Steve,
100-200 pounds?!!  I might be able to understand a pound or two, but almost
my weight in solder?  For that amount why couldn't they bail it out?  Hmm,
sure hope there is not something wrong with the heaters on that sucker.

The tin isn't an issue, the silver wouldn't be if we were talking a smaller
amount of solder and the copper would depend on the analysis amount in the
pot, how much it will ultimately hold and the pass/fail for copper in
tin/lead solder they are going to allow.

Bev
Blackberry

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Gregory
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 8:21 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] Extra Lead Free solder in wave solder pot...

Hi all!

My new employer has purchased a used Vitronics-Soltec 6622 wave solder
machine that supposedly still has 100-200 lbs. of lead free solder in the
pot because they were told that it was difficult to remove. My new employer
is intending for this wave to be run as a leaded machine.

So, what do you think about leaving that residual lead free solder in the
pot and just filling it up with 63/37? I haven't seen the machine yet (I've
yet to get to Boise), and I've never seen the inside of a empty -6622 wave
solder pot, so I don't know why it would be difficult to empty the pot
completely. I've always been able to get all of the solder out of all the
pots that I have ever emptied. Does it have immersion heaters that are
mounted in some sort of structure at the bottom of the pot that prevents all
of the solder from being removed?

I've been told that a sample of the solder that was left in the pot has been
sent to AIM solder for analysis, so we'll know exactly what it is. I know
that most lead free solders are mostly tin, so would it be just a matter of
adding extra lead to the pot to bring everything into compliance? 

I definitely plan on getting the solder analyzed once the pot is filled and
before any product is run, but I want to know if this is a bad idea? I don't
want to load up the pot with solder and learn later that the pot is
contaminated and has to be drained. Sorry for all the questions but I have
never taken a wave that has been run as a lead-free machine and then be
converted to a leaded machine...plus I'm not yet as familiar with the pot
and heater configuration of the Soltec-6622 machine as I would like to be. 

If it was the other way around (leaded ----> Lead-free) I wouldn't even be
thinking about it, NO WAY!

Steve

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