soldering iron ?

[rstites]

I have the RS 20-40 and its a great iron No problem getting tips for it.If they don't have any tips on the rack just have them order some just to have a few spares
I hit the small RS's in smaller towns and buy all the chisel tip ones they have on hand.
I have a drawer full of them.

When mine died a year ago there was no way to order them, including from the RS website. In fact, in the online reviews that was one of the problems. Maybe they've gotten the tips in stock since then, updated the iron, or similar. I just know I ran into this problem, and tossed the RS one. Honestly, for the difference in price, the Weller really is worth it IMO. I used the RS for years though with no real complaints.

[Hellbat]

Speaking of soldering, I'm on my last spool of tin/lead rosin core solder. I'm going to cry when it's gone.

[Riffmeister]

I just wired up my new pickups and pots using a RS 30 watt iron and didn't have any problems.

Bought a new tip for it also with no problems for about 1.45 I think.

[Cygnus X1]

Speaking of soldering, I'm on my last spool of tin/lead rosin core solder. I'm going to cry when it's gone.

No chit.
I have been stocking up.

My wife even gave me two big rolls for Christmas!
No, I'm not ROHS compliant.

And yes, I have tried lead free.
SUX.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

The first guitar I wired in a long time, I had some "lead free" solder and about 5 minutes into it, I was like "What the?!?" and went and bought some good old fashioned stuff.

[Grandturk]

Fuckin' babies! Stop eating the lead and we wouldn't have Gramma Govm't takin' away our precious solder.

[Hellbat]

Actually I think they banned it because of it ending up in landfills in discarded electronics and then leaching into groundwater supplies. It's kind of ironic when you consider it had to come from the earth in the first place...

[Cygnus X1]

Actually I think they banned it because of it ending up in landfills in discarded electronics and then leaching into groundwater supplies. It's kind of ironic when you consider it had to come from the earth in the first place...

Build amps worth keeping and they won't end up in landfills!

[Riffmeister]

What is the problem with the lead free stuff? I never used it. I never even knew they were banning the regular stuff. I jsut grabbed the last spool off the shelf at RS

[Spivonious]

What is the problem with the lead free stuff? I never used it. I never even knew they were banning the regular stuff. I jsut grabbed the last spool off the shelf at RS

It has a lower melting point I think.

As far as I know, lead-free solder is only mandated in the EU and California.

[Cygnus X1]

My experience with lead-free was that it was very difficult to flow
even with a Weller soldering GUN. (18,000 watts I think).
If they improve it enough I would be all for it.

Lead ain't good, and fumes probably are much more toxic than
ingesting it in solid form.
I have an exhaust system for my workbench and solder outside
on the deck downwind when the weather is good.

[Riffmeister]

Just how bad is it to actually inhale some of that crap? I only ask cause it seems everytime I solder the crap comes right at my face. I only do it once in a great moon, nothing on a regular basis, but I have definately inhaled some of that crap

Now, I know it's really not good for you, I jsut want to know that I ain't gonna die from a FEW fumes

[Sunbane]

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

"Early symptoms of lead poisoning in adults are commonly nonspecific and include depression, loss of appetite, intermittent abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and muscle pain."

[Riffmeister]

Man , that is some scary stuff. I never knew that soldering pickups could be so dangerous

[Cygnus X1]

Yes.
Think about soldering entire amps and sometimes de-soldering
old parts out of vintage equipment!
I decided a long time ago that although I love my hobby
I wasn't going to let it kill me.

Proper ventilation should be sufficient for short term projects.
If you can smell it, then adjust your fan so you can't.
I don't solder inside my house either.