There's a big push to stop putting lead solder into landfills, particularly
in Europe. They tried making manufacturer's take their stuff back but it
didn't work, so now they're trying to eliminate lead from solder.

I suspect that there will be quite a long grace period where the military,
avionics and medical systems people will be able to continue using lead
solder on reliability grounds.

Does solder really get that stale? I'm still using the roll I got 25 years
ago as a gift (it's a big roll) -- I don't have any problems with it, nor
does my boy, 10, who's just learning to solder.

Perhaps you could pack it with dessicant?

"- - Bill - -" wrote in message
...
BOEING377 wrote:


I wonder if lead tin solder will become like Freon 12, still in demand
but now
15 dollars or more a can instead of 99 cents just a few yrs ago. Maybe
its time
to stock up on few rolls of old style solder before it becomes a hoarded
overpriced item.


Hehe...I did that a couple years ago and now have a bunch of old stale
solder :-) I'm one of those nutty people who notices that "out-of-date"
solder just ain't as good as fresh.
My understanding is that lead based solder has been nixxed for plumbing
work already and I suppose that makes some sense. Dunno if that gave
rise to the rumour that electrical solder would suffer the same destiny.
Does anybody know for sure?

-Bill M