Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Chris Swollenballs on December 14, 2009, 09:22:18 PM

Title: Question, installing my first BK pups!
Post by: Chris Swollenballs on December 14, 2009, 09:22:18 PM

Not my first pair but this will be the first time I'm doing it on my own.

With Tim's help, this seems easy as heck.

I have a 40 watt soldering iron and I've been told the standard is 60/40 lead free rosin core solder.

Couldn't find any so I got a few different sizes and they're all lead free rosin core, it doesn't have to be 60/40 right?

Title: Re: Question, installing my first BK pups!
Post by: Lucifuge on December 14, 2009, 09:37:11 PM

I don't think you will find 60/40 lead free - the 60/40 is 60% tin and 40% lead, while the lead free has a much higher percentage of tin; 99% or so AFAIK.

I'd say the 60/40 with lead is a better bet, as the lead-free has a higher melting point so needs more heating, causing a greater chance of overheating the pots or something.

I'm sure someone else will correct me if this is wrong.

Title: Re: Question, installing my first BK pups!
Post by: Chris Swollenballs on December 14, 2009, 10:37:58 PM

Ah!

Gotcha.

I'm currently using a Weller 40 watt soldering iron that operates around 900F.

This is the solder I purchased:

http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS/SOLDERANDACCESSORIES/ELECTRICALSOLDER/tabid/253/ctl/Detail/mid/1261/xmid/6905/xmfid/3/Default.aspx (http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS/SOLDERANDACCESSORIES/ELECTRICALSOLDER/tabid/253/ctl/Detail/mid/1261/xmid/6905/xmfid/3/Default.aspx)

It's lead free but it melts at 430 F.

Is that fine?

Title: Re: Question, installing my first BK pups!
Post by: BigB on December 15, 2009, 02:19:22 PM

FWIW, I bought the cheapest 40W soldering iron and the only kind of solder (don't even ask me if it's lead-free or whatever) I could get at the local store, and it works just fine.