Does anyone know for reals? Is it like leaded gasoline; the more you use it, the less it seems to matter? /s
Is there any reason people still use lead solder? I mean… I use silver for jewelry soldering and I know silver and copper can both easily work well for electronics , so in what application is lead necessary?
It’s not necessary in most cases, but it has advantages. Namely, it’s easier to work with and melts at lower temperatures (less risk of damaging components and burning yourself). Also, while lead has its risks, they’re easy enough to mitigate.
Military
Ah.
Lead-based solder is preferred for high-reliability electronics (space, nuclear, military, etc.) because it’s easier to rework, easier to verify by visual inspection, and it’s not vulnerable to tin whiskers.
Because its lovely to work with compared to ROHS solder, and if you’re just a hobbyist, its not an appreciable risk.
