31 Mar
2002
31 Mar
'02
2:36 p.m.
On March 31, John Chris Wren wrote:
It's true. The mercury was used to stiffen the
brims. Chronic hat wearers
also had problems.
So does anyone have any idea how much lead is present in the vapors
produced by soldering? I know (for our kind of stuff, anyway) the
smoke is mostly flux and crap, but is there much lead in there?
I solder a *lot*, especially lately...I'm wondering if I should be
concerned.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire "...it's leaving me this unpleasant,
St. Petersburg, FL damp feeling on my shorts..." -Sridhar
31 Mar
31 Mar
3:04 p.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
On Sun, 31 Mar 2002, Dave McGuire wrote:
Hmm. Hold on. I will look up the boiling point and vapor pressure of
lead for you, but I would tend to think it would probably not be a
problem.
Peace... Sridhar
It's true.
The mercury was used to stiffen the brims. Chronic hat wearers
also had problems.
So does anyone have any idea how much lead is present in the vapors
produced by soldering? I know (for our kind of stuff, anyway) the
smoke is mostly flux and crap, but is there much lead in there?
I solder a *lot*, especially lately...I'm wondering if I should be
concerned. 
3:14 p.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
On Sun, 31 Mar 2002, Dave McGuire wrote:
On March 31, John Chris Wren wrote:
Umm, Have you looked at your .sig lately?
It's true. The mercury was used to stiffen
the brims. Chronic hat wearers
also had problems.
So does anyone have any idea how much lead is present in the vapors
produced by soldering? I know (for our kind of stuff, anyway) the
smoke is mostly flux and crap, but is there much lead in there?
I solder a *lot*, especially lately...I'm wondering if I should be
concerned.
-Dave --
Dave McGuire "...it's leaving me this unpleasant,
St. Petersburg, FL damp feeling on my shorts..." -Sridhar
Doc
3:56 p.m.
If you're truly concerned about lead uptake, I believe there is a test you
can have done. I have no idea if it's a biopsy of an organ that's most
susceptible to lead uptake, or if they can do it with a blood sample. You
might pull a MSDS for the solder you use the most, and see what they
mention.
I solder maybe an hour a week, on average. This thought has crossed my
mind, along with all the other dumb shit stuff I've exposed myself to.
Paints, fuels, glues, assorted chemicals, sand blasting for a week without
breathing protection (silicosis, microscopic particles of silicate that wind
up in the lungs), exhaust, Dog knows what else.
I do know it's highly recommended to have good ventilation when soldering
(something I'm not the always the best about. "Well, it's just tacking a
couple wires. I don't need to get the fan out.") And now, with these
so-called 'No Kleen' solders, who knows what fumes *they* put off. We
pretty much knew what rosin, tin and lead would do. Then you start adding
in liquid fluxes and stuff... Who knows.
--John
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Doc
Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 0:15 AM
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: RE: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81
Question))
On Sun, 31 Mar 2002, Dave McGuire wrote:
Umm, Have you looked at your .sig lately?
On March 31, John Chris Wren wrote:
> It's true. The mercury was used to stiffen the brims.
Chronic hat
wearers
also had
problems.
So does anyone have any idea how much lead is present in the vapors
produced by soldering? I know (for our kind of stuff, anyway) the
smoke is mostly flux and crap, but is there much lead in there?
I solder a *lot*, especially lately...I'm wondering if I should be
concerned.
-Dave --
Dave McGuire "...it's leaving me this unpleasant,
St. Petersburg, FL damp feeling on my shorts..." -Sridhar
Doc
3:30 p.m.
How much lead does solder dor electronics contain? I thought only
solder for pipes contained lead?
Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA
Dave McGuire wrote:
On March 31, John Chris Wren wrote:
It's true. The mercury was used to stiffen
the brims. Chronic hat wearers
also had problems.
