[sdiy] Lead-free DIY

[karl dalen]

 --- Magnus Danielson <cfmd at bredband.net> skrev: 
> Dear all,
> 
> I want to raise a few questions in order to see what impacts we could expect
> in
> a future near us. The requirement to go lead-free in production of
> electronics
> is bound to come over to the DIY-world one day or another. 

As a matter of fact its allready here!

For instance most solder oven manufacturers have production lines
doing pb free today, however major companies have big time problems, 
GM for instance had to recall tousands of cars due to Pb free solder
joints cracking during driwing

This should really
> shake some people up since Pb/Sn soldering tin may eventually be GONE and
> components will have Pb-free solder-plating.

Not neccerily, there is as in all directives exemptments and in the case of
Pb there are many. The Eu directives has stated that in 1 July 2007 all PB
shall have been remowed from all electronics.(wich will be difficult).

 Soldering with Pb-free tin also
> requires different temperatures etc. Just repairing stuff will be different
> quite soon.

Possibly not, it depends on the Pb replacement, for example a good one
would be Bismuth wich also have been tested.
 
> Is there any Pb-free certified guys around here?

Im cerified on everything thats not healty! :-)
 
> What soldering gear can we just toss since they are no longer able to be
> usefull? (I think there is stuff which will no longer be usefull - outdated!)

None, until 2007!
 
> What about whiskers? Is there a *real* solution for _everyone_? (I think not
> yeat!)

Whiskers? I tought cats/dogs etc ,only had wiskers!
A more active fluss, paladium-nickel or non glossy tinn can be used
however  a more active fluss seams the way to go at the moment.
 
> Soldering Pb-free is as far as I know harder and things behaves differently.
No not really, if Bi as replacememngttgifgyruuidgs!

For some reasons does americans and europeans use
copper-silver-tinn  mixtures wich melts at 200-250c deg,
japanese uses tin-bismuth mixtures who melts about 200c deg.
The reason is that a Pb-Bi mixture can lower the melting point
to about 96c deg, understandeable quite problematic. Wich means
that components that have Pb in them has to be remowed,then a tinn-
Bismuth solder will be fine. 

I wote for Bi wich is a very peculiar metall in it self, has many
interesting properties, for instance are used i with copper in an 
alloy to do superconductors in super magnets used in super accelerators
wich is just super! :-).

Reg
KD