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| Cleaning After Soldering |
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| RyanPasling345:
Hello all, I have a bad habit of worrying to much about everything. In doing this, I've done some research into safety related to soldering after having bought a station and practiced. I used lead solder for my practice and am now worried about lead contamination in my room. Should I worry about having contaminated surfaces and things I've touched with lead by soldering? Is it ok to drink/eat in the room I soldered in/ on the desk I was working from? |
| ataradov:
The boiling point of pure lead is something like 1800 C. There is really no free lead particles when you solder. What you see as fumes is flux. It is not the healthiest thing ever, but it is not dangerous, unless you have a full-time production facility in your room. Don't worry about it. The whole RoHS thing is there to prevent lead from getting into landfills and contaminating the soil and the drinking water. Using leaded solder for hobby is perfectly safe. |
| Doctorandus_P:
A little bit of caution with the fumes from soldering is on it's place though. The smell and smoke is from the burnt flux and not from the solder itself. For occasional soldering it is sufficient to not be breatng in those fumes directly. A (very small / low rpm) fan to spread the fumes so they don't go directly into your nose, combined with a bit of ventialtion in your room is sufficient. If you're soldering a lot it is recommended to get a fume extactor, or make one yourself from buying some spare carbon filters and a small fan. |
| RyanPasling345:
I was thinking more about lead that was on my hands that would transfer to other surfaces when I touched them after touching the roll of solder. |
| ataradov:
It would be such a minuscule volume that I would not worry about it. Wash your hands after soldering so you don't ingest it. And don't lick your walls, I guess. |
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