[Elecraft] Why Lead Free? (WAS: Solder requests - STOP)

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Nick Waterman wrote:
> I was going to ask, even before this thread... What do Elecraft and
> "Doctor Solder" recommend now that 60/40 doesn't officially exist?

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I don't know what you mean by "60/40 doesn't officially exist". It's still
being manufactured and readily-available everywhere I've looked. 

The Kester 44 that Elecraft recommends is, in particular, still in
production. See http://tinyurl.com/b44v4 at the Kester web site. 

Plug "Kester 44 Solder" into your favorite search engine and you'll get
pages of hits of places to buy all you want.

It is true that non-lead solder is in use and being developed over time.
>From what I've seen and read, current formulations have three problems. 

One is that it doesn't "wet" surfaces as easily as lead solder. That's a
minor issue for us Hams, but a MAJOR issue for companies using
wave-soldering and other automated techniques that must be absolutely
reliable every time. Still, it means taking more care at all times to ensure
a good joint. 

Another issue is that lead-free solder isn't as shiny as leaded solder when
it cools. In fact, it can look exactly like what we've come to know as a
"cold solder" joint! That means extra care is needed to produce good joints.
We lose some of the visual clues. 

Finally, all the lead-free solders I know of require somewhat higher iron
temperatures than leaded solder. Modern components can handle the heat just
fine in normal use, but removing components can be a bit more difficult
without damaging pc board traces. Commercial manufacturers seldom face the
task of removing parts, but us Hams seem to need to do that all too often,
Hi! 

The industry press seems to think the rush to lead-free solder will occur
when a major consumer electronics manufacturer can offer "lead free" devices
at the same price as others. It's expected that the consumer will see it as
a chance to be "green" at no cost, to the detriment of any manufacturer who
is still using lead-based solders. But there's a reason why most
manufacturers are using lead solder today. 

By the time all the bugs are out of the process for high-speed, reliable
mass production with lead-free solder, you can bet there'll be excellent
replacements for us Hams to use instead of the old standbys we've had for
years. 

In the meantime, wash your hands after handling solder and don't put solder
in your mouth. Seriously! I've seen guys stick the end of a length of wire
solder in their mouth while using both hands during a repair. Not a good
idea! 

But, short of that, there's no real reason not to use the "tried and true". 

Ron AC7AC