Al wrote:

In article ,
"The Eternal Squire" wrote:

Maybe I should rephrase the question: are there any hams out there
actually *using* lead-free solder, and what is thier favorite kind.


I haven't. But you must be very careful. Read the following quote from
a paper on non-lead solders. Although directed at one combination, it
illustrates the problems inherent with mixing differing solder types.

When com-bined with a lead-containing solder metallization, on the PCB or
the component terminations, a small amount of tin-lead-bismuth eutectic
alloy will form. This resultant alloy has a melting temperature of only
960C (2040F)! Because many temperature-cycling regimens do cycle up to
1250C (25T-F), this presents an obvious problem. As a result,
tin-bismuth-silver has been abandoned until the electronics industry is
certain that all lead has been "purged" from electronics manufacturing.
This is expected to take at least five or ten years.


Al


I'm thinking Thermal Fuse ;-)

--
Donovan Hill
VA7LNX (Basic, Advanced)