Poll

Do you still use leaded solder?

Yes, and wont leave it.
105 (78.4%)
Yes, but planning to switch.
9 (6.7%)
No, but hate lead free.
4 (3%)
Using lead free without any issues.
16 (11.9%)

Total Members Voted: 131

Author Topic: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...  (Read 14759 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline MiyukiTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 908
  • Country: cz
    • Me on youtube
Hi, folks,
I just wonder how many of you still use leaded solder for projects and prototyping compared to ones who are green
I'm asking because it was today removed from my order because I'm not permitted to use it  :palm:
I find it easier with lead and have a batch of boards with leaded HASL anyway and with a bunch of thick thru-hole connectors and connectors.
I just bought it in a local store in the end.
 

Online Kjelt

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 6586
  • Country: nl
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2021, 06:50:18 pm »
For hobby most do I guess.
The switch to Rohs/leadfree was only because of environmental choices, not for reliability and easy use which leadsolder still wins hands down.
For companies I get it but for private use, perhaps I use 30g of lead solder per year, as long as you properly recycle it after use and not throw it in the garbage can.
 

Online ataradov

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 11905
  • Country: us
    • Personal site
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2021, 07:09:14 pm »
I use it and I'm not about to give it up. There is no reason to mess with lead free stuff for hobby. The environmental damage all the hobbyist in the world will do by using it is negligible.

For mass production where I personally don't have to touch it with a soldering iron - I don't care, lead free is fine.
Alex
 

Offline PKTKS

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1766
  • Country: br
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2021, 07:11:56 pm »
Yes and I am always wondering to get some more quality ones.

There is absolute no comparison to the strong bonded alloy of LEADED when compared to crappy brittle LEAD FREE, in particular in aged (even very shortly failed aged) devices...

IMHO this whole LEAD FREE hairy shit heads is just to justify a business model where REPAIR is no longer an option and an entire wasteland landfill would be formed by such "disposal"

Just nuts cranks aka business as usual thing...

Absurdly common problem I have found since this LEAD FREE stuff appeared..

Transformers are render useless when brittle lead free solder loose them 

Some shots attached

Paul
 
The following users thanked this post: BreakingOhmsLaw

Offline Sal Ammoniac

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1764
  • Country: us
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2021, 07:12:56 pm »
I have 25 pounds of lead solder on hand and that should last me for decades. I have no plans to ever switch to Pb-free solder.
"That's not even wrong" -- Wolfgang Pauli
 
The following users thanked this post: eti

Online magic

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7453
  • Country: pl
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2021, 08:01:36 pm »
Some Swedish morons got it banned EU-wide two years ago or whatnot.

Go back to that store and buy more ;)
 

Offline james_s

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 21611
  • Country: us
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2021, 08:36:54 pm »
You can probably still buy it direct from China no matter where you are. Nobody seems to track that stuff.
 

Offline ogden

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3731
  • Country: lv
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2021, 08:37:58 pm »
The environmental damage all the hobbyist in the world will do by using it is negligible.
Fully agree. Lead will not do any harm to you unless you eat your circuits. Working temperatures are lower for lead solder, thus this is no-brainer for hobyists as long as they can buy such.
 

Offline jesuscf

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 503
  • Country: ca
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #8 on: November 15, 2021, 08:43:25 pm »
They should ban the sell of leaded bullets as well!!!
Homer: Kids, there's three ways to do things; the right way, the wrong way and the Max Power way!
Bart: Isn't that the wrong way?
Homer: Yeah, but faster!
 
The following users thanked this post: NiHaoMike, SL4P, tooki, ogden, Mecanix

Offline SiliconWizard

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 15797
  • Country: fr
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2021, 08:46:45 pm »
For prototyping (hand soldering), I've been using lead-free solder (Multicore 96SC) for over 10 years now for most small SMD soldering, but for all through-hole and wiring jobs, I mostly use leaded solder.
 

Offline ogden

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3731
  • Country: lv
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #10 on: November 15, 2021, 08:49:56 pm »
For prototyping (hand soldering), I've been using lead-free solder (Multicore 96SC) for over 10 years now for most small SMD soldering, but for all through-hole and wiring jobs, I mostly use leaded solder.
Why don't you use leaded solder for SMD? No such solder-paste anymore?
 

