Solder Wire

Solder wire is one of the most popular and readily available forms of solder. Typically used to join two metals in electronics, jewelry manufacturing, and pipework, there is a range of products available to suit different applications.

You'll find popular products such as Kester solder wire and AIM SAC305 solder wire available to order through our website. We stock a mix of alloys and different diameters too, including thin solder wire down to 0.38mm.

Browse our product range online and use the search filters to home in on the right option for your application. You can also read on to learn more about the different types of solder fuse wire below.

What is solder wire?

Solder wire is a fusible metal alloy that is used to permanently secure two metal surfaces by being melted around their connection. Once the solder cools, it forms a strong electrical bond. While other variations are available including granules and paste, most solder comes in wire form.

Using electrical solder wire protects joins from vibrations and other forces, as well as allowing electrical signals to travel between joined metal surfaces uninterrupted.

How do you use solder wire?

Most soldering work is carried out using a soldering iron, though soldering guns and soldering stations can also be used. If hand soldering (as opposed to an automated process), you'll use the soldering iron to transfer heat to a joint and melt the solder that you apply at the same time.

After letting the solder cool down naturally, you can snip off any excess solder wire.

What types of solder wire are there?

There are various solder wires available to suit different applications and temperatures. Key considerations when choosing a solder product are as follows.

Lead or lead-free solder wire

Solder is an alloy of metals traditionally combining lead and tin. Lead is ideal for soldering as it has a low melting point and readily flows, making the process quicker and easier. Modern health and environmental concerns around the use of lead have given rise to lead-free solder products, however, particularly outside the US.

Lead-free solder wire is typically an alloy of tin and silver. These solders have a higher melting point than lead options and can require the use of more active or concentrated fluxes for optimum performance as a result. The reliability of lead and the best lead-free solder wire is roughly equal for manual soldering projects, although lead solder is considered more appropriate for extreme applications such as aerospace electronics.

Lead-based alloys

Different lead percentages are also available, with commonly used lead-based alloys including:

• 60/40 solder wire, which was commonly used to assemble older equipment
• 63/37 solder wire, which is slightly more expensive but goes from solid to liquid without plasticity
• 62/36/2 solder wire, which is the costliest and contains silver

Different diameters

Solder wire for electronics is much thinner than solder wire designed for plumbing. If intended for electronics, you may wish to use 1mm solder wire or even less depending on the size of the connectors and contacts. Solder that is too thick becomes hard to maneuver in tight electronics applications.

Flux core or solid solder wire

You can buy solder wire with flux or without. Solder wire with a flux core is more common as flux makes soldering more efficient, though you can also purchase solid solder wire and apply a specific flux retroactively if needed.

Type of flux (if used)

You have a further choice when it comes to flux. A rosin core solder for electronics will prove among the most efficient, while no-clean flux is ideal if it's preferable to avoid cleaning.

Other options include water-soluble flux, which is highly active but must be cleaned off to avoid corrosion, and halogen-free flux that's free from chlorine, fluorine, and other potentially harmful halogens.

What is flux?

As mentioned above, most solder wire comes with flux. Flux is a chemical agent that reduces metal oxides and ensures a strong connection between metals. The two main types are acid/active, which is typically used in plumbing applications, and rosin/passive, which is suitable for electronics.

Order solder wire with RS today

As a leading electronics supplier in North America, we can help you find your ideal electrical solder wire and put it to use as quickly as possible. You can expect quick and seamless shipping as well as personal customer service.

Don't hesitate to get in touch with our experts should you have any questions about which solder wire is suitable for your needs. You can also head to our expert hub to read guides on many of our most popular electronics products.