Lead solder

[mfarrow]

I e-mailed Rapid when the RoHS first came in to ask when or whether they were going to stop selling leaded solder. They told me it would be when stocks were exhausted. Well, they must have a pretty large stock because that was 6 years ago and they're still selling it!

No-one's going to stop selling lead solder, except Maplin who straight away jumped on the bandwagon and seemingly forgot they were a hobbiest electronics store. I'm sure they must have loads of complaints that it's naff but then so must all the schools and colleges now.

I have plenty but to be honest it's taking up space now I realise I needn't have bothered buying out the shop.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

lead free which you have to get much hotter for it to melt and it doesn't flow like leaded solder does.

Indium/Tin melts at 120-130°.

IHNI what else it does/does not do.

 

[IJWS15]

lead free which you have to get much hotter for it to melt and it doesn't flow like leaded solder does.

Indium/Tin melts at 120-130°.

IHNI what else it does/does not do.

Lead free solder used on PCBs, where most is used, does have a higher melting point. We switched about five years ago.

issues - some components won't stand the higher temperatures used with lead free (note; not soldered with an iron but in an OVEN) so both components and solder have to change at the same time.
Some components for lead free don't like the fluxes used in leaded solder paste - so you have to redesign the PCB, not just change the solder type.

Apart from the hassle, switching to lead free didn't affect the reliability of our equipment, it is still achieving an availability of greater than 99.999%.

 

[JohnD]

I like solder paste, an old plumber taught me how to use it. It is surprisingly expensive though.

I picked up a plastic tub a while ago without realising it has a shelf life because it dries out. I don,t know if it can be remoistened.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Does the container indicate what it might have been moistened with?

Can you find a MSDS for it?

Does it contain zinc? If so that might have oxidised and rendered the stuff useless anyway.

 

[JohnD]

the alloy is Sn62Pb36Ag2

So Tin, Lead, Silver

It's Koki product CH-10-763K

Haven't got MSDS for it

No reference to the flux which presumably was the moistness.

 

[FDJ]

Apart from the hassle, switching to lead free didn't affect the reliability of our equipment, it is still achieving an availability of greater than 99.999%.

It depends on the scale. In very fine work, the tin crystals grow whiskers which eventually cause a failure. Lead inhibits their growth so leaded solder doesn't suffer this failure.
Frank

 

[mattylad]

Bring back lead......

TV show this weekend said.
Wonderful stuff, 60% of the worlds lead use is of recycled lead.


Whats all this guff about ROSH for anyway, AFAIK lead does not leech into the ground.

 

[SimonH2]

Interesting how people go on about not letting lead get into the ground ... at least interesting when you think where we get it from.

 

[ebee]

Well it didn`t grow on trees did it?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

No - it's copper that does that.

 

[Peet]

Bring back lead......

TV show this weekend said.
Wonderful stuff, 60% of the worlds lead use is of recycled lead.


Whats all this guff about ROSH for anyway, AFAIK lead does not leech into the ground.

From what I read Copper is also very 'green' for the same reasons, most of the copper piping sold in the UK is recycled apparently.

 

[Peet]

the alloy is Sn62Pb36Ag2
So Tin, Lead, Silver
It's Koki product CH-10-763K
Haven't got MSDS for it
No reference to the flux which presumably was the moistness.

That composition is identical to Multicores surface mount solder. John, check out 'Flux pens' that are for surface mount work. These should be a compatible flux and you maybe able to re-moisten the solder paste.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

And look at car boot sales for small worktop ovens.

 

[Peet]

Is somebody looking for a surface mount oven?