Do lead-free solder alloys require soldering irons with hotter tips?
Hand soldering with lead-free solder wire doesn’t necessarily require higher soldering temperatures and tip temperatures from 700-800 F will enable adequate soldering. Operators will notice the wetting will be slightly slower than traditional Sn63 solder, and an incremental increase in contact time may be required to achieve good results. The solder joint finish will look different also the slightly duller finish is however typical of the lead-free solders mentioned above. One consequence of using lead-free solders with high tin content is tip erosion, iron tips may require replacement more regularly.
