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




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.551 / Virus Database: 343 - Release Date: 12/11/03

May I suggest a fume-hood or some other sort of exhaust fan at your
workstation?

--
Donovan Hill
VA7LNX (Basic, Advanced)

Makes you wonder how me and many of my friends kept a piece of 60/40 in our
mouths to prevent it getting confused with a chunk of wire for 40-50 years.
Cannot think of a thing to sue Kester for. Must be something!
(broke=not working, retired=not working, retired=broke)

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




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.551 / Virus Database: 343 - Release Date: 12/11/03

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?

Andrew VK3BFA wrote:

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'm just going to put my tin foil hat on and avoid the consipiracy rant
today ;-) But I think that freon comment has merit.

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.


My biggest problem with solder was the flux. I used to work in 2way repair
and I had a small fan on the desk to blow the flux away or else my eyes
would burn.

Andrew VK3BFA


--
Donovan Hill
VA7LNX (Basic, Advanced)

Andrew VK3BFA wrote:

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'm just going to put my tin foil hat on and avoid the consipiracy rant
today ;-) But I think that freon comment has merit.

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.


My biggest problem with solder was the flux. I used to work in 2way repair
and I had a small fan on the desk to blow the flux away or else my eyes
would burn.

Andrew VK3BFA


--
Donovan Hill
VA7LNX (Basic, Advanced)

Makes you wonder how me and many of my friends kept a piece of 60/40 in our
mouths to prevent it getting confused with a chunk of wire for 40-50 years.
Cannot think of a thing to sue Kester for. Must be something!
(broke=not working, retired=not working, retired=broke)

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




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.551 / Virus Database: 343 - Release Date: 12/11/03

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?