So does anyone have any idea how much lead is present in the vapors
produced by soldering? I know (for our kind of stuff, anyway) the
smoke is mostly flux and crap, but is there much lead in there?
I solder a *lot*, especially lately...I'm wondering if I should be
concerned.
-Dave
3:47 p.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
On Mon, 1 Apr 2002, Chad Fernandez wrote:
How much lead does solder dor electronics contain? I
thought only
solder for pipes contained lead?
Now days, (water) pipe solder is the one that does not contain lead.
- don
Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA
Dave McGuire wrote:
On March 31, John Chris Wren wrote:
It's true. The mercury was used to stiffen
the brims. Chronic hat wearers
also had problems.
So does anyone have any idea how much lead is present in the vapors
produced by soldering? I know (for our kind of stuff, anyway) the
smoke is mostly flux and crap, but is there much lead in there?
I solder a *lot*, especially lately...I'm wondering if I should be
concerned.
-Dave
3:48 p.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
Chad Fernandez wrote:
How much lead does solder dor electronics contain? I thought only
solder for pipes contained lead?
The newer solders for solding pipe are supposed to be lead free, but I
don't recall the metal(s) that are being substituted. Electronics solder
is typically 60/40 or preferable 63/37. The first number is the
percentage of tin and the second number is the percentage of lead. 63/37
is the preferrable solder to use because it is eutectic, basically no
temperature range between liquid and solid.
1 Apr
1 Apr
5:02 a.m.
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8:56 a.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
On Mon, 1 Apr 2002, Chad Fernandez wrote:
How much lead does solder dor electronics contain? I
thought only
solder for pipes contained lead?
I think you have it backward. Solder for water pipes is supposed to be
lead free (I believe there are strict laws regulating that). Solder for
non-water pipes can still use lead based solders. Electronics solder can
be one of many different alloys, most consisting of between 40% and 60%
lead, the remaining component, tin. Generic solder sold for electronics
today is usually a 60/40 (tin/lead) alloy. Most of the solder used in the
1960s was a 50/50 alloy. Surface mount and other exotic solder alloys made
today also contain 2% to 5% silver. IIRC, the tin content is also bad for
health.
I too would be interested in knowing what the chemical content of the
burning flux is. Of course, some of the solvents and cleaners also used
for electronics work are probably worse than soldering.
I do remember having muscle cramps in my fingers when my workload of
soldering work would decrease. I tended to blame muscle conditioning, but
now I think it may have been all the lead/tin I was handling.
-Toth
31 Mar
31 Mar
10:08 p.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
Hi,
Dave McGuire <mcguire(a)neurotica.com> said:
On March 31, John Chris Wren wrote:
I've been soldering now for around 45 years, and I used to do a lot
of bullet casting so I've handled a *lot* of lead in my time.
I was taken ill a few years ago with some symptons that could be
remotely explained by heavy metal poisoning so I was thoroughly tested.
My lead levels were right on the average for someone living in an
urban environment. So if you're sensible I don't see a problem.
Don't eat sandwiches while you're soldering...and wash your hands when
you're done ;-) Lead in gasoline (petrol over here) was a bigger
problem.
Resin flux is a known carcinogen, so don't breathe the fumes.
--
Cheers,
Stan Barr stanb(a)dial.pipex.com
The future was never like this!
It's true. The mercury was used to stiffen
the brims. Chronic hat wearers
also had problems.
So does anyone have any idea how much lead is present in the vapors
produced by soldering? I know (for our kind of stuff, anyway) the
smoke is mostly flux and crap, but is there much lead in there?
I solder a *lot*, especially lately...I'm wondering if I should be
concerned.
1 Apr
1 Apr
5:55 a.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
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6:18 a.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
Resin flux is a known carcinogen, so don't
breathe the fumes.
Oh _great_. Still, it's a well-known fact that research causes cancer in
rats :-)
6:43 a.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
Hi,
ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) said:
Especially in the higher octane stuff...
