Si:
Given that my last reel of solder has lasted me 30 years, I don't feel too 'un-green'.
It's not a "green" thing. It's a "not wanting to have a listed neurotoxin in an uncontrolled cycle" thing. Lead's quite spiffy if you can keep it in a closed use-recycle loop, like with car batteries. The way I solder, the word control doesn't come into it ...
Anyway, with some fiddling about, I've found that 275°C/530°F has a decent balance between
- melting the solder quickly
- not burning off the flux before it has a chance to work its magic.
I think I had the iron too hot, hence the blobby, unwetted joints before.
Thanks for all the help.