Charles DH Williams wrote:

In article ,
Tim Wescott wrote:


A friend of mine is putting together a middle-school electronics lab,
and wants to get some good cheap soldering irons.


Remind him to consider the health and safety issues before making
a final decision. In the EC (and perhaps elsewhere) one soon will
only be able to get lead-free solder so the soldering staions will
need to be compatible with this. The fumes from flux also need to
be considered.

The exposure to fumes by a child will likely be minimal but, as
the purpose will be 'educational', there may be a duty to employ
best practice so they end up knowing what a safe workstation is
like.

Charles

Hmm. Depressingly good point. I just hold my breath while soldering
and wash up when I'm done but I really ought to get a hood --
particularly since I'm training my kid to all my bad habits.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Tim Wescott wrote:

Charles DH Williams wrote:

In article ,
Tim Wescott wrote:


A friend of mine is putting together a middle-school electronics lab,
and wants to get some good cheap soldering irons.


Remind him to consider the health and safety issues before making
a final decision. In the EC (and perhaps elsewhere) one soon will
only be able to get lead-free solder so the soldering staions will
need to be compatible with this. The fumes from flux also need to
be considered.

The exposure to fumes by a child will likely be minimal but, as
the purpose will be 'educational', there may be a duty to employ
best practice so they end up knowing what a safe workstation is
like.

Charles

Hmm. Depressingly good point. I just hold my breath while soldering
and wash up when I'm done but I really ought to get a hood --
particularly since I'm training my kid to all my bad habits.

At different places where I've worked with a bunch of people soldering
at a long bench, I've seen muffin fans at each workstation to keep the
rosin smoke out of their face.

Good Luck!
Rich

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
Charles DH Williams wrote:

In article ,
Tim Wescott wrote:


A friend of mine is putting together a middle-school electronics lab, and
wants to get some good cheap soldering irons.


Remind him to consider the health and safety issues before making
a final decision. In the EC (and perhaps elsewhere) one soon will
only be able to get lead-free solder so the soldering staions will
need to be compatible with this. The fumes from flux also need to
be considered.

The exposure to fumes by a child will likely be minimal but, as
the purpose will be 'educational', there may be a duty to employ
best practice so they end up knowing what a safe workstation is
like.

Charles

Hmm. Depressingly good point. I just hold my breath while soldering and
wash up when I'm done but I really ought to get a hood --
particularly since I'm training my kid to all my bad habits.

Computer muffin fans (12 vdc) are a cheap alternative (which is what is
inside the Haako 493 with a filter in front)

The Haako 493 and similiar clone units are available for $ 20 to $ 35 used -
I picked up one for a workbench last month - $ 30 with the shipping !

Train these kids in proper workbench habits and shop safety - first. The
lead-free initaitve is real and in the US we will be working with a "mixed
environment" (repair of older equipment with compnents that may not be able
to handle high temperatures (70 to 90 degrees higher depending upon
formulation used) required for lead-free solders.

Kester has a major training effort underway - just for lead-free
http://www.kester.com/en-us/index.aspx

G. Beat

Train these kids in proper workbench habits and shop safety - first. The
lead-free initaitve is real and in the US we will be working with a "mixed
environment" (repair of older equipment with compnents that may not be
able
to handle high temperatures (70 to 90 degrees higher depending upon
formulation used) required for lead-free solders.


It's more like 15 to 20 degrees C higher for lead free solder.

"Jeff" wrote in message
...

Train these kids in proper workbench habits and shop safety - first. The
lead-free initaitve is real and in the US we will be working with a
"mixed
environment" (repair of older equipment with compnents that may not be
able to handle high temperatures (70 to 90 degrees higher depending upon
formulation used) required for lead-free solders.


It's more like 15 to 20 degrees C higher for lead free solder.
Jeff


I was referencing F, you are quoting C. I think you math is a bit low for C
(63/37 eutectic is 183 degrees C and Tin/Silver and Tin/Copper eutectics are
at 221 and 227.
Here is the solder alloy temperature chart (Kester's) - so everyone can see
the various formulations, as well as pure tin melting point and the
lead-free formulations.
http://www.kester.com/en-us/technical/alloy.aspx

gb

The exposure to fumes by a child will likely be minimal but, as
the purpose will be 'educational', there may be a duty to employ
best practice so they end up knowing what a safe workstation is
like.

Charles

Hmm. Depressingly good point. I just hold my breath while soldering
and wash up when I'm done but I really ought to get a hood --
particularly since I'm training my kid to all my bad habits.
========================================
With the room being ventilated, a small axial fan positioned close to the
soldering area will adequately disperse the fumes .

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

But if you had a whole classroom of N children soldering, then
N dispersals scattered over the N children might result in a
fume density of N * N / N which would be no dispersal at all!

Industrial soldering set-ups have a small vacuum pipe mounted on
the iron close to the tip to draw away fumes.

"Highland Ham" wrote in message
...
The exposure to fumes by a child will likely be minimal but, as
the purpose will be 'educational', there may be a duty to employ
best practice so they end up knowing what a safe workstation is
like.
Hmm. Depressingly good point. I just hold my breath while soldering
and wash up when I'm done but I really ought to get a hood --
particularly since I'm training my kid to all my bad habits.
With the room being ventilated, a small axial fan positioned close to the
soldering area will adequately disperse the fumes .

Charles DH Williams wrote:
The exposure to fumes by a child will likely be minimal but, as
the purpose will be 'educational', there may be a duty to employ
best practice so they end up knowing what a safe workstation is
like.

My first serious soldering was a Knight-Kit at age 14, and I started
working full-time as a TV serviceman at age 16. I'm here to tell you
that the fumes haven't affected my cheese. Watch it, spaceman, you're
crushing my petunias. Nerts. Hot solder pie with crunchy plumbing, yum.
No ill effects whatever.

--
"The Democrats are all over this. Democratic strategists feel John Kerry's
war record means he can beat Bush. They say when it comes down to it, voters
will always vote for a war hero over someone who tried to get out of the war.
I'll be sure to mention that to Bob Dole when I see him." -- Jay Leno