Warning: cheap solder vs name brand almost cost me a motherboard repair

Elizabeth Green · 2026-04-29T14:40:03.131994+00:00

Picked a $8 roll of no-name solder from Amazon over the $20 Kester stuff and it wouldn't flow right on a laptop board in Detroit last week. Has anyone else had a cheap roll ruin a delicate job like that?

dianas504mo ago

Why would you blame the solder though? Maybe your iron just wasn't hot enough.

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the_pat5mo ago

Ha, "wouldn't flow right" is putting it mildly. I once tried to save a buck on solder and ended up with a blob that looked like a sad, melted gummy bear on a laptop board.

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laura_black315mo ago

Yeah, nothing says fun like watching cheap solder turn into a sad little slug right when you're holding your breath on a repair. My wallet learned that lesson the hard way too.

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