Hi Richard! I'm emptying the pots because we're getting a new wave (a Soltec Delta-5), and I'm going to use the solder in the pots we have to help fill the pots in the new one. I've finished the SN96 pot, and getting ready to do the HMP. Want to see about $13,000 worth of solder? Check this out: http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/1_down_2_to_go.jpg SN96 bar solder is going for $19.95 a pound today! Steve -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stadem, Richard D. Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 9:35 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Solder Temperature... Hi, Steve and Brian. Interesting you should bring this up today.... Last week I was called to a client as they were having bigtime defects with their wave solder process. Their wave solder machine had not been properly maintained, with flux and solder splashed all over the preheaters, solder splashes jamming the conveyor chains, no recent solder analysis, and no pot maintenance performed whatsoever in at least 3 years. As a result, there was a huge amount of lead-clipping clusters, dross clusters, and flux buildup inside the pot and the pumps and impellers. As I performed the maintenance over the weekend, I kept an eye on the pot temp, as I did not want to burn out the heaters. I also noticed the gold sheen as the temp rose to 550 F, before I shut it off to protect the heaters and quickly get the remaining solder out and cleaned the pumps, etc. I left those last 30 or so "bullion bars" off to one side, refilled the pots with little nuggets (Tip: I used your tip of the Baker's Secret loaf pans, but I also purchased a single Baker's Secret miniature muffin pan and used that to pour nuggets to line the bottom of the pot, rather than have to cut bar solder). I refilled with about 200 lbs of new solder, then used the "good" loaves removed at a temp of 470 F, and then topped off with about 10 loaves (400 lbs) removed at 550 F. Result: the owner came in and thought I had purchased and installed a brand new wave solder machine. They got a perfect solder analysis, and first three jobs of a total of 180 fairly complex through-hole cards were run. There were no solder defects. Zero. So I don't think the alloy was degraded, but that is still a question in my mind..... -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Gregory Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:51 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Solder Temperature... Mornin' All! If the solder in a wave solder pot gets a little hot, it doesn't really degrade it does it? Situation is; I'm emptying three solder pots, one 63/37 pot, one SN96 pot, and one HMP pot, the way the pots are designed is that the pot thermocouples are located up towards the top of the pot. So as I lower the level of the solder in the pot, at some point the thermocouples will not be in direct contact with the solder and thus not be giving me the actual solder temperature. I've been cycling the heater power off when it looks like the solder is getting pretty hot (it starts getting getting this golden sheen to it), along with disconnecting the heaters when they start getting exposed as the solder level goes down. I've always emptied pots this way, and just started wondering if the solder degrades at all if you heat it up beyond the liquidous temperature. I know it makes a little more dross as the temperature rises... Steve --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 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 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 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 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 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 -----------------------------------------------------