On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 23:36:24 +1200, you wrote:

>If you use solder (and few here won't) then you're going to have to =
relearn
>soldering before July 2006.
>This applies from hobbiest through volume production.
>I'm sure Google will have heaps on RoHS and WEEE, but here's a good 9and
>scary) summary from Farnell.
>If you think it's just a matter of cranking up the soldering iron
>temperature you may be in for a shock.
>
>May be time to stockpile some good 'ol soon to be illicit lead solder =
for
>personal use:-)
>
>Their related website
>(http://international2.farnell.com/NZ/online_magazines/rohs-frame.jhtml)=
 is
>much harder to wade through than the following
>
>And we still proceed with GE :-)
>

I think that like EMC, there is alot of scaremongering going on around =
this, fuelled by 'advice'
from companies with vested interests.

=46irstly normal solder will not suddenly stop being available, as it =
will be required for repair, and
non-EU customers for the forseeable future. Reduced production will maybe=
 increase cost, but it will
be available, so I doubt hobbyists have anything to worry about.

There is currently some speculation that a 'get-out' in the directive may=
 allow 0.1% lead content in
a product or component, instead of any material - if this stays, then a =
lot of the potential
problems could disappear, e.g. use of old stock/obsolete components with =
lead tinned pins.
This seems eminently sensible to me... how much damage could a bit of =
lead on some components
actually do..?

In practice, a company with products using a few legacy lead-containing =
components is not going to
just stop manufacture if they can't get lead-free parts. The chance of =
any 'lead police' one
noticing a bit of lead on components is insignificant.=20

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