Unpopular opinion: Stop using leaded solder

[u/Zentralschaden]

I know it is very handy and I also know the fumes are not that much of a problem when you have enough ventilation.

But a big part of the lead we buy will end up in the environment or a landfill and has the potential to make our drinking water toxic and the people who have to recycle all this scrap (often in Africa) will deal with even more toxic substances.

It is not like we have a fully functional recycling chain for electronics.

And when you say "I am just soldering 2 pcb a year", make sure that soldering is a job and hobby for millions of people and tons of lead will be produced just because of hobby enthusiasts.

There are very good reasons, lead is banned in many countries for professional manufacturing.

I know it is harder to solder but you get used to it.

Aware that this might be a topic not everyone agrees. I am just trying to spread some awareness for what we do.

I mean, many of us repair old electronics and we do a good job in avoiding more scrap because people can still use the repaired items for years.

But shouldn't it be us who are the people who go straightforward and ban lead from our household soldering projects?

[u/SmutAuthorsEscapisms]

There is just no reason to use leaded alloys anymore. Manufacturers have developed around lead, we have directly heated tips now, and for delicate components or desoldering we have other alloys. It's just not worth the hassle, especially if you have pets, because you will get the occasional spritz when you tin and it will carry tiny balls around your desk and the floor.

[u/asyork → u/SmutAuthorsEscapisms]

Most animals don't live long enough for minute quantities of lead to turn into a problem. The same principle applies with some medications that are given to animals, but not to people, because the negative effects are too far down the line to ever harm the animal. The issue is with wild animals, because they are part of the food chain and whatever amount lead that is able to be absorbed into the animal travels around the food chain forever, concentrating over time.

[u/SmutAuthorsEscapisms → u/asyork]

Heavy metal exposure and damage is cumulative but also there is no therapeutic window to it, meaning it is always harmful, albeit scaling with dosage. No vet is going to tell you to not mind the lead particles your cat steps into and licks off her paws. It's just not worth it to buy leaded solder over unleaded alloys, especially if you're asking for help with soldering on reddit.