MOTM

Is it that big a deal if you are hand soldering?  I assume that ROHS 
leads oxidize more quickly.  If that is the issue, then as Paul said, 
first store them in the bag they came in.  Then inspect for oxide before 
using.  You can always scrape it off.  I have lots of old resistors and 
capacitors and when I want to use one of them I just scrape the leads 
just before soldering.  They brighten right up.  You can even apply 
leaded solder to tin them.  It's a little more work, but then you have a 
good solder joint that will last a long time.

-Richard Brewster

http://www.pugix.com

Paul Schreiber wrote:

>a) the shelf life is around 2 years for "lead-free" parts
>b) storing in small zip-lock bags is MUCH better than
>dumping them in say a 'parts bin'
>
>Paul S>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Phil Peery" <ppeery@...>
>To: <motm@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 10:57 PM
>Subject: [motm] OT (sort of) - resistor question....
>
>
>  
>
>>Hi everyone,
>>
>>I'm getting ready to make a purchase of 1% resistors from Mouser.  I 
>>have a vague recollection about seeing some comments on ROHS parts 
>>shelf-life, and was wondering if anyone could elaborate a bit for me.  
>>My concern is if I buy a couple hundred bucks or so worth of 
>>resistors, are they going to be unusable if I don't solder them into a 
>>board within a year or two?  Can this be stalled a bit by storing the 
>>parts in something like a zip-lock bag?  If there is a usable shelf 
>>life, can the part leads be re-tinned?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Phil Peery
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>    
>>