Lead free solder?

analog_bham

analog_bham

Well-known member
So I tried lead-free Kester for about the last week. I’m running the iron from 685F-700F and I hate the lead free stuff. Just doesn’t run/flow as well as the leaded stuff. I know there are folks on here who use it. Is there something that I’m missing? Any hints for making this better? I use the 0.8 leaded and got the same lead-free. I don’t have any issues getting it to flow, but it just seems to want to cool into an ball instead of flowing over the joint.

Thanks!
 
700F is the melting point for lead free but you have to run the iron hotter because when you apply heat to the joint the heat will try to reach a state of equilibrium with the temp of the components and it will fall below the melting point of the solder, so you need to crank your iron a bit hotter until the iron is able to sustain temps within the melting range of the solder
 
falco_femoralis said:
700F is the melting point for lead free but you have to run the iron hotter because when you apply heat to the joint the heat will try to reach a state of equilibrium with the temp of the components and it will fall below the melting point of the solder, so you need to crank your iron a bit hotter until the iron is able to sustain temps within the melting range of the solder
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I have been using the Kester K100d which was (from what I read) supposed to be as close to lead solder and the lead-free stuff gets and melts as a lower temp. I’ve seen suggestions to use more flux with it too. But the increased effort required makes me not want to use it…
 
My tips:
Higher temp. Blunt tip on the iron. 0.6 solder.

I used lead free for several years. Yes it's harder. I have heard mixed reviews on whether it's worth the hassle since it also contains nasty stuff that burns off at high temps.
 
Assuming it's K100LD, you are wasy too hot. Probably burning off the flux. Kester says 441F
Not sure if it's 48 or 275 flux but yeah, probably burning either off before it does the job.
Buuuut, it looks like kester only has this offered by bar now. Which likely means they deamed it only good for wave and dip soldering, if I had to guess.

Everything I've heard about lead free hand soldering is, spend the money on the stuff with silver, germanium, etc.
In Birmingham, you're probably exposed to more lead at the farmers market than you are building pedals.
 
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