Fast Tracks

I had a hard time finding the old Weller blue tin soldering acid based flux shown in the videos. Amazingly the guys at Radio Shack looked at me like I was nuts, but offered no suggestions as to where I might find it.

Ron sent me this link, but I didn't want to wait. I was chomping at the bit to start making turnouts!

http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?handler ... tid=383834

I found out that BernzOmatic's lead free, water soluble flux is a great substitute and it works just as well. The great part is that it's available at Home Depot and Lowe's.

Man, talk about long winded!

📷 Image no longer available Originally hosted at images17.fotki.com — the host went away before this archive was made.

Hello Raildog,

Thanks for posting that information! Is this an acid based flux?

I am not sure why flux is getting so hard to get. We do plan on adding the Weller flux to our site in the next bit.

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Cheers!

Ron Warris
Fast Tracks

Yes it is Ron, at least it tastes like it...

Couldn't help but noticing the information on the photo of the flux container - it says "for use with any LEAD FREE solder". Would this be a problem with the solder recommended/supplied by Fast Tracks?

I have purchased .015 acid core solder and both SP30, SP50 acid paste fluxes from the Mouser Electronic website. All are made by Kester. The solder flows very good. Both the fluxes work excellently, the SP50 is a little more agressive. It is also thicker, so I use a drop of water to thin it with. The SP30 is more like a thick grease and goes on smooth. The solder is about $27/lb. (there is a LOT of feet of solder/lb. in this diameter), and the flux is about $3 per 2 oz container. I have made about 150 HO TO's and can hardly tell there is any gone from the roll of solder.

Mouser part # for the solder - 533-24-6337-6422

littletree

Yup. Not surprised. I think the days are gone when Shackers actually have any hands-on experience with most of their merchandise, let alone electronics and soldering. Most of 'em are so young, they probably don't even know what the origins of the term "Radio Shack" are...



I've used nothing but electronic (rosin?) flux, and have had excellent results. As Tim and Ron are quick to point out, "it's just easier" with acid-based flux, but not impossible to use the non-acid alternatives (and quite frankly, I don't find much of a difference, though YMMV.) It's not as if some bikers are going to come knocking on your door and work you over for not using the acid stuff, and the solder joint is just as strong either way.

So I'd say use what works for you (which you say the BernzOMatic stuff does,) and for anybody else: if it doesn't, then try the acid stuff to see if it improves things.

- Thomas

http://thomas.tuerke.net/on/mrr/?thread=-952184150

I found liquid acid based flux at my local Ace Hardware store. I didn't realize until I reviewed the videos again that the preferred flux is the paste--I haven't been back to get the paste-style flux yet which hopefully they will in stock.

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Stumper