General Question About Lead Free Solder?

I have a few questions in regards to using lead free solder and where I can get it from?

The problem I have is that I am wanting a leadlight design to be used in one of my kitchen doors, however I have 2 little children that are constantly touching my doors and therefore I cannot use lead came ect.

I have been told I can get around this problem by useing copper foil and also using lead free solder. So I'm just wanting to know where I can get the lead free solder from? Is it the same lead free solder thats available from Dick Smith stores? (they use it for electronics) or is it a special solder?

I have also been told that it requires a different technique to using standard solder? also the black polishing stuff (sorry cannot remember the name I am new to this stuff)thats applied to the finished product is there a alternative to this stuff as I have heard it has a lot of lead in it as well?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Yours sincerely,
Chris

Answer

Hi folks...this is from a person that emailed me asking about an alternative to lead came for his cuoboard doors that small children would be touching. I suggested copper foil and lead free solder. However, I have to admit that I have never used lead free solder, so I suggested that he ask here. I'm sure some of you have used it and could give hime some advise on techniques such as flux, iron temperature, running a bead, etc.
Thanks for any help you can give him.
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Chris, you can get lead free solder from most stained glass retail shops. I'd stay away from the electronics solder. It is usually a very fine wire and using the right amount to get a nice bead takes quite a learning curve. Also,some electronics solder has a resin flux core. The resin is almost impossible to clean off your glass. You'll know there is a resin core by the odor it gives off while you're soldering. It smells like pine.

I hope you'll get some comments from people reading this.