Lead vs lead-free solder

Schematics, layouts & other technical mumbo jumbo.

Moderator: The Captain

User avatar
Coolhand78
Posts: 1109
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:13 am

Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by Coolhand78 »

What are people's thoughts about using solder containing lead vs lead-free?

I've read people claiming that the lead solder has better 'tone'? Is this a thing?
I know the lead-free stuff requires higher temperature but are there any drawbacks?

If leaded is the way to go what advice do you have for working with it safely?
"Yorkshire isn't a place. Yorkshire is a state of mind." ~ Howard Moon
User avatar
Radiotron
Posts: 684
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:57 pm
Location: The Netherlands

Re: Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by Radiotron »

Lead free is a bit harder to work with.
Safety tip, don’t eat the solder :party:

Bullshit snake oil talk on the tone thing.
User avatar
moose
Posts: 619
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:03 pm
Location: Dublin

Re: Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by moose »

If people are building with lead free but not having their irons hot enough for it then the solder joints are more likely to fail leading to a severe affect on the tone.

On the other hand I believe DAM are/were built with lead free silver solder. Correct me if I'm wrong there.
User avatar
vanguard
Posts: 596
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2014 1:19 am

Re: Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by vanguard »

Not a fan of lead-free. It never flows right, nor gives me that satisfying, sterling shine. I use a beat, old Weller WP35, though, so I'm sure it's just a heat issue.
https://blackstrapelectrik.com/

Has anyone seen an Englishman called Gavin?
User avatar
moose
Posts: 619
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:03 pm
Location: Dublin

Re: Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by moose »

The addition of silver to the lead free gives ya shine. Still not a fan myself.
User avatar
superslidetail
Posts: 1303
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: PA, USA

Re: Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by superslidetail »

I use the 60/40 split? Is that the standard?
Orange Haze...it ain't Purple no more...
User avatar
vanguard
Posts: 596
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2014 1:19 am

Re: Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by vanguard »

Radiotron wrote: Bullshit snake oil talk on the tone thing.
Yeah, that is utter lunacy. It makes no scientific sense whatsoever.
https://blackstrapelectrik.com/

Has anyone seen an Englishman called Gavin?
User avatar
peps1
Posts: 2173
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 12:52 am
Location: Hastings UK

Re: Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by peps1 »

superslidetail wrote:I use the 60/40 split? Is that the standard?
Yeah, 60/40 has got to be the best selling, and ubiquitous.

I use 60/40 with a small DIY extractor fan (easy to make)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klTfk6L7o6o

the amount of lead wont effect the tone in any way, lead free tends not to look as nice as 60/40 without an additive like silver, and require higher temperatures, and IMHO is not as easy to work with due to the added heat.

Lead free is only really an issue if your planning on marking your pedals as RoHS complaint, so will use Tin-silver-copper (SAC) lead free, as you cant have any Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls, Polybrominated diphenyl ether, Bis(2-ethylhexyl), phthalate, Butyl benzyl phthalate, Dibutyl phthalate or Diisobutyl phthalate and be RoHS complaint.

There are also environmental/ethical reasons, lead not being good for the environment, but that becomes more of a complex issue due to thing like arsenic being used in the germanium doping process, mercury used in relays, cadmium in LDR, and tantalum for capacitor coming from countries with maybe not the best human rights policy, top two exporters being Rwanda and the Congo.

As there is no impact on tone, go with what you feel is right, or what you can work with the best.
Image
User avatar
Coolhand78
Posts: 1109
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:13 am

Re: Lead vs lead-free solder

Post by Coolhand78 »

Great answer Brook! Thanks man!
"Yorkshire isn't a place. Yorkshire is a state of mind." ~ Howard Moon
User avatar
norhyme
Posts: 1376
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:51 pm
Location: EU

Post by norhyme »

Well, I'm not sure if it has something to do with the solder...but my older D*A*M pedals - like 1966as from 2010 smell different :smashed: than the new ones
Ok - here we go haha
Yes-
I sniff at my fuzzes!

and I like how that circuit smells - it even gives me nostalgic feelings -it's like the smell of a new book somehow...
Btw. I only sniff at fuzzes and books :paranoid:

Maybe the change to a different (lead free) solder also changed the smell of the D*A*M pedals guts... :hmm: the new ones smell different - not as good I think...

...just sayin

Fortunately this has no sonic effect on Dave's creations - to link the smell of a circuit to it's sound would be a bit too TGP ...maybe even beyond it :zgrin: So, leaving the odoration issue aside I definitely think that Dave's pedals get better and better - and they already started at fuzz-god-level out of my perspective!
So...
happy sniffing!
:cheers:
“Interviewer: 'So Frank, you have long hair. Does that make you a woman?' Frank Zappa: 'You have a wooden leg. Does that make you a table?” ― Frank Zappa
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest