One of the nice attributes of Pb in solder is that it makes it have a little give. The Pb stuff is brittle and you see the effects in shorter lived products.
It looks like you and I will pay for this.
Bob
I just wanted to get this message out there, for those of you who are interested in gadgets and the environment it's time to urge lawmakers to enact rules for lead free solder.
I don't agree with Greenpeace on everything, but they're spot on about this. Check out this site:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/electronics/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/Questions-Guide-Greener-Electronics/
YES, lead free solder lowers the life span of electronics a bit (you get tin whiskering). It may also make things a bit more fragile. But it's still worth while since who keeps devices for a long time now anyway? And if devices are improperly disposed of, that lead leaches right into the environment! The Democrats may very well lose their majority in November, so we need to get a ban on lead solder passed before then if at all possible!
California:
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/EWaste/
A note on a few bills:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2420
2420, this one is terrible. No surprise, it's from a right wing Republican from Texas. This would basically set federal standards officially ALLOWING lead solder, over-riding California's ban. Terrible law!
So far, there's no bill TO ban it nationally, but this is the sort of thing that could be added on to another bill and pass very quickly. Some Democrat just needs to step up to the plate, so if you think your congress critter might be responsive, I urge you to contact them.

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