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Comment by chrisco255 | Hacker News Reader

You solder outside unless you've got a great exhaust fan.

The tiny amount of soldering involved in an 8266 etc project is not a concern. Use standard 63/37 lead/tin solder and wash your hands afterwards to be perfectly safe. The rosin flux fumes may be a bit annoying for some people, a small battery powered desktop fan will blow them away.

And use lead-free solder. Not much to worry about really.

I've read another comment saying that actually produces more toxic fumes?

Lead free solder requires a higher temperature, so ther are more and more toxic fumes from embedded flux and from heated pcb and components.

I see...seems like I'll just get one of these

https://www.amazon.ca/Aoyue-Benchtop-Solder-Smoke-Absorber/d...

and stick with lead when I get the chance....I'll be sure to do it in well ventilated area.

And don't lick your fingers after handling leaded solder. Wash them first (with soap and warm water). Otherwise, I totally agree: it is easier to use and less frustrating, and the dangers are overrated (or: the dangers from lead-free fumes are underrated).

Me: I use leaded solder, I have a fan, I don't lick my fingers (while soldering).

Lead free solder in the long run damages solder tips and also is a lot more prone to the tin whiskers plague. Luckily I have a life time supply of leaded solder and hopefully will never have to touch the lead free junk.

http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/print/volume-16/is...

https://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/background/

For hobby-amounts of soldering, stick to leaded and save yourself lots of frustration. General stock lead-free solder is much harder to work with, and if you are new to soldering it can be a horrible introduction to the fine art.

I would heavily recommend against lead free solder as the other commenters have done. Unless you have a ton of experience with soldering, avoid it like the plague.

Lead was never the problem (just dont eat solder paste). Its the toxic fumes from fluxes needed to wet the metal, aka etch away oxidation layer. Very nasty stuff. The nicer te flux (RMA, no clean), the more toxic.

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