Hi Gregg! Brian provided a great summary on the aging aspects of the flux core - I can provide some information on solder. There is a "default" shelf life for flux cored solder due to the oxidation of the solder alloy itself. All solder alloys oxidize over time so there will be a point where it would be prudent to no longer use an "old" flux cored solder roll. I have been "collecting" old flux core solder rolls from various areas of our manufacturing operations as "spring cleaning", part number revision, and facility re-layout activities happen. Its has been a good way to keep various odd solder alloy, flux combinations, and wire diameter variants on hand. We just put one of those older rolls into the recycle bin - I had an old Alpha Metals 10Sn/88Pb/2Ag solder roll with a "energized rosin" core from the 70's that finally accumulated a thick enough oxidized skin that inhibited soldering. I believe most of us would consider 30+ years of use as indefinite shelf life! Dave Hillman Rockwell Collins [log in to unmask] "Gregg A. Owens" <owensmttc@EARTHL INK.NET> To Sent by: TechNet [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> cc Subject 05/05/2005 02:30 [TN] Flux Cored Solder Shelf Life PM Please respond to TechNet E-Mail Forum <[log in to unmask]> ; Please respond to "Gregg A. Owens" <owensmttc@EARTHL INK.NET> TechNetters: A student of mine has asked, what is the shelf life of flux cored solder? In reviewing J-STD-001 and J-STD-004 I can't find any specific guidance or requirements from the Standards. I know newer rolls of solder (depending upon the manufacturer) have date codes and expiration dates. However, they have a wire solder spool still being used today that was entered into their HazMat system in 1998 (no actual record of the precise date of manufacture). The wire spool is removed from their HazMat system when needed to uncontrolled/undocumented working environments within their facility. Since the standards don't specify a shelf life, what is considered best industry practices or is there a Standard dealing with this issue? Thanks for your responses. Gregg A. Owens Master IPC Trainer Executive Director Manufacturing Technology Training Center, Inc. Mira Loma, CA 91752 USA www.mttc-inc.com 815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------