[time-nuts] Subject: Re: Working with SMT parts (Bob Albert)

[Chuck Harris]

I have had similar experience with well expired paste.

I just don't worry about it.

The issue is the solder is ground to such a fine powder that
it has a huge surface area to oxidize.  As long as you keep
the air off, and refrigerate the paste, it seems to go forever.

Oh, and I only use tin/lead paste, not the RoHS stuff.

-Chuck Harris

Steve Wiseman wrote:
> On 18 August 2016 at 07:07, Bob Albert via time-nuts <time-nuts at febo.com> wrote:
>> I didn't use the liquid solder because I didn't have any and it doesn't keep very long.
> 
> That's not really the case. It may change consistency so that it
> behaves a little differently and fouls up automated stencilling
> machines (which are the most finicky devices on the planet), but with
> a human in the loop, you can expect  most of a decade unless you let
> it dry out or do something daft.
> I'm still happily using stuff with a 2007 expiry code, in (big)
> plastic syringes. Still behaves fine. (and the benefit of the
> stirred-in flux and excellent wetting does make paste a joy to use
> compared to even good solder wire).
> 'Expired' solder paste can be a bargain.
> 
> Steve
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