Let me add this. Don't ever put anything in a wave solder pot except small cut-up chunks of bar solder, solid core wire solder (fluxless), very small amounts of tin or lead to bring the alloy within specifications, and anti-oxidant powder, if used. And you shouldn't do that without all of the necessary PPE, including full-body leather apron, leather gloves, protective head covering with face shield, and shoe covers. It's also a good idea to wear a face mask to prevent lead dust from being inhaled. -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stadem, Richard D. Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 2:03 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Solder Paste In the Solder Pot NO! Don't ever do that. Not only will it not completely burn off, but it can explode and the flux will also catch on fire on top of the solder in the pot. This starts a chimney fire in the chamber and the exhaust stack above it that cannot be extinguished without a special extinguisher system that resides inside the stack. The stack is typically lined with flux residues that are extremely difficult if not impossible to extinguish. That is why any equipment containing a large amount of molten solder must have the exhaust blower hard-wired to the solder sump heater switch. If the pot gets up to 500 deg. F. without any exhaust, the heat will start a chimney fire. The exhaust has to be sufficient to prevent that from happening. Most localities are fully aware of this and make it part of the building code requirements. It is also standard boilerplate language in any wave solder machine maintenance manual. And no, it never happened to me. I saw it happen at a CEM where I was working as a consultant many years ago. The entire building burned down, and about 85 people lost their jobs. -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jerry Dengler Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 1:48 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Solder Paste In the Solder Pot Hi Kenny, It will make a heck of a mess. The flux in the paste will not completely burn off and leave a tar like substance on top of the solder. Jerry -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ken Bloomquist Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 2:43 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Solder Paste In the Solder Pot I have what I hope is a generic question without getting into too many details. IF the flux in the solder paste and the flux in the wave solder are compatible and they are both 63/37, can unused, expired shelf life, solder paste be dumped into the wave solder pot? Thanks, KennyB --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------