lead free solder

Ian Bell responded in news:bs8311$13p$ snipped-for-privacy@news.ukfsn.org like this:

Vinegar and brown paper?

--
Fred Bloggs.

Best change your name to Jack?

Ian

Personally I am going to use this stash (of Pb Sn) that has been building for just such a rainy day :)

I know most of the PCB manufacturers in the US switched to tin plate a couple of years ago.....Don't know if that helps or not...

They will probably use something similar to the "lead free solder" that plumbers have been using for years to solder drinking water pipes. Available from all good DIY merchants.

We already have that here (Canada). We even have low lead content.

Its no big deal really, except the working temps are a lot higher, you would need to have a iron that you can regulate the temp. Only problem is if you solder with ICs that can't take the heat.

I'm sure that all this new production product coming out with lead free solder is going to be terrible, cold solder joints everywhere. Great for audio... ;)

-- Myron Samila Toronto, ON Canada Samila Racing http://204.101.251.229/myronx19

But just think of the 1 or 2 (?) people every decade that will be saved from slight lead toxicity. PC at its finest.

I'm down to the last layer of solder on the spool, and as usual, I can't remember when/where/$$ I bought it. How much do you-all use at home? I've never gone over 1 or 1.5 pounds per year.

500 gms last me about 2 years

Declare war on the E.U. and carry on using it anyway. :)

-A

At least the same for me too. better get a few kilos in then. What's its shelf life?

Ian

--
UKFS

I think that depends on the weather and how you store it. I found that I had to keep mine in a ziplock to avoid oxidation.....but I live in a forest.....In Arizona it probably lasts forever...that is if it doesn't just melt on the spool! Happy Holidays to all....Ross

I don't think the EU is worried about use of lead solder at home. It's probably more concerned with all the lead that goes into landfill when equipment is trashed at end of life. Also the lead that ends up in the water used to wash flux off PCBs when they are made in huge quantities

Nah, just like in California, they wanted zero-emmissons auto. It's physically impossible.

So even now, the EU is making exceptions for military, space, communications, and god only knows what else. Only the poor slob will be affected as he will not be able to get eutectic tin/lead solder.

Al

--
There's never enough time to do it right the first time.......

I worked in a PCB manufacturer, the actual market in Asia seems difficult to follow lead free, many testing got fail. For PCB finish, they tried to change from HAL to Immersion Silver, but it is not a really good method. Besides, for the green laminate, it is relatives higher in price, but what the market is.. cost down.. so who will willing to change to lead free!

"Ian Bell" ¼¶¼g©ó¶l¥ó·s»D:bs8311$13p$ snipped-for-privacy@news.ukfsn.org...

Well as i read it, if they do not then after 2006 they will not be able to export to Europe.

Ian

Correction, cannot get *legally*. So what, all this will do is create a new smuggling racket and black market, as has happened with tobacco and alcohol.

I think the E.U, should make an exception for hobbyists, unless they want a war on their hands.

-A

I agree they should make an exception for hobbyists. They are already excepted from many other directives.

Ian

Not necessarily.

63%Sn/37%Pb melts at 183°C 42%Sn/58%Bi melts at 139°C (~50% higher price, 44°C cooler) 91%Sn/9%Zn melts at 199°C (~50% higher price, 16°C hotter)