Offline TimFox

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 9000
  • Country: us
  • Retired, now restoring antique test equipment
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2021, 08:56:18 pm »
They should ban the sell of leaded bullets as well!!!

Starting in 1987, lead shot was banned in the USA for hunting waterfowl, since much of it ends up in the water to poison other life forms by ingestion.
See:  https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/hunting/nontoxic.php
 
The following users thanked this post: Bassman59, thm_w, tooki, ogden

Online wraper

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 17952
  • Country: lv
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #12 on: November 15, 2021, 09:01:45 pm »
There is absolute no comparison to the strong bonded alloy of LEADED when compared to crappy brittle LEAD FREE, in particular in aged (even very shortly failed aged) devices...
IMHO this whole LEAD FREE hairy shit heads is just to justify a business model where REPAIR is no longer an option and an entire wasteland landfill would be formed by such "disposal"
Oh, come on. I've seen more of the tin-lead solder joints cracked than lead-free. Cracking issue is more about single layer PCB (no hole plating) rather than solder.
 
The following users thanked this post: tooki

Offline SiliconWizard

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 15797
  • Country: fr
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #13 on: November 15, 2021, 09:06:37 pm »
For prototyping (hand soldering), I've been using lead-free solder (Multicore 96SC) for over 10 years now for most small SMD soldering, but for all through-hole and wiring jobs, I mostly use leaded solder.
Why don't you use leaded solder for SMD? No such solder-paste anymore?

I must admit honestly that it's not really for an environmental or health reason. It's mainly because a decade ago or so, I had to renew my fine solder wire stock, and right when I needed to buy, I couldn't find what I was looking for as leaded solder. So I bought that, and I've been pleased with the results, so I kept using it. The particular wire I've been using (Multicore 96SC/ 3C 511) has the plus of containing a flux that I find less nasty than most fluxes I have found in leaded solder, actually, so that's also a reason. For small SMD work, I have no problem compared to leaded solder either.

But for anything with larger thermal mass, I still use leaded solder (for which I have ample stock too.)

And for solder paste, I've used both leaded and lead-free. Mostly depending on availability for that matter, since solder paste in small quantities (I'm talking for prototyping use here of course, not for production) is not always available as leaded, and you can't stock large quantities as they expire pretty fast.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2021, 09:08:13 pm by SiliconWizard »
 

Offline TimFox

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 9000
  • Country: us
  • Retired, now restoring antique test equipment
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #14 on: November 15, 2021, 09:09:34 pm »
One should be careful about mixing the two types, however.
I was told that adding leaded solder to an unleaded solder was bad, but not vice-versa.
However, "Pb-free" leads on ICs, etc., can be soldered with leaded solder.
At my former employer, we did still use some leaded solder but kept separate solder stations for that purpose, to avoid contamination of the ROHS-soldered circuits.
 

Offline ogden

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3731
  • Country: lv
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #15 on: November 15, 2021, 09:39:36 pm »
The particular wire I've been using (Multicore 96SC/ 3C 511) has the plus of containing a flux that I find less nasty than most fluxes I have found in leaded solder, actually, so that's also a reason.
I see what you mean. Most "oldskool" lead products most likely will contain "odskool" fluxes as well. For me who smelled rosin since I was little kid it is still OK, but in general modern fluxes not only work better, but also do not smell/evaporate that much.
 

Offline thm_w

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7521
  • Country: ca
  • Non-expert
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #16 on: November 15, 2021, 09:52:01 pm »
I see what you mean. Most "oldskool" lead products most likely will contain "odskool" fluxes as well. For me who smelled rosin since I was little kid it is still OK, but in general modern fluxes not only work better, but also do not smell/evaporate that much.

Good reason to use a modern flux then and proper extraction. But lead-free fluxes must be more aggressive and will be used at higher temperatures. If you use the same flux in lead and lead-free, the leaded solder will inherently be safer as the temperature reached during soldering should be lower.

Although I'm sure that stuff is not too bad: http://tds.henkel.com/tds5/Studio/ShowPDF/243%20NEW-EN?pid=LOCTITE%20C%20511&format=MTR&subformat=MLTC&language=EN&plant=WERCS
Quote
Flux Properties
Acid Value, mgKOH/g 170
Halide Content, Cl % 1.1
Flux Content, 5 core, % 3.0
Flux Content, 3 core, % 2.0

Is halide a health concern at this level? Not sure.


