[sdiy] Last and final RoHS warning

[Seb Francis]

Well, I'm not really sure what the fuss is all about.  There's not 
actually a EU import ban on leaded solder.  What is banned is import of 
electronic equipment that falls into these 8 categories:

    * Large household appliances
    * Small household appliances
    * IT and telecommunication equipment
    * Consumer equipment
    * Lighting equipment
    * Electrical and electronic tools
    * Toys (including leisure and sports equipment)
    * Automatic dispensers

Ok, so they probably would class MOTM kits as consumer equipment and 
hence Paul has to ship without solder, but there's certainly going to be 
no problem with leaded solder availability in UK.  I've just been in 
contact with the product buyers at Rapid Electronics to check on what's 
going to happen to my 3 favourite types of solder, and have been told 
there's no problem after 1st July, they will continue stocking them for 
the foreseeable future.  Sure, the components and PCBs are all switching 
over (although I just found out about a PCB house in Hungary [a member 
of the EU] that still do tin/lead HAL finish), but even this shelf life 
thing is worried about too much - hand soldering is so much less 
critical that commercial soldering processes, so these things are still 
going to be usable for SDIY purposes in years to come.

FYI, here are the 3 types of solder that I just checked are still going 
to be readily available:

Rapid 85-0595 - 22swg, 60/40, Rosin flux.
This is Rapid's own brand, a very good value and nice quality standard 
solder for use on non-critical applications or where you are prepared to 
clean the flux with solvents.

Rapid 85-6266 - 22swg 63/37, Water soluble flux
This is made by Warton Metals, same kind of thing as Multicore Hyrdo-X 
(which is more expensive and 60/40) and Kester 'Organic' (which is very 
hard to get in UK).

Rapid 85-6274 - 22swg 63/37, No clean flux
Again made by Warton Metals

Seb




Paul Schreiber wrote:
> The EU's import ban on leaded solder begins July 1st. If you are 
> interested in DIY/repair/kit building, I *strongly suggest* buying at 
> least:
>
> 2 spools of Kester '245 No-Clean' solder, part # 24-6337-8800 (for 
> repair and wiring front panel parts)
> 1 spool of Kester '331 Organic'  solder, part # 24-6337-5401 (you use 
> this on pc boards, then wash off the flux which is really vinegar).
>
> TODAY!!!!
>
> MOTM kits shipped to the EU after July 1st *WILL NOT CONTAIN SOLDER*. 
> Now, there *is* RoHS complaint solder that is an alloy of 
> Tin/Silver/Copper, Kester has both No-Clean and Organic versions. 
> However, this means *every part*, including the pcb plating, has to be 
> lead-free. Right now, MOTM modules are about 94% RoHS (close but no 
> cigar).
>
> MOTM kits shipped everywhere else WILL contain leaded solder.
>
> I will be looking over the summer to see if it makes economic $$$ to 
> switch over, and if there is a cost adder (the solder, right now, is 
> 3X the price. ACK).
>
> Pain in the ass.
>
> Paul Schreiber
> Synthesis Technology
>
>
>