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Homebrew Equipment A place to show, design and discuss the weird and wonderful electronic creations from the hands of individual members. |
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4th Jun 2021, 8:42 pm | #21 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 2,181
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Re: Leaded solder
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4th Jun 2021, 11:54 pm | #22 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
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Re: Leaded solder
I have some early 1940's issues of "Wireless World" complete with advert pages. One has an ad for Ersin Multicore solder that lists the solders then available. Higher lead content than pre-war was the preferred range to save tin. The need to use a higher temperature solder iron was mentioned. Special authorisation had to be obtained to buy (and use) solders with a higher tin content.
Last edited by emeritus; 4th Jun 2021 at 11:55 pm. Reason: typos |
7th Jun 2021, 8:39 pm | #23 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,529
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Re: Leaded solder
Be careful with plumber's flux. The conventional rosin flux in solder is fairly passive and is relatively inert unless hot. Other kinds of flux can be much more active and continue to be so after soldering. I once (well twice actually, 12 months apart) had a situation where someone decided that they would use a special flux to solve a problem with a soldered product. Problem was said flux left a residue that became conductive after being subject to DC voltage for a few hours and ended in a self destruct situation.
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7th Jun 2021, 11:09 pm | #24 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
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Re: Leaded solder
Here's the Multicore advert, from the September 1943 WW. Multicore solder was only available for "firms on Government Contracts and other essential Home Civil requirements", max. tin content allowable without a special licence was 45/55 tin/lead.
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8th Jun 2021, 7:50 pm | #25 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK.
Posts: 872
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Re: Leaded solder
Considering that plenty of new [very high quality] roofs comprise lead, ditto most flashings/soakers/trays and other assorted roof components ..... plus of course lead-acid accumulators, and vehicle wheel weights etc. etc. - it does make one wonder about the logic behind phasing-out its use in solder? I mean .... no sane person is going to lick or devour half a roof, accumulators or a circuit board! (Its phased removal from anything in contact with potable water supplies is of course fully endorsed and sound thinking.)
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Red to red, black to black. Throw the switch and stand well back! |
8th Jun 2021, 8:43 pm | #26 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
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Re: Leaded solder
My understanding is that lead pipes are perfectly safe for conveying drinking water in hard water areas. It is only soft water that is plumbo-solvent. When I removed the lead pipes from my first house when I re-plumbed it, the bores of the cold water pipes were coated with a layer of limescale.
Just noticed that the 1943 ad stresses that, with the use of zinc-plated components, it had become necessary to use antimony-free alloys. I know that in the case of MAZAC, very small amounts of impurities ( such as lead) can result in embrittlement. Possibly some interaction between antimony and zinc had been found to have similar unforseen consequences for solder joint reliability. Last edited by emeritus; 8th Jun 2021 at 9:00 pm. |
9th Jun 2021, 12:55 pm | #27 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK.
Posts: 7,061
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Re: Leaded solder
I do have a couple of reels of tin/antimony solder, last used for soldering to a mains dropper on account of the higher melting point.
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Whereas for old electronics, the solder content is harder to recover. And what's hard to do, tends not to be done. |
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9th Jun 2021, 1:16 pm | #28 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Leaded solder
Lead soakers etc, most newbuilds don't have soakers for chimneys because most newbuilds don't have chimneys that need them and if they did they would probably use plastic ones because they're more cost effective at the construction phase.
One planet. Lawrence. |
9th Jun 2021, 2:55 pm | #29 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Surrey, UK.
Posts: 4,385
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Re: Leaded solder
As said, building-use lead is likely to be a relatively-easily separated item and obviously weighty, so recycling is obviously worthwhile, even lucrative to most people whereas lead in electronic solder is a far less conspicuous source and probably "too much hassle" to do much more than toss ephemeral consumer items into general rubbish.
I gather that, largely due to the vehicle-battery scene, lead is actually one of the most successfully recycled metals but I have a bad feeling that it probably often involves piling them up with the old tyres and pallets in Third World countries and collecting the silvery puddle once it's cooled and solidified.... |
14th Jun 2021, 1:41 pm | #30 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 399
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Re: Leaded solder
I used lead free solder once and try to avoid using it now. It just didn't flow like the 60/40 type, and many of the joints looked dull.
I use Weller 60/40 now that's still available & I'm very happy with it. |