Re: Fun with Lead-Free soldering

In article <dba10p0sn9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Chris Carlen <crobc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Hi:
>
>I got a roll of Kester SAC305 alloy 0.031" no-clean flux cored wire
>solder.


*NO CLEAN* Gag-gag-gag. Throw it away. I've seen too many problems
caused by "noclean" flux. Get some good water clean flux stuff.

> Tested it out by soldering a DIP and some wires to a PCB and
>also by tinning some wire. The tinning went a lot smoother (wetted
>slightly under the skin, not just the tip near the iron) when some
>additional rosin flux liquid was applied.

That's one of the problems with the "no clean" stuff. It isn't very good
flux.

[...]
>The point is that technician work areas are also used for eating, as we
>don't have separate offices and labs like scientists.

My office is my lab. I eat in the lunch room.

(My emulator has to be hooked to the proto type and to a PC. This either
means I need two PCs or have the lab in the office. They knocked out a
wall to make the space large enough.)

> But if we can't
>work with chemicals in our work areas, that sure cuts down on the amount
>of work we can do.

If chemicals are needed to clean a PCB, I take the PCB to the fume hooded
PCB cleaning area. I don't bring those chemicals into the office/lab.

[...]
>If the automated assembly industry will definitely move to lead-free,
>what about all the hand soldering that is still done? It seems it is
>easier to get automated processes to work well with these solders, but
>hand soldering will just never be the same. Is the EU banning only
>commercial products from Pb solder processes, or will lead solder be
>simply unavailable, such as to hobbyists and engineers doing R&D work?

I think a more expensive solder for hand work will become available.
Chances are it will be an alloy of plutonium, goofium and unsidaisium and
hence be as toxic as all get out but it will be lead free.
--
--
kensmith@xxxxxxxxx forging knowledge

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Working with SMT components
    ... The first, and one I use most often, is to first flux ... and reflow the solder bump with your iron. ... Fourth, if you can get a Pace iron and wave tip, do so. ... Lastly, and VERY IMPORTANT, unless you use an oven with a no clean flux ...
    (sci.electronics.basics)
  • Re: Hakko 470 desoldering tool - awesome!
    ... solder and the wire won't fit anymore, or gets REAL TIGHT, so ... from time to time you have to remove the tip and the barrel ... while it's hot to clean out the ... Granted, my 808 is by far better than the solder pullers, braid, bulb ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: Tinning Flux vs. regular flux for sweating copper
    ... I added a little bit more solder even though you probably don't have to, but none of those leaked for me. ... I've always used "regular" flux for sweating, but the wife brought home, by accident, Oatey #95 *tinning flux*, which seems it might actually be a good idea, perhaps helping solder flow into the joint by "pre-wetting" it a little. ... Clean, clean, clean. ... plumber's cloth or the fitting with an inside brush, ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Hakko 470 desoldering tool - awesome!
    ... when cleaning with the wire pin. ... collection tube, turn the 808 ON, not off, let it heat up and melt the ... excess solder trapped in there, and THEN you clean it with a pin wire. ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: Vibrover/6G16 tremolo/bias
    ... How do you manage the 18g filament wire on the 9-pin ... Do not twist the wires, they'll fit in the pin better and will absorb ... Use flux. ... the flux will help the solder secure the ...
    (alt.guitar.amps)