🔩 Kester EP256 Solder Paste: No-Clean 63/37 Syringe Dispenser (1) for Efficient Soldering Review

This stuff works great on chipboard. When heated with a heat gun, the solder hits the metal contacts directly and creates connections.

I don't really like this pasta. It flows as expected but is very difficult to apply as it is very thick. Doesn't work with my dispenser. As a result, I bought another tube of a different paste.

Bought for SMD testing found I needed a finer needle for 0201 parts but this worked great for the larger sizes. At 0201, the spot is larger than the component. :)

I need a solder paste that can be sprayed directly onto the PCB with a syringe. EP256 is too thick for this use. When I tried to use it I had to push hard to get it through the syringe and then it turned out to be what his friend described as runny poop. . It does not stick to the circuit board.

LIKE: It works! Typically, all excess solder is removed from through-holes in one application. I like how the heat resistant tip wraps around the tip of the soldering iron. It's easy to start and the tip doesn't move like you would loosen a pear-shaped desoldering tool. Dislikes: Plunger can be installed with one hand, but not with a finger. It's all right, I have a workbench for you to push the plunger on.

The DOM date on the product I received is halfway through the 6 month expiration date. However, in my experience, the solder paste can be used for some time past the expiry date if stored carefully. In the description, 35 grams are packed in an 8ml syringe. I'm not sure about the density of the solder paste, but I only have 6ml of solder paste per pack received in a 10 ml syringe. It's probably still more than what I'll be using for the next 3-5 months.

DOM (Date of manufacture) 09/08/14, Received date 11/07/14. I've been soldering SMD components to my friend's PCB for four hours using this solder paste and a thin tip soldering iron just to heat it up. The hot air method will certainly work as well. This IS Kester solder is packaged in a syringe and sold as shown. It's a bit hard to push the plunger, but I was able to drive the finest pitch devices and the smallest SMD chips with great control. I will buy this again. Excellent material, the…

The date on the syringe was about two months old but at room temperature (brought a few hours ago) the paste looked very dry. It was difficult to squeeze out of the syringe and I couldn't get the paste to stick to the pads. I ended up smearing it all over the board and trying to scrape off the excess with tweezers. I tried reflowing a few components that I actually placed before giving up and the solder seemed to reflow just fine. Since I was working with 01005 components I finally gave up and…