Solder - lead or lead free

I have two lots of solder as provided in plastic tubes.
One has a green cap and a lead free label.
One has a red cap and no label.
Otherwise the containers look identical.
Can I assume the red capped one is the good stuff? I don't want to faff about with the non-lead stuff and melt my circuit board which has at least one dry joint on a switch.

Ta.

 

Not certain, but I do have leaded solder somewhere, happy to post some, if you get stuck?

 

Sounds like it. Go for the leaded stuff (which you can still buy).

 

Thanks! I know I also have a loose coil of leaded somewhere but found these first.
I suppose one might have flux core and other might not? I'll google later, off for a walk now between rain showers.

 

Magic, I was hoping you would see this.
Yes I definitely want to use leaded, the question was more whether the red cap denoted leaded or was just random. Probably should have googled!

 

Electrical solder will have a flux core. Dunno about lead-free solder, as I have a couple of reels of lead solder that will see me out

 

Iirc, the red cap should be leaded

 

Like petrol used to be - that was my thinking.

 

I've assumed lead free is for plumbing purposes, to keep it out of the drinking water supply.

 

It's to prevent user brain damage too - my unleaded is electrical stuff.

 

Is lead bad for you then???

 

I think lead is the least of my worries in that regard

 

Next question.
Is a 15w iron suitable?
It has a rather large worn tip on it at the moment but I have a (bent ) small one too. Thing is...I can't get it off.
Am I supposed to slide that thingy away from the tip to loosen it?
I wish there was someone I could hand it to, I don't have pcb soldering experience or much confidence - don't want to wreck my headphone amp.

 

Err, no, not in my humble. You need something like a Weller TCP

 

15W is a bit weedy. Might work on a PCB, tho’ Give the bit a good brushing to get the crud off.

 

What wattage would be better? Maybe I can borrow one from someone on the marina.
Is the problem that I would need to hold it in place for so long it would melt the components? Perhaps a quick dab with more watts would be less time for heat transfer? I'm guessing.

 

A bit of damp sponge is useful for wiping your tip on to clean it. Then tin the tip with a bit of fresh solder before applying to the joint. You need to get the solder to flow, but not cook it. A smaller tip would be more suitable to circuit boards and connector wiring

 

50W temp controlled like a Weller is best. Heat a PCB pad too long and it’ll lift off the board.

 

I think I will procrastinate for a little longer, chat to my neighbours and see if one says " give it 'ere". Living on a marina is good for that kind of thing.

 

Yep, you need a decent iron for this, proper DC powered one, otherwise you'll risk damaging the PCB.


The old adage about a workman blaming their tools needs restating for the modern era.