Flux fumes are not a _major_ risk...other measurable risks include
any food that's caramelized - like toast - and green vegetables ;-)
The risks however are _very_ small...
--
Cheers,
Stan Barr stanb(a)dial.pipex.com
The future was never like this!
Don't eat
sandwiches while you're soldering...and wash your hands when
you're done ;-) Lead in gasoline (petrol over here) was a bigger
problem.
But I am not at all convinced that the alternatives that are added to
'unleaded' petrol are any more healthy...
Resin flux is a known carcinogen, so don't breathe the fumes.
Oh _great_. Still, it's a well-known fact that research causes cancer in
rats :-)
2 Apr
2 Apr
8:05 a.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
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1 Apr
1 Apr
6:57 a.m.
At 01:08 PM 4/1/02 +0100, you wrote:
Resin flux is a known carcinogen, so don't breathe
the fumes.
--
Cheers,
Stan Barr stanb(a)dial.pipex.com
Darn! that too? Those fumes have a habit of condensing on my
eyeglasses, so I am probably inhaling.
carlos.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Carlos E. Murillo-Sanchez carlos_murillo(a)nospammers.ieee.org
9:09 a.m.
--- Carlos Murillo <carlos_murillo(a)epm.net.co> wrote:
At 01:08 PM 4/1/02 +0100, you wrote:
Maybe you should take soldering lessons from Bill Clinton?
-ethan
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover
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Resin flux is a known carcinogen, so don't
breathe the fumes.
Darn! that too? Those fumes have a habit of condensing on my
eyeglasses, so I am probably inhaling.
8:06 a.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
On Mon, 1 Apr 2002, Stan Barr wrote:
I've been soldering now for around 45 years, and I
used to do a lot
of bullet casting so I've handled a *lot* of lead in my time.
Yay!! Geeks With Guns!!!
Actually, that's the unofficial designation of a local Linux SIG....
An amazing percentage of serious computer hobbyists seem to also like
blowing stuff up.
Doc
2 Apr
2 Apr
3:55 p.m.
New subject: Soldering and other skills (was Re: QL-Quality (Was: ZX-81 Question))
--- Stan Barr <stanb(a)dial.pipex.com> wrote:
I was taken ill a few years ago with some symptons
that could be
remotely explained by heavy metal poisoning so I was thoroughly tested.
My lead levels were right on the average for someone living in an
urban environment.
My personal lead concern isn't so much growing up amidst lead-based
paint and leaded gasoline/petrol or even soldering since I was a lad,
it's lead from plumbing, both from lead feed pipes in my childhood
home (not lead joints, lead supply lines in the walls!) and the drinking
water at McMurdo Station - the plumbing in the older buildings dates
from well before 1975, including the Galley and many of
the dorms.
Because they changed the water extraction technique in 1995 from
evaporators to reverse osmosis (they stopped melting collected snow
a long time ago), the pH changed, and with it, the ability of the
water to leach lead out of the joints. They tested the water several
times per year and it routinely failed with 2x the safe limits for
folks stateside. We were told it wasn't really a problem since we
weren't children or expectant mothers, but when calculating our
personal lead intakes, I am fairly certain that they did not factor
in the fact that to avoid dehydration, we were supposed to drink no
less than 4 litres per day (you'd be amazed how fast you can respirate
yourself to illness!).
So, handling a little solder doesn't phase me. I just try not to lick
it too often.
-ethan
__________________________________________________
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17 comments
13 participants
participants (13)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
carlos_murillo＠epm.net.co -
doc＠mdrconsult.com -
donm＠cts.com -
erd_6502＠yahoo.com -
fernande＠internet1.net -
jcwren＠jcwren.com -
jhellige＠earthlink.net -
marvin＠rain.org -
mcguire＠neurotica.com -
stanb＠dial.pipex.com -
tothwolf＠concentric.net -
vance＠ikickass.org