[sdiy] ROHS Deadline/Parts

[Paul Schreiber]

> Solder with lead in it isnt going away, its just going to get expensive and
> even that will take a little while.

Not really roll solder. Lead-free solder isn't designed for soldering irons, it 
melts at about 1/3rd the temperature.

>
> And remember folks, its hitting Europe not the US.  Definatly not China and
> the rest of the far east, and also its not affecting aerospace or military
> so quite a lot of the stuff we know and love isnt going away.

Don't count on it. The reason is that companies like Newark, Mouser, Allied, 
Arrow, etc are not going to have "doubled up" inventory (lead and non-lead). 
Military and around 11 other industries have an exemption or pushed-out deadline 
(until say 2009). Military parts are handled by companies like TTI and 
Arrow/Zeus that are separate from other inventory. Mouser and Digikey don't give 
a rat's ass. After July 1, it's 100% RoHS, baby!

But, since RoHS parts *can* be soldered with regular leaded solder, *these* are 
the ones companies will stock. They can sell into every market *but* military. 
And 95% of military parts have something called a QPL which makes them "special" 
anyway.

Paul S.
lives RoHS every day as TDK/ITT Cannon sales rep/FAE