[Elecraft] lead free solder

[Don Wilhelm]

Tom,

If you can obtain the leaded solder, you will find it easier to work with
than the lead free stuff.  63/37 alloy is preferred, but 60/40 is good too.
The melting temperature of the leaded solders is lower and the 63/37 mix has
no paste stage - it goes directly from liquid to solid with no pasty stage
between, so no cold solder joints resulting from movement while cooling.

I have repaired/upgraded a couple K2 kits soldered with the lead free stuff
and found it was difficult to impossible the remove components even with my
Hakko desoldering gun.  The lead free solder requires a higher temperature
and seems to not conduct heat through itself and flow readily - the result
is that only some of the solder is sucked out but then the component must be
removed by other means and the holes cleared with a stainless steel needle.

All in all, the lead free solder works, but I don't like to work with it, so
I have stocked up on the leaded variety.

Environmentalists should not worry because I have yet to commit any of my
soldered projects to the landfill and likely never will!!!

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I am about to start building and Elecraft kit and note that lead
> free solder is NOT recommended.
> In the UK it is virtually all lead free, does anyone have any
> experience of using it?
>
> 73's Tom - G4IDL
>