leadless solder...

[Luckydevil]

Has anyone used leadless solder yet? I am tired of using the stuff with tin and feeling like hell after a long day of wiring. God knows how toxic that crap is. Supposedly the leadless is much safer.

[OI812]

Has anyone used leadless solder yet? I am tired of using the stuff with tin and feeling like hell after a long day of wiring. God knows how toxic that crap is. Supposedly the leadless is much safer.

I believe you are talking about lead-free solder. Now towards the tin in solder, even lead free still has tin. The burning of tin shouldn't make you feel sick. However the rosin in the solder (I'm assuming you are using an acid core solder), could do that. When I am doing heavy copper work for 8 hours a day, I can burn through 4 lbs of lead free solder easy. I have never had problems with getting sick.

Here is some information from Canfield Technologies:

There are many alternatives to lead based solders for industrial applications. Until recently there has been no incentive to switch to a lead free solder. With Europe and the Far East mandating lead free products, US companies have to make their products to comply with these regulations to sell overseas. The only US legal definition of a lead free alloy sets the maximum lead at 0.20%. This definition is being applied to all industries, not just the plumbing solders for potable water. Converting your system to a lead free alloy requires careful preparation and planning. There are two lead free alloys that have been used for many years that will work for most applications. 95%Tin / 5% Antimony has been the required alloy for food service applications and 3.5%Silver / 96.5% Tin has been used extensively in medical equipment. These alloys have a proven track record with lots of technical data available. To convert to a lead free alloy the following factors should be evaluated:
1. New alloy melting temperature. The closer this is to your current alloy,
the fewer process changes required.
2. Flux. You may have to use a different flux because of the frequently
higher melting points of lead free alloys.
3. Melting pot. You may not be able to clean your melting pot sufficiently
to obtain a lead percent below the 0.20% maximum. You may need a
new melting pot.
4. Process Changes. The process parameters that you currently use will
have to be adjusted for the new alloy. These changes are equipment
specific and must be evaluated on an individual basis.


Contact Canfield Technologies' technical department to discuss your specific application and take advantage of our years of experience with lead free alloys.

Hope this helps.

[240kid]

yeah, when i used normal, i used 60/40, that is 60% tin 40% lead, now i use the 95% tin/5% antimony, i have a big roll i got at home depot, not to expensive either

[Satatic]

What could you use pure lead for?

[OI812]

Pure lead would be a very weak joint. I don't know of any solder that is 100% pure lead. Years ago they use to use 50/50. Which was 50 % lead and 50% other alloys. The concern over lead leaking into the water stoped the use of 50/50 years ago.

The only thing that I know that pure lead is used for is in lead joints for cast iron pipe. The only thing the lead does is hold in the oakum. Other industries may use lead yet I don't know.

[Luckydevil]

Okay, I'm a dumbass.

I am actually using lead free electrical rosin core solder (95% tin/5% antimony). For some reason I must have just glanced at it and missed the "free" part. :lol_hitti

On the back of my little solder container it says, "WARNING! Rosin is an allergin. Breathing flux may cause respiratory system irritation or damage." The flux I am using is also a rosin flux.

Needless to say it doesn't sound like rosin is approved for consumption by the FDA.

What exactly is rosin? I did some searching but didn't find anything. I guess better ventilation when I am soldering would probably be a solution.

[OH-MAN]

Are you soldering copper pipe or ele. connections?

[OI812]

Rosin is the flux that helps the solder flow. Basically the flux is an acid, and when the temp start to come up the acid start to free flow(basically chemical cleaning the connection) and then the solder melts and you have a joint. Flux for plumbing is a different acid, but none the less it is still an acid.

[240kid]

the rosin being a resperatory problem is more with the smoke it creates when you solder, i always have a small fan by me so it isnt a problem

[dodgecharger-fan]

I used to use a fan when I did lots of soldering on electronic projects in college. I salvaged a computer power supply fan and ran it off of a variable power supply on my bench. That let me slow the fan down so it was just clearing the smoke away.

[DirtyLude]

I use fans for my electronics work. a 120mm and a 80mm both running off my bench supply.

I tried using lead free electrical solder and gave up on it. The stuff just seems extremely difficult to work with.