Scott Dorsey wrote:
BOEING377 wrote:

I am going to recap an old Hallicrafters. I have some Kester sn96.3 ag3.7
solder. Can this be used on joints that already have old lead solder on them?
I'd like to get away from lead products, but don't want bad solder joints
either. Is this new Kester solder a good replacement for lead solder on new
projects? Any advice appreciated.


No, that stuff also takes MUCH higher temperatures. Just use 63/37 stuff.
Lead solder is fine. There's no lead in the fumes, so as long as you wash
your hads after handling it and keep the work surface clean, you won't have
any worries.

My 2c.
I was working at a job site and had to do a few days of repairs to some
older gear while there. Since I was without my own tools they supplied
me with a soldering pencil and some of this solder.
I thought it handled well and for what I was doing I didn't notice the
temperature issue but nor did I have any 63/37 to compare to.
It made very nice shiny connections with ease and my only gripe would be
the fumes which are wicked, at least they were with whatever brand it
was that I was using.
I've heard about the pending doom where anything with the letters
L-E-A-D right down to fishing sinkers will be outlawed and don't have an
opinion on how this might effect electronic solder. My one brief
experience with the sn/ag stuff leads me to think that plain old sn/pb
is going to remain as a favorite by popular vote if for no other reason
than the fumes created by the 'safer' alternative.

-Bill