[EricH]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

they say to "use lead-free solder" in the soldering section of the safety manual. look again.

Guess what isn't a rule, then?

The Game Manual doesn't list solder anywhere.
The Administrative Manual only lists solder in the list of stuff to bring--no mention of lead-free or not.
The safety manual is listed as, and I quote, "more information" in the section of the Administrative Manual.

Not to mention that most of the stuff in the Safety Manual is also listed in the Administrative Manual, if it is going to be enforced. (And, to be noted: if MSDSs are required, a large number of teams are in violation of that "rule".)

Now, is using lead-free solder a good idea? Yes. But is it required to be used? No.

In short, not a rule. A "best practice", yes.

(Hey, in an unrelated competition where lead is banned, solder with lead in it is explicitly permitted. Here, lead isn't banned.)