Recommended Soldering Iron

"Lead makes for terrible sound"

Quite an overstatement considering silver solders are only about 2-4% Ag, with the rest being the traditional lead/tin mix (though some are available in lead-free versions). I personally loathe lead-free solder, as it doesn't have the same wetting or flow properties of normal, lead-based solder, and (to my ears) sounds considerably worse. I also tend to think that as an adult, the supposed dangers of lead solder are quite overblown. Don't eat it or suck in huge amounts of fumes and you'll be fine.

Lead and tin have 7% and 15%(respectively) the conductivity of copper(the standard or 100%, on the IACS conductivity scale). Only silver(105%) has a higher conductivity rating than copper. It doesn't take much silver, added to a lead-based solder, to make an audible improvement. That some can't, don't or won't appreciate that; doesn't surprise me a bit(to each his own). Further- the solders I mentioned flow at lower temps, making the job faster/easier(a pleasure), and lowering the risk of damaging the component being soldered. Their fluxes are also easier on some of the metals found in our audio gear, than those in standard 60/40 solders.

I like using Cardas lead silver solder with a little copper. A joy to work with . Lead free solder is useless. Too narrow a temperature flow range. Resolder a lead free joint and you get moonscape. The fumes are not lead but flux, and you should not breath lead free solder fumes either. Lead free joints crack easier and behave like a cold solder joint. On a tube socket, lead free can be a disaster. If it works great for you I tip my hat. In my hands, I only make leaded work. Sonically lead free was too bright as well. Jallen