Adafruit: silver bearing solder

[davidh]

HI,

What is the benefit, if any, of having silver bearing solder?

Thanks
David

[adafruit_support_bill]

It has (very) slightly higher conductivity. And it is used in lead-free solders to help them flow better.

[adafruit_support_mike]

Silver solder is also harder and melts at a higher temperature. In terms of assembling things made of metal, silver solder falls between tin/lead solder and brazing.

Jewlers use several grades of silver solder to assemble complicated pieces. They start with the grade that has the most silver and the higest melting point, then work their way way down through the temperature scale. The higher temperature solders stay solid while the lowest temperature solder melts, so you don't end up playing "made this joint, but that one came loose in the process" all afternoon.

For PCB assembly, there's rarely any reason to use silver solder except (as mentioned) in lead-free solders.

[Tbeckett]

Should one be concerned about the health effects of lead solder? Do the fumes of soldering contain lead or is that just the flux?

[adafruit_support_bill]

The main health-hazard in leaded solder is the tons of it that end up in landfills from discarded consumer products. For low-volume hobbyist use, this is not such a big issue.

Basic precautions apply for handling both leaded and lead-free solder. Work in a well ventilated area and avoid inhaling the fumes (The flux fumes from lead-free solder are at least as harmful as the leaded variety.) and wash your hands after handling the solder.

[Syn7]

I have plans to add a small hood fan above my workstation to catch all the solder particles in the air. Same with glue, paints, solvents, etc etc. I had one before, but I have moved and need a new one. When I am mixing chemicals that are too strong for the hood fan, I use a respirator and do it in a well vented area. Like undercover but outside or in the garage with the door up and the door to the house closed. Maybe even a fan, depending on scale or toxicity. There are more concerns than just solder when you make "stuff". Safe is a good bet. Last thing you wanna do is start getting numb on one side of your body cause you didn't take precautions. I do believe you can go overboard, but a healthy margin is simply the most intelligent way to go about dealing with any toxic fumes. Same with eye and ear protection when needed. It amazes me how many corners people cut when it comes to safety. You wouldn't believe what I've seen as an electrician.

[BruceF]

Google led me to this PDF on solder fume safety, which I think looks credible. (Please note I am no expert in the area - just an electronic hobbyist.) I guess if you're concerned about solder fumes, it makes sense to dig up documents like this and make your own judgements based on criteria like soldering frequency and current personal health.

[Chuckz]

Should one be concerned about the health effects of lead solder? Do the fumes of soldering contain lead or is that just the flux?

I don't believe that lead free solder is really 100% lead free. I believe there are a lot of "safe" things that have small amounts or "safe" amounts of lead.

My grandparents had a silver cup with their names in them but my grandmother always told me it wasn't safe to drink out of it unless it was tarnished. Her generation learned their lessons because there is a thing called 'silver poisoning' and it can attack your organs leading to death. It was 40 years ago she told me what the dangers were in drinking from it but I wouldn't be suprised if it attacked your liver but she told me someone she knew who was close died from it. You should probably consult a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any chemical you handle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyria

[Tbeckett]

Thanks, all, for your wise & knowledgeable advise.