To go along with the question on solder types, what about the fumes created from the flux? Most of the smoke you see while soldering is the flux burning away. Is that smoke or the fumes included in it harmful? Let me know what you think below.
The flux fumes given off during reflow will irritate the eyes, nose and respiratory system.Prolonged or repeated exposure to flux fumes may cause an asthmatic reaction in sensitive individuals.Contact with flux residues may cause skin irritation and sensitisation.
So while it doesn't say its harmful, irritation itself is highly suggestive that long-term exposure is not a good thing. So hence having a fume extractor of sorts, or generally not breathing (the flux in) is a good idea. Safety goggles are definitely a must, but some people I've seen have gone full face shield.
But yeah. Don't forget to breathe in again once the flux has dissipated .... or the consequences might be more catastrophic.
The flux is there to minimize the oxidation. At the higher temperatures the oxygen in the air will react more agressively with the tin/lead and the copper in the wires. That'll make the solder joint worse. The flux is acidic, so yes, breathing it in can be bad for your lungs. It's all a matter of degree of course. If you're soldering once a month, you probably won't notice. If you have asthma, probably you will notice.
I don't know who runs this web site, but there's a little bit of info here:
Top Comments