Solder thoughts

Laundryroom David

Laundryroom David

Keyboard Cowboy 🤠
No, we don’t really need to do this. Yes, I’m posting about solder. My mind is blown.

I just want to put this out there for anyone, like me, who has been reluctant to use leaded solder: it’s so much better. I’ve heard this from others for ages but experiencing the difference was a real eye opener.

I picked up a pocket pack of Kester 44 60/40 and used some tonight. I cannot believe how far superior it is to lead-free solder. Up until now I used Kester rosin core sac305, which is great stuff but I’m pretty sure I’ll never go back to it. I was able to work faster with better results and significantly less smoke/fume compared to sac305.

I take reasonable precautions as it is - fume extractor, gloves, no food/drink in my work area, etc and don’t see myself going back to lead-free anytime soon. Damn I wish I’d used this stuff back when I started!

Thanks for reading. To quote @fig , now go build something!
 
Same here. I hate lead free solder. I ran out of my normal stuff and somehow had a roll of the lead free stuff. Used it and had more bad solder joints on one board than iI've had my entire life! Straight to the trash!
 
Hell bent for leaded here. I have a roll of lead free but never used it.

I am very concerned about my health. I wash my hands fifty times when I solder and it's annoying. Unfortunately I need to touch tools, my keyboard, mouse etc after I solder.
 
HamishR said:
And if someone tells you they're an outlaw, generally they're not.
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HamishR said:
And if someone tells you they're an outlaw, generally they're not.
Click to expand...
This reminds me of a De La Soul interview where they were taking about how the flowery imagery their label put on their debut record made people assume they were peaceful hippie types so they get clowned and dudes would get aggressive so Maceo (who had trained in boxing or something) would have to fuck them up. He said something like "people who can actually fight don't talk about it."
 
Mentaltossflycoon said:
This reminds me of a De La Soul interview where they were taking about how the flowery imagery their label put on their debut record made people assume they were peaceful hippie types so they get clowned and dudes would get aggressive so Maceo (who had trained in boxing or something) would have to fuck them up. He said something like "people who can actually fight don't talk about it."
Click to expand...
They were chill though. Rapping about treading water and talking to Mr crocodile and Buddy.

Btw here's the remix, the superior version IMO

 
When I first started I was running out of solder, and while I was buying some other supplies at Home Depot I saw some lead free solder.

Tried it, returned it. It was only missing about 1/2".....
 
PunchySunshine said:
Dave Grohls test for how rock n roll someone is....
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I can see good ol' Dave giving someone the look... right before he takes his one-a-day multivitamin, blood pressure medication, fish oil pill, and finishes with a glass of fat free skim milk.

I currently use lead free. My joints don't shine like some who use leaded stuff but i don't seem to have issues popping up because of it. Helped that I learned on lead free. I want to pick up some normal just for some heat sensitive spots and finishing boards in the enclosure.
 
As long as you don't solder like this, you'll be ok:

soldering.jpg
(For those who don't know, that's Apple's founder Steve Wozniak).

Lead is dangerous especially if it enters through the mouth (ingesting or inhaling). As long as you don't touch anything that you're going to eat later and you manage the fumes, you really need to wash your hands after touching solder as a preventative measure. Use gloves if you want to avoid any risk of skin absorption (but there are not a lot of info of how dangerous it is to handle lead in its metal form, as studies are more focused in organic and inorganic lead compounds used in the industry). And don't let kids handle anything that has lead, as it's especially harmful for them and their development. Just be cautious.

I do use 60/40, but luckily I don't solder much, so I'm not constantly handling that solder. And I'm thinking of start using the assembly services of PCB manufacturers, that can use lead free solder paste and safer methods of soldering.

But if you decide to use leaded solder, please! don't hold the solder with your mouth. 😝
 
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