Review on 🔩 Optimized Tin SAC305 Alloy Solder Wire, 1.1mm Diameter, 4 Inches by Rob Rogers

Great! I've used traditional tin-lead solder (for electronic work) for decades and where I've had to work with it. The ROHS compliant solder was very disappointed with its higher melting point and particularly terrible "wetting" compared to PbTn. This solder solves these complaints almost completely. It doesn't flow *quite* as well as PbTn and melts at a *slightly* higher temperature (427F vs 361F for 63/37 solder), but I usually run the iron on the hot side so I can get in. and fast, and I hardly notice the difference. The reason I bought this was for my wife's jewelry project, for which lead based solder would clearly be a poor choice. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the "no-clean" flux, despite having a slightly upbeat name, actually cooks well, essentially with no splatters. Residues can be easily brushed off with a stiff brush; I haven't tried it with water. It certainly smokes when soldered - about as much as the iconic Kester Multi-Core, but the smoke is even slightly less objectionable to me than rosin smoke. The downside of this solder is the cost - I paid $52 for 1 piece. 1lb spool, almost double the price of a Kester 63/37. I suspect this is because the solder contains around 3% silver which is no doubt responsible for its good wetting properties. (Tektronix has used silver solder, including lead, for years. In the past, they even included a small spool with each oscilloscope for repairs.) 14% more length for the same weight, but still quite expensive. Of course, for most hobbyists, a one-pound soldering coil will last for many years, so it's no big deal. Even with very critical circuitry, a higher melting point can make a difference, but most modern components are designed for ROHS soldering anyway. , this solder - or a similar alloy - would definitely be my choice.