Rc hazmat
 

Is it possible to get lead poisoning from handling lead weights and solder fumes? :eek:

Yes if :
-if u suck on the lead or solder
-suck on your thumb after handling lead
-suck your fingers after hanlding lead
-huff the solder fumes will give u some sort of ill effects too.

John Benitez, MD, director of the Lawrence Poison and Drug Information Center and associate professor of pediatric and environmental medicine at the University of Rochester, N.Y. SAYS: "If a kid just touches and plays with a lead painted toy, it is not a problem. But if that child sits and chews on it for weeks and months and absorbs lead -- that becomes a risk."

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...ticlekey=83260

Just keep your hands away from you mouth and face until you can get them washed. Just be smart about it.

I think it's only a problem if you live in Cali.

Use latex gloves for the lead weights or wrap them in shrink tube;)

I would be careful around lead weights. Some might dismiss it as no big deal, but personally I don't use lead weights and I use lead free solder. If you are to use lead weights, I would wrap tape around it so that you don't come into direct contact with it normally. Lead is a strong neurotoxin that stays within the body. It enters the body through ingestion, so be sure to always wash your hands after handling lead. Low levels of exposure might have no discernible impact on your health but that doesn't mean it doesn't have an adverse effect. Under normal circumstances, however, it's unlikely to get lead poisoning from simply handling lead weights in R/C cars.

From http://www.leadpro.com/facts.html:
"Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that hurts almost all body organs, particularly the kidneys, red blood cells, and central nervous system. In young children, lead retards the development of the central nervous system and brain.

Even tiny amounts can cause reduced IQ, reading and learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and behavioral problems. "

So, that's why we are blithering r/c racers!?! ;)

I made the switch to lead free solder a while back. I was sold on the "Quadutec" Solder with Lead/Tin/Silver/Copper Core that was to give the best joints and lowest resistance but realized it could be dangerous.

I ended up making sure all my solder joints were redone in time and when you try to re-flow lead with silver solder it sometimes does not work and the joint and iron tip will have to be cleaned of the old lead solder.

Caution to all acid-flux which is in all flux-core solder. The off gases are chlorine which does damage your lungs. So ventilated areas...when soldering

I eventually need to make the transition.. thanks for the input

I have a sample of some 3m led free tire weights from SEMA this week that seem very cool.