Choosing a good solder (for my Crackatwoa)

[Paul Birkeland]

If you aren't willing to work with leaded solder, I wouldn't recommend building electronics kits. Yes, lead is toxic. The safety precaution for this is to wash your hands after you're done soldering (and obvious things like not eating while you're soldering, not eating the solder, etc).

Lead free solder flows poorly and is very difficult to work with. I end up with many kits every year on my repair bench that are built with lead-free solder and would have worked properly if the builder had used leaded solder instead.

I'd recommend not overthinking things like this too much...

 

[pure love]

If you aren't willing to work with leaded solder, I wouldn't recommend building electronics kits. Yes, lead is toxic. The safety precaution for this is to wash your hands after you're done soldering (and obvious things like not eating while you're soldering, not eating the solder, etc).

Lead free solder flows poorly and is very difficult to work with. I end up with many kits every year on my repair bench that are built with lead-free solder and would have worked properly if the builder had used leaded solder instead.

I'd recommend not overthinking things like this too much...

I will find out soon enough. I can solder quite well luckily. I will never ever again in my life play with my health again, though.

 

[Jameson]

You're obviously free to use whatever you want in your kit. You asked for advice on the right solder to use and we've provided that advice.

Paul is here to help people understand how to have the highest chance of success building their kits. That includes using the materials best suited for the job. Leaded solder is pretty widely regarded to be safe as long as it's handled with common sense (e.g., good ventilation, diligent hand washing, etc.) Paul's point of view is informed by years of doing this work, and myriad instances of builders failing to construct a working kit because they've used lead-free solder.

So again, feel free to use lead free solder. We do not recommend it.

 

[pure love]

You're obviously free to use whatever you want in your kit. You asked for advice on the right solder to use and we've provided that advice.

Paul is here to help people understand how to have the highest chance of success building their kits. That includes using the materials best suited for the job. Leaded solder is pretty widely regarded to be safe as long as it's handled with common sense (e.g., good ventilation, diligent hand washing, etc.) Paul's point of view is informed by years of doing this work, and myriad instances of builders failing to construct a working kit because they've used lead-free solder.

So again, feel free to use lead free solder. We do not recommend it.

I dont doubt him to be correct in the sense that leaded solder is easier to work with. I could just never risk my health.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I dont doubt him to be correct in the sense that leaded solder is easier to work with. I could just never risk my health.

What exactly do you think is going to happen to you if you use leaded solder to build a kit?

How are you certain that the lead free solders are any healthier for you?

 

[2wo]

The fumes from some of the lead free solder can be very nasty. If you feel the need to use one, be sure you have excellent ventilation.

 

[pure love]

I think I will be poisoned by the lead. It will absorb through my skin when I touch it and I will inhale it when the soldering iron heats it and produces fumes. (btw, can the crackatwoa forum be moved to active kits section again? its currently in the retired products sub forum)

 

[pure love]

The fumes from some of the lead free solder can be very nasty. If you feel the need to use one, be sure you have excellent ventilation.

I will work outside with a strong fan blwoing the fumes away from me.

 

[Jameson]

I’m locking this thread since I think the dead horse is pretty well beaten here.

 

[Doc B]

I think it's very important that, since there are a lot of newbs here, we get the basic facts straight about safety on this forum. It should be made clear here that you cannot "inhale lead fumes" from liquid solder. Flux (rosin) fumes, yes, and they are not good for you whether the solder has lead in it or not. But lead cannot go into a vapor state at the temps we use. It melts at around 325C but cannot vaporize until it hits 1749C. The common path for inorganic lead causing a person harm is thru the mouth. Not through the skin. If one washes their hands after soldering and before eating or picking up anything that might go into their mouth or nose the risk is negligible.

I'll also offer that there are inexpensive fume extractors that can sit on the bench next to your work to filter out the rosin smoke. They are quite easy to use and effective. Getting my techs to use them was, however, nearly impossible.

As long as ventilation is present around the workbench I think that a more important concern is wearing safety or reading/prescription glasses when you are soldering. I have had hot solder flick off a wire that came loose while soldering it and hit my eye. I do not recommend trying that. And of course clipped leads can fly all over the place when you are trimming the excess.