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TIL a huge chunk of camera repair shops still use lead solder, which I found out from a safety sheet at a supply house in Boise.

I always thought the industry had moved past that for health reasons, but the guy said it's still the go-to for a lot of older techs because it flows better on vintage camera boards, so what's your take on using modern lead-free alternatives versus sticking with the old stuff?
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3 Comments
riley_west
riley_west1mo ago
Ever try fixing a Leica with lead-free solder and watch it just bead up?
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the_oscar
the_oscar1mo agoMost Upvoted
Yeah, the "flows better on vintage boards" thing is real. My buddy tried switching to lead-free on a classic Nikon and ended up with a cold joint that ruined the main board. He swears by the old formula now for anything pre-1990s.
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ryanh56
ryanh561mo ago
Ugh, lead-free is such a pain on old gear. Not worth the risk.
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