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The Tin-Whisker Menace

Posted by timothy on from the crisis-of-the-moment dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Fortune has an article about how the recent environmental push to completely eliminate lead from electronic components and wiring may eventually lead to the next Y2K problem of slowly-growing tin whiskers short-circuiting equipment.""

13 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. It's those idiot greens again by PedanticSpellingTrol · · Score: 3, Funny

    This probem is one of the reasons we use lead in solder, it's only reappearing now that the EU is pushing for all new electronics sold to be lead-free. Frankly, I'd like to see everyone keep using lead and just stop selling to europe. That'll teach 'em.

    1. Re:It's those idiot greens again by PornMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

      How about just teaching kids to avoid licking circuit boards?

      --
      500GB of disk, 5TB of transfer, $5.95/mo
    2. Re:It's those idiot greens again by jmichaelg · · Score: 4, Funny
      I hired a contractor to remodel my kitchen a few years back. I did some of the easier jobs such as wire the switches and plumb the sink drains. I was putting together a list of parts I'd need for the sink when the contractor told me the following story about a new development on the north side of town.
      The plumbing inspection happens before the sheetrock goes up so any plumbing errors are easy to spot and repair. The permit inspector was on the last house where the plumbers were just cleaning up. The inspector spotted a discarded solder can and picked it up. As he handed over the empty to one of the plumbers, the inspector said,
      "Boy that solder is really good stuff!"
      To which the plumber said, "Yeah, it's a little more expensive but it flows really smoothly."
      The inspector replied, "It must be the lead that makes it flow so smoothly. But you know, it's too bad that you're not allowed to use lead solder any more. You're going to have to start over." And with that, the inspector ticketed every house in the subdivision.
      I ended up using plastic plumbing.
  2. Tin whiskers eh? by bildungsroman_yorick · · Score: 3, Funny

    Obviously to fix the problem we need some amalgamation of courage and heart in electronic form pronto. Is there any engineers here whose work includes hiding behind curtains and appearing to his co-workers in giant green mask form?

  3. Good job... by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... you lot just slashdotted NASA.

    "The page cannot be displayed. There are too many people accessing the Web site at this time."

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
  4. Obligatory :P by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I for one welcome our new tin whisker overlords!

  5. Mah cat has tin whiskers by BadDoggie · · Score: 4, Funny
    Oh wait, mah mistake. He has twailve.
    </drawl>

    woof.

  6. wither the tin-foil hat? by close_wait · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is just a government conspiracy to bypass tin-foil hats! Everyone knows that it's the 2% lead content which actually blocks the mind-control rays....

  7. Heavy Metal! by Nikkodemus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh man, this song could be sooo big!

    Tin Whiiiiiiiiiskers
    They cancelled IT Class
    Tin Whiiiiiiiiiskers
    They come from Satan's ass..

    Hairs of the Devil, items of no good repute
    If the grow to a certain lenght, the PC's can't compute!

    Tin Whiiiiiiiiiskers

    (guitar solo)

    (reprise)

  8. Re:paint finish? by bombadillo · · Score: 2, Funny

    those who are tempted to shout 'tree higger'

    Looks like you combined to very commonly used words by bigots.

  9. Other Brands? by polyp2000 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've always bought tins of whiskers for tiddles, should I switch to another brand - He's never been too keen on kit-e-cat. How will this affect my cat ?

    Nick ...

    --
    Electronic Music Made Using Linux http://soundcloud.com/polyp
  10. Re: I wonder by EvilMidnightBomber · · Score: 4, Funny

    Top ten list of critique openers most likely to get you prematurely killed by an engineer

    10. I wonder...
    9. I was just thinking...
    8. That's great, but what I was really looking for was...
    7. You know what would be really cool...
    6. Was it supposed to do that?...
    5. I'm sure it'll look better by the time you've finished...
    4. Would it be possible to...
    3. To: Engineering From: Marketing Priority: Urgent
    2. Did someone tell you to do it this way?...
    1. How hard would it be to...

  11. Ah, the sweetness of lead. by dustymugs · · Score: 2, Funny

    So I guess its time to go stock up on lead-tin solder before they pull them off the shelves.

    I really do with they'd go after other products with lead, batteries and such, before they go after our electronics. Its not like little kids are licking their parents' spool of solder!