Solder Preference - Spool or Tube

Coda said:
I use lead-free on a spool. I put a nail on the edge of my work space to hold it. It only sometimes becomes entangled with the cord of my soldering iron…
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What kind of lead free do you use? I've never tried it because I read that it's harder to work with.
 
 
Coda said:
I use lead-free on a spool. I put a nail on the edge of my work space to hold it. It only sometimes becomes entangled with the cord of my soldering iron…
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I keep my spool on the left and my Iron on the right
 
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Coda said:

It’s not the best, but it works very well. I’ve never had an issue. I’ve gone through two spools in the last 6 or 7 months. Has a pleasant smell too…
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I might check it out. I have a good amount of my Kester left but if I can find something that works similarly that's lead free I might make the switch.

And the smell is my favorite part, too 💀💀💀⚰️🥀
 
Dan0h said:
I started (and still use) these tubes, never thought I’d be 48 builds in. Always wanted to pick up a spool but thought, “just one more pedal I don’t need a huge spool”. 600 tubes later…. Lead free Kester. I know I know but it is what it is.
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Same reasoning here, but I finally bought a spool a month ago. But I used it to refill the couple of empty tubes I kept.
I've always used MG Chemical 63/37 0.032" and I love it.
 
SYLV9ST9R said:
Same reasoning here, but I finally bought a spool a month ago. But I used it to refill the couple of empty tubes I kept.
I've always used MG Chemical 63/37 0.032" and I love it.
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I just checked my spool and had to edit my post it is 63/37 not 60/40 It's all I've ever used, not saying much as I'm nearing the end of my second spool
 
Spool. I use a duplex stand: one for larger core, one for smaller core.

I only break out the 60/40 when I need to desolder something. SN100C is my alloy of choice.
 
I use a spool of 60/40 just sitting on my table. That Kester 44 costs about 50 euros plus shipping in Poland and I haven't been able to find 63/37.

You guys also got me paranoid now. I guide the solder with my bare right hand and wash my hands at intervals with regular soap. I guess I need to wear gloves and use those wipes to remove metals. I also wear a mask but I need to buy glasses and a helmet and a hazmat suit.

Anyway I solder in my living room/bedroom.

Give it to me straight, doc, how long do I have?
 
andare said:
I use a spool of 60/40 just sitting on my table. That Kester 44 costs about 50 euros plus shipping in Poland and I haven't been able to find 63/37.

You guys also got me paranoid now. I guide the solder with my bare right hand and wash my hands at intervals with regular soap. I guess I need to wear gloves and use those wipes to remove metals. I also wear a mask but I need to buy glasses and a helmet and a hazmat suit.

Anyway I solder in my living room/bedroom.

Give it to me straight, doc, how long do I have?
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Alas, you don't. We're all already dead.

...though, on a more serious note: Personally, I'm a little paranoid about lead. No amount is good for an individual...but actually getting it in your body isn't particularly easy if you handle the stuff right.

Soldering itself is hazardous to your health regardless of lead content. That flux vapor...no good for your lungs.

The lead in solder does not vaporize, but it can turn to dust. Especially when one uses a wire type tip cleaner. It's density won't let it be airborne for long, but its still a potential hazard even if just when you're emptying out your tip cleaner that I prefer to avoid based on how well Sn100C performs. Slightly higher melting point, but still eutectic. Only downside is that its certainly more difficult from a reworking perspective.
 
I tried soldering, but it kept melting my breadboard...🤪

I have a spool of Kester 44 for thru-hole stuff. I pull a length and cut it with the hot iron.

A carbon-filtered exhaust fan, D-Wipes, and D-Lead hand soap. I'll forget and scratch my head or grab my coffee cup, but I'm okay with that being the exception rather than the rule. No little ones about.
 
I'm using an old mini-spool of 62/36/2 Radio Shack branded high tech solder. When I get through it, I'll try some version of Kester.
 
andare said:
I use a spool of 60/40 just sitting on my table. That Kester 44 costs about 50 euros plus shipping in Poland and I haven't been able to find 63/37.

You guys also got me paranoid now. I guide the solder with my bare right hand and wash my hands at intervals with regular soap. I guess I need to wear gloves and use those wipes to remove metals. I also wear a mask but I need to buy glasses and a helmet and a hazmat suit.

Anyway I solder in my living room/bedroom.

Give it to me straight, doc, how long do I have?
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I believe that @Pedal2222 is in Germany and uses lead-free (i think it's required there?). He may have a suggestion that you can get your hands on and given the level of his soldering it's gotta be good stuff.
 
Dan0h said:
I started (and still use) these tubes, never thought I’d be 48 builds in. Always wanted to pick up a spool but thought, “just one more pedal I don’t need a huge spool”. 600 tubes later…. Lead free Kester. I know I know but it is what it is.
Click to expand...

I tried lead-free once and didn't like it at all (no idea what brand it was). However, after reading this thread I decided to try the Kester version, since their stuff is usually deemed the best--I just placed an order to try it out. I'm hoping it works well, and if not, I'll go back to leaded.
 
spi said:
I tried lead-free once and didn't like it at all (no idea what brand it was). However, after reading this thread I decided to try the Kester version, since their stuff is usually deemed the best--I just placed an order to try it out. I'm hoping it works well, and if not, I'll go back to leaded.
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Let us know what you think - I'm interested in how it works out.
 
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As long as I can remember I've been using Aim 60/40 (the stuff small bear sells) without issue. I've been using the same iron tip for years with it. I had some stuff that came with a radio shack iron in the 90's and it ate the tip off in a few hours.
 
 
spi said:
I tried lead-free once and didn't like it at all (no idea what brand it was). However, after reading this thread I decided to try the Kester version, since their stuff is usually deemed the best--I just placed an order to try it out. I'm hoping it works well, and if not, I'll go back to leaded.
Click to expand...
I’ve never had any issues with it. I usually run my iron at 400°.
 
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