Ughhh unleaded soldier?!? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 12:51:45 am
content: So Radio Shack closed down in my town maybe 12 years ago when you could still cut RG58 off the spool!! The closest shack is about a half hour from me. I go down every once and a while for specific items.... copper clad, protoboard, solid core hook up wire, and soldier!!! The only local places the have soldier sell unleaded junk brand!Well I always get .032 and .022 60/40 leaded soldier. Apparently I made a mistake and got an unleaded roll last time I went. I havent even used it but RS wont let me exchange for 60/40 without a receipt even though it hasnt been used and is there brand... totally resellable! Well what do I do? Should I got get a new roll or just use this stuff? I cant figure out how to work with it, even on high heat with extra flux it doesn't seem to just melt and spread between everything like it should, its kind of.... hmmm well clumpy?I have a two year old girl now and im always afraid of her putting little 60/40 balls in her mouth that fly off and cool when cleaning the tip. This made me think maybe I should just make the switch, is there any good tutorials out there for the switch, can you get the unleaded stuff to flow as well as 60/40 with some skill and practice? OR is the reality poision vs pain?

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 01:02:25 am
content: HiI believe you will find that after the chain went bankrupt a while ago, most of the Radio Shack stores are now history. That may make returns even more of a challenge.There are a number (as in a few hundred) versions of no-lead solder. Some work better than others. There are also a few zillion flux varieties to use with them. Again, some pair better with this than with that. No matter what you have, an adjustable temperature controlled iron is required. There is a range of temperatures at which "it works" and a lot of other temperatures that it does not work. The other hint - if you mix it with regular solder (tinned parts) odd things can happen.Bob

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 01:13:35 am
content: A...it's solder , no IB..."that fly off and cool when cleaning the tip" . How about the hot soldering iron? Or other small parts? Somehow 2yo shouldn't have access to your working area., tools or "debris".C... Put the roll of the undesirable solder away and buy whatever solder you need /like to use ..fast ...before this thread becomes another leaded vs unleaded marathon odysseyD...Do it now

author: alsetalokin4017
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 01:21:51 am
content: Leaded soldiers:

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 01:25:16 am
content: Quote from: alsetalokin4017 on June 09, 2016, 01:21:51 amHiDon't seem to remember them killing many kids. I have pretty firm evidence that they *did* get played with by kids.Bob

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 02:38:29 am
content: Well my kid doesnt have access to my stuff, I have a temp controlled iron with copper fluxed pad for wiping. The thing is at the end of a session I like to retin my tip and the run a damp sponge across the tip. Sometimes the little balls fly in to fairly ackward places :/Im not bashing leaded soldier, I dont have experience with it and have never bothered to get any. Usually I just want to sit and soldier something right now so I just stick with what I know.I can see the benefits in unleaded soldier especially the fumes, I dont use an extraction fan or anything like that so im sure thats awful for me. I actually dont mind making the switch is what im saying. The thing is I would like to be able to sit down for an hour and practice whatever techniques are used with unleaded that way I can be just as proficieant with it as leaded soldier. Using leaded soldier would also save me a 30 minute trip or a sparkfun wait every time I run out.I did a little googling and didnt find much I guess I was hoping someone may have a link that helps the 60/40 people switch and teaches all the little tricks and tempatures that one only learns from years of soldering. If there is no way to get unleaded work as well as 60/40 then I guess a switch may not be a good idea.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 03:11:57 am
content: Sell it on Craig's List to some "green" tree-hugger with a new Arduino.Send it to your 3rd cousin twice removed who lives back in the European Union.Toss the junk and get on with your life. It's not worth fretting over.Leaded solder does NOT produce any more lead fumes than lead-free solder does.Soldering temperatures (even the hotter lead-free temperatures) are nowhere near hot enough to cause any lead molecules to go into the air.I personally prefer eutectic solder: 63/37 ratio.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 03:21:50 am
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on June 09, 2016, 02:38:29 amThere are no special techniques, it's used exactly the same way.

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 05:02:22 am
content: Well in that case I will chuck it and get on with life.... if theres no special techniques it just works like sh*t, I can turn the iron up to 750 flux the hell out of something and the try to soldier a wire to it and it just clumps and any soldier the iron is not directly contacting seems to deliquify, and this is .022 guage!The only places near me that sell electrical soldier are the auto stores, home depot, and wal mart. Not a single one sells 60/40 why the hell has unleaded taken over like this especially since I have never met anyone that actually soldiers and prefers unleaded

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 05:38:16 am
content: Wish we could buy 1lb reels for $30http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/multicore/386857/82-120-ND/2498918

