What do bad solder joints look like?
The surface of the joint may appear frosted, crystalline or rough. Often called a ‘Cold Joint’. They can look similar to a true cold joint, but the cause is different. Repair: This joint can be repaired by reheating and allowing it to cool undisturbed.
What causes dull solder joints?
Dull (non-shiny) solder joints are usually the effect of coarse grain structure in the solid solder joint (though there can be other causes). The more slowly a joint cools, the coarser the grain growth and, conversely, the faster the joint cools, the finer the grain growth and the shinier the joint.
Can solder go bad?
Flux cored solder wire has a limited shelf life determined by the alloy used in the wire. For alloys containing more than 70% lead, the shelf life is two years from date of manufacture. Other alloys have a shelf life of three years from date of manufacture.
Is there any lead free solder for plumbing?
Lead based solder is still available in stores for other tasks, simply because it is a good solder that is very easy to use. But for plumbing, we have lead-free solder.
What happens when you put solder on a joint?
When it is the right temperature, it will draw the solder all the way into the joint, all around the joint. If you have created a blob of solder on the bottom of the joint, just pass your wire of solder over the blob immediately and that will pick it up onto the solder, hence no waste.
What’s the melting point of lead free solder?
There is also a difference in the coatings between the lead-free tips and the old standard Pb tips used for the standard 60/40 Tin Lead (60/40 Sn/Pb) Solder. 60/40 Sn/Pb melts at 370 °F or 188 °C while various lead-free solders used in PCB assembly have a melting point range of 415-441 °F or 213-227 °C .
Why was lead removed from copper pipe solder?
Several years ago, throughout North America lead was removed from the solder used for making joints in copper pipes intended for carrying drinking water, just as before that we had removed lead from paint. Lead based solder is still available in stores for other tasks, simply because it is a good solder that is very easy to use.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSQBW_aA2fw