General electrical questions

[Shonen]

1. 1mm 60/40 rosin core leaded solder for me. I don't believe in RoHS when it comes to electronics

2. I don't use any external flux.

3. If there's something to clean, sandpaper and/or metal file. I don't bother with solvents at all unless I'm reflowing.

I do my soldering with my 45W iron, or for the larger gauge stuff I may use my hot air gun.

[JERRY2KONE]

Now you guys have me curious as to which solder and flux I am using. I am at work right now and do not have access to that information. I do know that it is a very thin solder used for electronics, and the paste is one that comes in a small round tin with green & white labling, and the paste itself looks like a soft caramel colored grease. Now I will have to look into this when I get home and update my report. All in all it works great. I tried a white paste recommended when I was in Brussels, but it worked like Poo so I reverted back to this one. As stated above using a nice Hakko unit makes soldering easy and pleasurable. I like the older units that you received the flame stickers with. I guess they changed all of that now and the newer units look so generic to me.

As for cleaning your electrical connections James just step outside and use the contact cleaner or even brake cleaner on them. Just make sure you wear good eye protection when you do.