Anyone else, buying up solder, for fear of the lead free crap!

[tone seeker]

 After buying up rolls at Radio Shack,
I have been buying rolls up, at a flea market,
I go to. I mean, they sell them 50 cents, to
A dollar, so why not!
  I think I've picked up, about 10 full rolls
Within this summer hunting. I'm afraid
That sooner than later, we'll have to
Use the lead free crap.
  I did buy a large roll of kester solder
Recently, but it's tarnished. Anyway to
Clean it up? Does it mess with the
Performance of the solder, or not?

[jimilee]

Now, when you say full rolls, are we talking like a pound? I buy kester by the pound and it lasts about two years. I don't k know nothing about tarnished solder though.


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[Rockhorst]

I'll repeat my recommendation once more: Felder Iso-Core Si100Ni+ for lead free. You should give it a try. It's very easy to work with and the joint looks just like a leaded one. Nice flow and reliable joint. It does wear the tip faster than leaded but that's mostly due to me not cleaning the tip enough during a job. Seriously, I see no reason to use leaded after discovering this stuff, only for repairs on vintage and pre-ROHS gear.

[lars]

After buying up rolls at Radio Shack,

Where did you find a Radio Shack??

[tone seeker]

After buying up rolls at Radio Shack,

Where did you find a Radio Shack??

Before they closed!

  All the other solder I have found, is just different size rolls, by
different companies.
  I found 1 old roll of kester so far. It's just so cheap, I can't help but
buy it up for the lead free factor

I'll repeat my recommendation once more: Felder Iso-Core Si100Ni+ for lead free. You should give it a try. It's very easy to work with and the joint looks just like a leaded one. Nice flow and reliable joint. It does wear the tip faster than leaded but that's mostly due to me not cleaning the tip enough during a job. Seriously, I see no reason to use leaded after discovering this stuff, only for repairs on vintage and pre-ROHS gear.

  I will keep this mind, when they decide to quit making, lead solder.
I guess I could buy a roll and try it out!

I was just curious, if anyone else, was buying up solder, before they make
it all lead free!

Now, when you say full rolls, are we talking like a pound? I buy kester by the pound and it lasts about two years. I don't k know nothing about tarnished solder though.

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No it's not real large rolls, but they last awhile! I just found one
that did not have the shiny sheen to it. It just looked like a dull grey.
I just didn't know if it would effect the solder joint, using tarnished
solder.

[EBK]

I was just curious, if anyone else, was buying up solder, before they make
it all lead free!

Is this mostly abstract paranoia, or is there some regulation that I don't know about that will soon go into effect?  I cannot imagine the latter in the current U.S. political climate (unless it is aimed at controling imports).
I tried to make that last sentence non-political, aside from using the word "political".

[timbo_93631]

I buy a spool of Kester 44 63/37 about every 6 months for my pickup winding, no lack of supply that I have heard of.  This thread reminded me that I am going to run out in a few weeks so I took a look on eBay, I just got 1lb for an offer of $15 plus $4.99 shipping.  Dunno?  I have been using 63/37 for years.  I think that same seller has another spool: https://www.ebay.com/itm/KESTER-24-6337-0027-WIRE-SOLDER-031-RA-ROSIN-SN63-PB37-66-FLUX-44-CORE-1-lb-NEW/202494469663?epid=11015969257&hash=item2f259c661f:g:pTIAAOSwLyhbY59P:rk:52:pf:0&autorefresh=true

[pickdropper]

I was just curious, if anyone else, was buying up solder, before they make
it all lead free!

Is this mostly abstract paranoia, or is there some regulation that I don't know about that will soon go into effect?  I cannot imagine the latter in the current U.S. political climate (unless it is aimed at controling imports).
I tried to make that last sentence non-political, aside from using the word "political".

There are still industries where leaded solder is permitted, so I'd be a little surprised to see it go away, at least in the near term.  But I've been wrong before.

Personally, I prefer using newer solder when possible, so stocking up isn't a part of my plan.

[tone seeker]

It's mostly abstract paranoia for me!

I have not heard anything about it not being made anymore,
I just figured it was a going to happen!
I work in the automotive aftermarket, and without much announcement,
a lot of item's that contained certain solvents, were changed, with no
notification. It changed the products drastically! Same thing, with
spray paints. They just all of the sudden, sucked! So with all the restrictions,
that used to just effect California, hit everyone!

[pickdropper]

It's mostly abstract paranoia for me!

I have not heard anything about it not being made anymore,
I just figured it was a going to happen!
I work in the automotive aftermarket, and without much announcement,
a lot of item's that contained certain solvents, were changed, with no
notification. It changed the products drastically! Same thing, with
spray paints. They just all of the sudden, sucked! So with all the restrictions,
that used to just effect California, hit everyone!

Don't get me started on California's Prop 65 regulations, but in many cases the changes to solvents were made for good reasons.  Some of the old versions were very nasty.  Maybe not an issue if you use them once in a while, but pretty nasty if your job required regular use.

[alanp]

I've got a spare 200gm roll of 60/40, and I'm not worried at all about lead based solder going out of production.

[stringsthings]

After buying up rolls at Radio Shack,
I have been buying rolls up, at a flea market,
I go to. I mean, they sell them 50 cents, to
A dollar, so why not!
  I think I've picked up, about 10 full rolls
Within this summer hunting. I'm afraid
That sooner than later, we'll have to
Use the lead free crap.
  I did buy a large roll of kester solder
Recently, but it's tarnished. Anyway to
Clean it up? Does it mess with the
Performance of the solder, or not?

Are you planning on opening up a store to sell all these rolls of solder?  If not, how exactly do you plan on
using every bit of solder?    Unless you plan on ingesting it. 

[tone seeker]

After buying up rolls at Radio Shack,
I have been buying rolls up, at a flea market,
I go to. I mean, they sell them 50 cents, to
A dollar, so why not!
  I think I've picked up, about 10 full rolls
Within this summer hunting. I'm afraid
That sooner than later, we'll have to
Use the lead free crap.
  I did buy a large roll of kester solder
Recently, but it's tarnished. Anyway to
Clean it up? Does it mess with the
Performance of the solder, or not?

Are you planning on opening up a store to sell all these rolls of solder?  If not, how exactly do you plan on
using every bit of solder?    Unless you plan on ingesting it.

I am a sucker, for a good deal! 50 cents, to a dollar a roll, why not!

I also found a Fluke model 23, for $5.00.
Do I need it? No, But for $5.00, it's mine!

[Muadzin]

I reckon that in a few years, when we'll read about some insane crazy guy dying from lead poisoning, we'll know who he is.