In a message dated 10/26/98 4:22:11 PM Pacific Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << Does anyone know of a contract service that is set up to perform gold removal on electronic component leads? These components include stud mounted transistors and other assorted transistor and IC packages. The intent is to meet J-STD-001B's reqirement for gold removal, and I would prefer to sublet this service if possible. It will likely entail putting the tinned components back into tape and reel packaging after the gold removal. Also, any comments on whether the addition of silver to Sn/Pb solders has any effect on gold embrittlement? Thanks for all responses, Larry Morse Celwave Inc. [log in to unmask] >> Hi Larry! There's a company out here in Silicon Valley that I've used in the past for pre-tinning components, and they're very good. It's a company named Six Sigma, (phone: (408) 526-1350. It's been a few years back, but they did some pretty difficult ceramic qfp's for me and they came out great! I was worried that they might cause some damage or some sort of inconsistancy with the parts that they wouldn't pass the pick and place vision when I got them back...but I was pleasantly suprized, they all made it by the inspection camera. As far as tape and reeling, I'm not sure, but I don't think they actually have tape and reel equipment themselves, but I could be wrong. Anyways, there's enough tape and reel shops out here that if you need your parts tape and reeled, I'm sure Six Sigma could get something worked out with someone to get that done. About 2% silver solder paste...I've used it soldering to gold boards before, and still do. I know I'm not preventing the gold from leaching, and I know I'm not making things any stronger by doing that...but what I am doing, is making the solder joints look a lot better. The joints come out much more shiny that they look with a 63/37, this is no joke. Your liquidous temperature will go down to 179 degrees C instead of 183 degrees, and I've heard that the solder strength is somewhat reduced very, very slightly with the addition of a silver to the alloy...but not enough to be concerned from what I understand. -Steve Gregory- ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC's web site (http://www.ipc.org) "On-Line Services" section for additional information. For technical support contact Hugo Scaramuzza at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.312 ################################################################