Lead Free solder

[Michael Chare]

Should I buy a stock of 'proper' solder for my future plumbing needs before the stuff with lead in it gets banned?

What is the lead free stuff made from?

[Andrew Gabriel]

Why? What's wrong with lead-free for plumbing? I've used both, and there's very little difference in use. The lead-free forms a slightly more shiny surface.

It says on the reels -- I don't know if they're all the same, but ISTR tin is the main component.

[Chris Bacon]

There's nothing wrong with or difficult about lead-free solder (except it's more expensive).

99.5% tin, 0.5% copper.

[manatbandq]

Or any of the other variations, most with more copper and many including silver.

MBQ

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Don't see why - I've not found the new stuff a problem for plumbing. It's more of a problem for electronics, but IIRC there's no move to ban it for repair purposes - just manufacture.

Mainly tin.

[Chris Bacon]

Silver in plumbing solder?

[John Cartmell]

You forgot to describe the circumstances. I know many (in the electronics industry) who would question your sanity at that comment! ;-(

[manatbandq]

In the ones I found by Googling, yes.

MBQ

[daddyfreddy]

Lead free works fine. The only advantage of lead solder is that it's slightly easier to work with if your soldering technique and preparation is rank.

[Andy Hall]

You're not kidding.

The forthcoming legislation from the ROHSS Directive is turning out to be quite a pain in the bum.

There are ifs buts and maybes all over the place, plus exemptions if a product is a "server", used in telecomms or network management. Total mess.

That's before the even bigger mess of the WEEE directive on recycling where the government is in complete disarray and likely to fall foul of time limits issued by Brussels for having everything in place.

[Michael Chare]

Thanks for the replies. I have wondered if the plumbing fittings I bought 3 years ago were in fact lead free.

Fortunately, I have a supply for electrical work!

Looks like voting for lower taxes will no longer be an option!

[Guy King]

The message from [e-mail] (Andrew Gabriel) contains these words:

It's not quite as easy to use if you're not good at soldering in the first place. It's OK but the transition from liquid to solid is rather sudden.

[John Rumm]

Gets even worse when you have single source components supplied by US manufactureres who have not got a clue about the whole lead free debate.

[Kev]

I thought that lead free melts at a higher temperature than Pb/Sn, There is a lead free with silver that melts at a lower temperature but still higher than Pb/Sn.

For somebody like me who is crap at soldering that makes all the diffrence.

Kevin

[Dave Plowman (News)]

IIRC, the military in the US won't accept lead free solder on reliability grounds.

[Guy King]

The message from John Rumm contains these words:

They tried some years ago but it got fillibustered.

[Andy Hall]

or others who are looking for any excuse not to have to do anything.

[Chris Bacon]

If there's a pointer to the general use of tin/silver solder in domestic plumbing, I'd appreciate an indication.

If the metal's clean, and you use a decent flux such as Laco, there's no problem at all with tin/copper IME.

[Chris Bacon]

I've no idea what relevance that has to UK domestic plumbing.

[Guy King]

The message from Chris Bacon contains these words:

Was it required to?