Quote
A typical lead-free solder wire generally contains 2 to 3 percent flux by weight, broadly similar to conventional solders. However, the flux content may have to be more aggressive to achieve the same degree of solder wetting, which yields stronger, more potentially harmful chemicals.
https://www.solderconnection.com/specsheets/Lead-free_Fume_Extraction.pdf
Profile -> Modify profile -> Look and Layout ->  Don't show users' signatures
 

Offline daqq

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2321
  • Country: sk
    • My site
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #17 on: November 15, 2021, 09:58:24 pm »
Hobby, research and development - leaded solder.
Customer stuff - lead-free, leaded upon request for prototypes.

Provided people do not start licking or eating the boards, they should be fine.
Believe it or not, pointy haired people do exist!
+++Divide By Cucumber Error. Please Reinstall Universe And Reboot +++
 

Offline BreakingOhmsLaw

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 394
  • Country: de
  • Certified solder fume addict
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #18 on: November 15, 2021, 11:36:57 pm »
Yes, the EU nannies won't let dealers sell leaded solder to private person any more. I stocked up on a lifetime supply before that happened.
But you can find it on Ali & Evilbay.
 

Online nctnico

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 28429
  • Country: nl
    • NCT Developments
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #19 on: November 16, 2021, 12:17:23 am »
Hi, folks,
I just wonder how many of you still use leaded solder for projects and prototyping compared to ones who are green
No problem ordering from Farnell. Just received 2 rolls last week. But I have to say I use it for prototyping only.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2021, 12:19:34 am by nctnico »
There are small lies, big lies and then there is what is on the screen of your oscilloscope.
 

Online ejeffrey

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4033
  • Country: us
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #20 on: November 16, 2021, 04:09:19 am »
They should ban the sell of leaded bullets as well!!!

The exclamation points make this sound sarcastic.
I'm not sure how you meant but they absolutely should. Lead bullets are a serous environmental problem since they are deliberately shot into the environment when used for hunting or often at outdoor target ranges. Lead bullets have already been banned for hunting in some cases in the US and the US military is phasing out lead from at least their most common ammunition types.  No idea how far along that is, I think it's been in progress for a decade.
 
The following users thanked this post: rs20, newbrain

Offline dcarr

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 117
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #21 on: November 16, 2021, 04:14:55 am »
I've been using lead-free SAC305 for more than 15 years.  It works great.  No need for the poisonous stuff---particularly paste which gets everywhere.  Can even eat pizza and solder at the same time!
 

Offline MiyukiTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 908
  • Country: cz
    • Me on youtube
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #22 on: November 16, 2021, 07:55:16 am »
I've been using lead-free SAC305 for more than 15 years.  It works great.  No need for the poisonous stuff---particularly paste which gets everywhere.  Can even eat pizza and solder at the same time!
Isn't that rule number one in any lab to not eat and drink?  ;D
But good point, it is safer when violating rules.

They should ban the sell of leaded bullets as well!!!

The exclamation points make this sound sarcastic.
I'm not sure how you meant but they absolutely should. Lead bullets are a serous environmental problem since they are deliberately shot into the environment when used for hunting or often at outdoor target ranges. Lead bullets have already been banned for hunting in some cases in the US and the US military is phasing out lead from at least their most common ammunition types.  No idea how far along that is, I think it's been in progress for a decade.
It is a reasonable ban for shotguns, as most of the shots do not end in the game but in the environment and it is a big issue
For other uses, I do not see many concerns
And military ammo is mainly steel anyway (and always was for penetration reasons) and after a war, is that little remaining lead from bullets the least problem. In any bigger conflict will be used plenty of really nasty stuff to kill each other and lead is compared to it just a children's toy.
 

Offline jeremy

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1079
  • Country: au
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #23 on: November 16, 2021, 08:03:10 am »
Been using SN100C for at least a decade. I much prefer it to leaded stuff. If low temp is needed, just use a bismuth alloy.
 
The following users thanked this post: tooki

Offline David Hess

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 17427
  • Country: us
  • DavidH
Re: Do you still use leaded solder? I was today refused to buy it ...
« Reply #24 on: November 16, 2021, 05:47:54 pm »
I much prefer leaded to any of the lead free solders I have used, and the lower temperature makes it easier to work with and does less damage.
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf