"Mike Gilmour" wrote in message
...
Regulations and more regulations, it must be difficult for manufacturers
to keep up with it all. The WEEE Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment and the RoHS Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directives that
were published by the European Commission in 2003, are due for
implementation by July this year. Amongst a legion of other directives,
lead free solder can only be good thing but the appearance and flow of the
solder joint has changed (even its a better joint). I do miss that
mirror finish and easy flow of leaded solder compared to the newer duller
lead-free variety. Guess it'll be a bit harder to spot dry joints or
time, any opinions.
Whilst soldered joints may not look as nice, lead-free solder has to be a
good thing. I hate to think how many flux fumes I inhaled and lead I
ingested from holding the solder in my teeth when trying to repair an XLR in
an awkward position. No comments about my sanity, I've made them all myself
already.

There's much less hand-soldering now than there used to be, so hopefully,
there are also much fewer dry joints. Anyone from a manufacturing
environment care to comment?

S.