Cigarette smoke is far worse then the solder smoke. Nigel has better info, but for the most part the fumes from solder are more or less harmless. The fumes are generated by the flux not the metal. If the lead and lead free solder use the same flux there will be no difference. Depending on what flux is used in the lead free solder, it could be worse.

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Yes, nothing particularly dangerous in fumes from soldering - the cause for concern over it was a VERY slight chance of the flux fumes triggering an asthma attack - although incidences of this were incredibly low, and ONLY in a production environment.

However, but because of this very slight chance extraction systems were developed, and the flux changed to a far less effective type, which doesn't cause the possible problem at all.

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I love the smell of leaded solder in the morning.

 

I turn on the ceiling fan when soldering. I do however keep my fish tank in a different room.

 

Here in the EU you can't buy lead solder but I've never used lead free because I've got loads of lead solder left over.

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Everyone bought rolls of it when rumours started that it was been discontinued !

However, this was false - it's still freely available - check RS Components for loads of different types of leaded solder.

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well if your lungs can stand breathing complex-hydrocarbons from the infernal combustion cars-way..why give up smoking or the soldering fumes?

 

As Nigel points out , numerous types of solder are about. A couple of jobs I do require a high-flux variety and at the end of my working day the final chore is to use a heat gun to melt the gunk out of the extraction tube. Sometimes the 6mm tube atop the iron is blocked completely before then and my lab coat smells to the point my partner Julie thought I had changed my brand of cigars.

For the average hobbyist using a desk fan is more than adequate provided you not doing to much in a confined space, however there is some kudos to be gained if you build your own extraction system with filters.

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There is only one leaded solder: Kester #44 63/37 core 66. All others bow down before it.

As an aside, there is an "audiophile" "quad-eutectic" solder made by Cardas (well known snake oil company). Does anyone know what the eutectic blend is for SnPbCuAg solder is?

 

Theres also the cheap Chinese solder for only a buck altho I question the quality

 

Because complex hydrocarbons are more volatile than solder fumes which don't get absorbed into the blood and are more effectively removed by the nose and respiratory tract.

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Smells like...freedom.

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What the deuce is quad-eutectic supposed to mean, even from a snake oil perspective?

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Eutectic blend of four metals. Here's there 'reasoning' as to why it is better:

Some audio people say it's actually a very easy to work with solder, so I was just wondering what the melting point was, if there is a true eutectic known of these four metals, and/or if he just gets stuff made with a LOT of active flux in the core.

 

I guess the solution is to use better ventilation whilst soldering