VA7LNX wrote in message news:SWxEb.748181$6C4.294114@pd7tw1no...
The Eternal Squire wrote:
Hello everyone,
My wife and I had been 'discussing' some of the effects of my hobby, such
as the possible exposure of my 2-month old baby girl to lead vapor from
soldering.
I typically have been using coventional 2% silver electronics solder wire
with
my 12 watt pencil. I do a few connections every day, but my wife wants
to take absolutely no chances, and on reflection, I don't really want to
either.
I'd like to know if here is anyone in the homebrew community who uses
lead-free solder for fine electronics work, what brands or compositions
they recommend, and where such can be obtained retail for a reasonable
cost.
Oh, yes, and can someone lend me a yard of it until I can afford my own
large spool?
Thanks in advance,
The Eternal Squire
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May I suggest a fume-hood or some other sort of exhaust fan at your
workstation?
Who comes up with these things - now we have to go to a new solder
formulation not as good as the old one - a bit like FREON - dont worry
about the millions of Asian countries using FREON in the
refridgerators, get the can out of the workshop and the world will be
a better place. (the fact that the patents have expired on FREON but
not the replacements is pure co-incidence, I'm sure...)
I have been using lead based solder for 30 years - no precautions. For
20 years I was a cable jointer with Telecom wiping lead sleeves onto
cable, using bar solder and a propane torch at the bottom of a ill
ventilated manhole -the only precaution I took was not to use the same
pocket knife I scraped lead with to cut my lunch - somtimes I did, but
I ALWAYS wiped the blade on the grass before I did. 20 years of blood
testing revealed NO higher levels of lead than general environmental
exposure.
Andrew VK3BFA
PS - does your XYL believe in the healing power of crystals as well?