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 06:03:37 am
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on June 09, 2016, 05:02:22 amUnless you live in Silicon Valley, your chances of finding REAL electronic components in a local shop range from slim to none. That's why we have the internet. Your'e reading it right now.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 02:43:38 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on June 09, 2016, 05:38:16 amActually, we can do better than that here in the US (Kester 44, 66core, .031", 63/37can be had for $19.95).Even if that's all that's ordered, it still comes in under $30 for the roll shipped.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2016, 12:09:47 am
content: When using unleaded solder set the tip temperature at 330deg Celcius. Also use a big tip so the temperature doesn't drop too much otherwise soldering takes to long and the flux wears off before the joint is finished. Lastly: you will need good quality (A-brand) unleaded solder. If it is a generic brand you'll be better of by recycling it. All in all soldering lead free is a much more delicate process with stricter parameters but it is definitely doable. Still for prototyping I use 60/40 (bought from Farnell/Element14) because there is no denying that it just flows better and is way easier to work with.

author: Chris Mr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2016, 09:07:22 pm
content: As I peer out of my window I can see a roof which has recently been replaced - superIt is sealed against the brickwork using lead 'flashings' which of course must be lethal.So I diligently looked up the EU directive and find that un-leaded is only for electronics. The legal framework for RoHS is "Electronics" only - don't forget that other humans, that don't get involved in electronics, are impervious to the effects of lead.Here in the UK, in the very near future, we are having a referendum on whether we still want to be a part of the organisation that provides us with these thought-through rules (which to me are unfathomable) - Like "zero tolerance" to Cadmium, unless of course it's in a Nickel-Cadmium cell - used for portable power toolsDon't forget that without the lead in Tin you get "Tin Whiskers" (thin strands of tin that 'grow' over time) which need yet another process to remove so your ball grid array devices don't short out.The lead never did me any harm

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 18, 2016, 09:11:09 pm
content: Quote from: Chris Mr on June 18, 2016, 09:07:22 pmHiAs long as we all work for companies that sell into the global market, it does not much matter what the local regs say. We get to design stuff to the combined "worst case" set of rules. You buy stuff and it's produced in those factories, you get the "worst case rules" product, even if the local rules don't require it.Bob

author: Chris Mr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2016, 09:21:00 pm
content: Hi Bob,A pleasure to meet you.I agree, slightly. Regulations cost money (to the customer), lack of regulation usually makes things dangerous. Like the best circuits, what we need is something differential - balance.Rules, fine - where's the money to enforce them

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 18, 2016, 10:21:39 pm
content: Quote from: Chris Mr on June 18, 2016, 09:21:00 pmHiAs long as *some* major market enforces this or that rule, a global manufacturing outfit will have to comply. A high end cell phone that only sells in Texas isn't getting tooled up any time soon. Instead they will tool the global version and sell it. The exception (obviously) is the third world no frills cell phone that occasionally catches fire and injures people. Not going to sell low end stuff in major markets. Not going to sell high end stuff in the third world.Bob

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2016, 11:06:04 am
content: Quote from: alsetalokin4017 on June 09, 2016, 01:21:51 amUnleaded soldiers:

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2016, 11:52:54 am
content: Don't be so sure, they might have been made from recycled lead acid battery casings, which will have lead in them. Sadly there have been numerous plastic toy recalls because of this, as there often is a recycled plastic interior in many products. You can see easily, as the plastic parts will be assorted colours for the cheapest mixed grade used there, but even a more even colour is no indication they were not made with well sorted ( and thus slightly more expensive) plastic scrap.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2016, 12:47:09 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on June 19, 2016, 11:52:54 am

author: bson
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 20, 2016, 01:55:19 am
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on June 09, 2016, 02:38:29 amThe fumes from unleaded solder are WORSE for you, because the melting point is higher and you need more active flux. Leaded solder has no lead in the fumes, it's all charred/vaporized flux and a bit of water vapor.

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2016, 04:19:47 am
content: I'm sure Apple has carefully planned for tin whisker growth (and cpu/graphics paste) for planned Appleescense and prevent any 3rd party or diy repairs of their products

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2016, 06:40:22 pm
content: Quote from: Chris Mr on June 18, 2016, 09:07:22 pmYou really don't understand ROHS is about preventing lead from getting into landfills which is likely to happen if it is applied in small amounts like in solder joints. As a construction material however is consists of large pieces which are easy to remove and recycle. Also the lead used in buildings is likely to stay there for decades instead of a couple of years.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2016, 07:11:57 pm
content: It won't stay there for decades, because animals eat it.

author: Chris Mr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2016, 11:51:21 am
content: They cut the lead flashings with multiple cuts of a blunt (because they are cheap skates) stanley knife generating 'shavings' which of course get washed into the water system.I know they don't clear up after their work because we had a downpour the other day where I watched the roof water come out near vertically from a down pipe junction - that was blocked lower down with cement from the ridge tiles

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 12, 2016, 12:20:39 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on June 19, 2016, 11:06:04 amI miss my little green army men.