery may
cause brain damage.)
That said, AFAIK, WBT is still producing it:
https://wbt.de/produkte/a/detailansicht/Artikel/silberloetzinn.html
Its leaded too. WBT makes a WBT-0805 that's lead free....
(Not cheap tho....)
David
On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 7:13 PM Shirley Dulcey KE1L via groups.io
<mark@...> wrote:
The problem is that tin-lead-silver alloys with 3% or more silver is
unobtanium now; nobody makes them any more, likely because of limited
demand caused by the cost of silver. If you want it you'll have to track
down old stock. Tek may recommend 3% or more silver, but surely 2% is
better than 0%.
Lead free solder with 3% silver is readily available; the SAC305 alloy
that
is the most popular lead-free solder fills the bill for that. I'm fond of
the Special Blend solder that Sparkfun sells, with a small amount of
antimony added; it flows a bit better than standard SAC305. But most
lead-free solders have a higher melting point than 63/37 or 62/36/2
(bismuth alloys are the notable exception), so you'll have to work more
carefully with them.
On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 6:50 PM Dale H. Cook via groups.io <bridgewaterma=
plymouthcolony.net@groups.io> wrote:
On 30 Dec 2024 11:15 am, Shirley Dulcey KE1L wrote:
If you would prefer the ease of use of tin/lead/silver solder, you should
look for Sn62Pb36Ag2 solder. I am using a similar mix but with 3% Ag, because the Tek service
manuals
specify a minimum of 3% Ag for use on the ceramic terminal strips.
--
Dale H. Cook, GR/HP/Tek Collector, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA
https://plymouthcolony.net/starcity/radios/
|
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I’ve been using the WBT solder on all my Tek repairs and have had zero issues. But I bought my 1/2lb when it was $50 cheaper. And still have over half of it left.
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Jean-Paul
Dale H. Cook
Shirley Dulcey KE1L
Eric Boyle