kenneth scharf wrote:

Jeff Spidle wrote:

hmmm, I have recently had the same discussion with my XYL, we have a 1 yr
old.

My self and another NASA trained ham, N9AEP, just completed teaching a
soldering class for our ham club, Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club.

The EU is going to require all soldering to be Pb free in 2004, I believe
that all US manufacturers will be required to do so in '06. I'm sure
I'll be
corrected on the dates.


The reason for banning lead solder isn't that it is dangerous to people
using it,
but rather that old electronic equipment ends up in landfill and so does
the lead.
Auto batteries require special disposal for this reason. The idea is to
ban the use
of lead in all products (where possible) to eliminate disposal problems.

But just how good IS lead free solder? I guess it DOES work well in
plumbing
where it has been in use for many years.

If lead is insoluble in water, then WHY isn't it used in plumbing? The
small
amount that it IS soluble is the danger. Guess the Romans went mad due
to their
use of lead pipes (that's where the word plumber comes from, the latin
for lead
is plumbum, and the atomic symbol for lead is Pb). Could be the lead
pipes were
the reason for the fall of the empire?


They were poisoning themselves with lead, but it wasn't from the
plumbing. The water that was carried to Rome from the aqueducts was
extremely hard, and a layer of calcium formed on the interior of the
pipes just about immediately after being put in use.

Where they got their lead was from storage containers for wine. They
used lead containers for this! I believe they credited the lead with
preservative powers. The acidic wine pulled a lot of lead out ot the
container and into the gullets of the drinkers.

- Mike -

Jeff Spidle wrote:
hmmm, I have recently had the same discussion with my XYL, we have a 1 yr
old.

My self and another NASA trained ham, N9AEP, just completed teaching a
soldering class for our ham club, Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club.

The EU is going to require all soldering to be Pb free in 2004, I believe
that all US manufacturers will be required to do so in '06. I'm sure I'll be
corrected on the dates.


The reason for banning lead solder isn't that it is dangerous to people
using it,
but rather that old electronic equipment ends up in landfill and so does
the lead.
Auto batteries require special disposal for this reason. The idea is to
ban the use
of lead in all products (where possible) to eliminate disposal problems.

But just how good IS lead free solder? I guess it DOES work well in
plumbing
where it has been in use for many years.

If lead is insoluble in water, then WHY isn't it used in plumbing? The
small
amount that it IS soluble is the danger. Guess the Romans went mad due
to their
use of lead pipes (that's where the word plumber comes from, the latin
for lead
is plumbum, and the atomic symbol for lead is Pb). Could be the lead
pipes were
the reason for the fall of the empire?

"The Eternal Squire" wrote in message
...
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


You can check the Kester web site on the lead-free update
http://www.kester.com/leadfree_update.htm

Even without lead content, breathing flux fumes from solder can cause
respiratory irritation/problems.

Kester Recommendations
http://www.kester.com/recommendations_leadfree.htm

Alloy temperature guide
http://www.kester.com/alloy_temp_chart.html

w9gb

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?