Best Lead-Free Solder? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 10:13:15 pm
content: Before you gun me down for trying to use lead-free solder....it's just a theoretical question.I've been using Kester 45 63/37 for as long as I've been doing electronics. I've went through 2 1lb spools and I'm almost done with a third.I like Kester's lineup. So what's the best lead-free solder out there? Kester 48, 275, 331?Any ideas?

author: gregariz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2011, 10:53:30 pm
content: I use the 331 on occasion and it seems ok but I find I generally need a flux pen in addition.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 02:12:16 am
content: I don't know because I consider myself to be a pretty darn good solderer...atleast when I compare my work to others, though that might not be fair judgement.But I've NEVER soldered Pb-free before, so I guess I do not know. Kind of want to try it for kicks and giggles....though it's not cheap..

author: AlphZeta
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 02:58:42 pm
content: I had tried using some lead free solder before, but the soldering job never came out as good as the leaded one.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 10:07:58 pm
content: I think you can do a good job with Pb-free; it just takes more effort on your part to do so. You should actually flux the area, maybe pre-tin your parts, clean it up real nice etc.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 10:42:04 pm
content: I've got nothing to add, but just that I am interested in the results of your experiment with lead free soldering. I've never tried it either, as I always use a leaded solder. However, recently, my wife has been on my case so much about the dangers of lead that I might need to switch to keep my sanity. You'd think she'd realize by now that I've been soldering with lead for almost 35 years, and I can still hold a conversation, that maybe there's nothing going to happen to me.. or if it does soon, well I've had a pretty good life so farso I am ready to goanyways, keep us posted on what you find out and how you do on your foray into Pb-free soldering.Cheers!

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 10:46:08 pm
content: Quote from: FenderBender on October 04, 2011, 10:13:15 pmWhy are you afraid to use lead free ? I have been using it without a problem for some years now (3 or 4), I have done a couple of projects for some clients and so far I have not had any issue, as people mention, clean parts and flux will do the job.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 11:35:59 pm
content: Iam personally not afraid of lead-free. However, it seems that most people don't like Pb-free solders...and they will constantly start rants about the horrors of lead-free. But I think those people either just suck at soldering, or are too lazy to put in a little more effort. I guess I don't blame them. A good 63/37 blend works well on just about anything.I just don't know what kind to get. There's a few different types and not much difference in price. Just curious if anyone had favorites.

author: Semantics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2011, 03:19:32 pm
content: I like Kester SAC 305 solder wire with Flux 48 (RA), but I'll admit I am still on my first 1lb spool from years and years ago, so I haven't tried many varieties. I do like it somewhat better than the KD1000 stuff, a 1 oz sample I got from CuriousInventor.com . I'm not a fan of no-clean flux, but if you are, they also have it with the 275 flux.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2011, 07:58:14 pm
content: Kester can't be beat, but the key issue what alloy, among so many? SnAg3.0Cu0.5, i.e., "SAC 305" is evolving into the alloy of choice. Its widely used in Japan for electronics purposes. For general use, SAC 305 Flux 48 is a good choice.Quote from: FenderBender on October 04, 2011, 10:13:15 pm

author: DaveW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2011, 09:45:04 pm
content: Quote from: FenderBender on October 05, 2011, 11:35:59 pmFrom the papers we've been looking at at work when deciding if we wanted to use lead free or not, there are problems with joint fatigue over time with thermal expansion, and a horrendous tendency to grow whiskers, 25mm long in some of the papers under real world conditions, which can short out pins remarkably effectively.Not saying that it can't be used for some applications, but there are problems with it that haven't yet been solved. Leaded solder for us for a few more years...Slightly more on-topic, when one has to, 96.5 / 3 / 0.5 Sn / Ag / Cu form Kester is good, works well with some liquid flux

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2011, 01:28:05 am
content: I work for a big company and it was almost mandatory ( if not would loose a lot of customers ) to switch to lead free some years ago, several studies on the printing paste, oven settings, rework process, quality tests and more were done, there is no switch back anymore, it worked for us.It was a mandatory regulation for our customers to have lead free solder on their products.David.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2011, 02:14:22 am
content: But everything has been Lead-free, for the most part, for atleast 10 years...I haven't personally have any problems with lead-free solder...and I haven't heard of too many other people having problems.Maybe it takes longer than that for problems to occur, but is it really THAT bad?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2011, 02:23:44 am
content: Quote from: FenderBender on October 07, 2011, 02:14:22 amIt's not a problem for manufacturers if things fail after a few years. They only warrant their products for 1 year, and failure after that just leads to disposal and new purchases. In fact, changing standards and technologies mean that few electronic gadgets are useful after 5 years anyway. Automatic failure, disposal and replacement after a few years is a manufacturer's dream. They probably promoted RoHS behind the scenes in spite of their public protestations.