[Boatanchors] Re: Lead solder disappearing?

[Steve Uhrig]

On 22 Nov 2004 at 4:00, telegrapher at att.net, who eschews obfuscation, wrote:

> I don't know how valid this rumor is and might just be a rumor but might
> be something to keep watch for.  Anyone else hear about this one?

>   There is a very strong rumor going around that the EPA in all it's
> glory has determined that lead or solder is a terrible thing so it is
> going to take it away from all of us children forever and very soon. 

It's true and it's happening. I don't know what agency, but it's more 
than a rumor.

The large Pac Rim manufacturers have had a request, soon to be a mandate, 
to move away from lead-based solder. Panasonic has been 100% lead-free 
corporate wide for nearly 2 years. Other manufacturers are following 
suit. Better to be in compliance than be stuck with product they can't 
import, and take the time and expense to convert high speed production 
facilities over.

I suspect little is being said to prevent manufacturers from stocking up.

I own an electronics manufacturing firm, and this topic is discussed 
periodically in trade magazines. I've laid in a good supply, the stuff is 
cheap, compact and won't spoil and we'll use it anyway, ban or not.

An amateur may use a pound or two a year and may not be affected. A 
manufacturer may use a pound a week if small like us, or hundreds of 
pounds a day if large.

The available non-lead solders require a higher temperature to work, 
which requires a redesign of a lot of equipment, PC boards, some 
components and other infrastructure. With standard lead/tin solder, 
there's a pretty respectable latitude between working temperature and 
component destruct temperature. With lead-free solder, there's a lot less 
latitude and therefore more manufacturing and QC failures due to 
components destructing while the process is being perfected.

It sure wouldn't hurt to buy a pound or two of your favorite solder every 
time you place an order with someone. There's little downside.

Of course, we as individuals may not be affected for practical reasons. 
But we never know. As a manufacturer, and especially of products for the 
government which must meet all their standards du jour, we definitely 
will be.

Steve WA3SWS


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Steve Uhrig, SWS Security, Maryland (USA)
Mfrs of electronic surveillance equip
mailto:Steve at swssec.com  website http://www.swssec.com
tel +1+410-879-4035, fax +1+410-836-1190
"In God we trust, all others we monitor"
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