Re: Fun with Lead-Free soldering


"Ken Smith" <kensmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dbc383$1db$2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 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.
>

I had a spec *** on my desk for some lead free. It was bragging about a
lower then most other lead free solder melting temps, and I think reasonable
wetting. I was wondering what they used to lower the melting point, since
the usual alternatives are ether expensive (indium), or much more toxic then
lead. Reading the spec *** it was alloyed with a little cadmium.


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