9 Apr
2010
9 Apr
'10
3:25 p.m.
On 9 Apr 2010 at 22:07, Tony Duell wrote:
Not yet (but please don't give them ideas, I
happen to like old
stainded glass windows). On the other heand they did try to ban the
use of lead alloys for organ pipes in orgnas with electronic action
(on the grounds that this was then an electronic device and came under
the RoHS directive). As somebody said 'Can you give one instance of
somebody being poisoned by a church organ'.
The best organ pipes are generally considered to be made of pure tin.
However, there is a phenomenon known as "tin pest" where organ pipes
in very cold climes (and unheated churches) undergo a phase change to
an amorphous powdery allotrope of tin. (I like the French term
"L?pre d'?tain"--tin leprosy--better).
I've seen literature that seems to suggest that the same phenomenon
may now occur in RoHS-soldered equipment. Nothing like having your
local Salvation Army brass band fall to pieces (the European
manufacturers are now using lead-free solder to assemble brass
musical instruments. In general, I find the quality of the joints
inferior).
--Chuck