Soldering safety
 

For those of you who solder or have done soldering projects, how do you deal with the issue of solder fumes? I'm doing a small project that will require a few minutes of soldering, so we're not talking prolonged exposure. Still have some concern about the flux fumes. I'll do this on an open-air balcony with a light breeze in action. Is that enough to keep me from the death that the warning label on the back of the package promises me? Or would a filter mask be a good idea?

Yes - It will kill you.
 

If the breeze is enough to keep you from being able to smell the fumes, I'd say you're probably ok.
If not - get you one of these.

http://filtera.stores.yahoo.net/3mducareas53.html

My folks do quite a bit of stained glass work, and swear by these masks. A must have. I use one working with MDF as well as soldering work. Good mask.

BTW - That label on the product is no joke.

proper ventilation?

I know ... if I thought it was, I'd be soldering right now, not asking this question ... ;). Lead poisoning doesn't appeal to me.

I do most of my soldering in the driveway (surprise :vbac47679) so the breeze is usually plenty. If necessary I just take long breaths.

I didn’t mean it as an insult. Sorry.

Just that with all the products out there packaged with all types of somewhat silly and often insulting disclaimers and warnings. That’s one to be taken pretty seriously.

A good breeze should be fine. Good luck with the project.

Not insulted at all, just making sure you knew I wasn't trying to make fun of the warning. :o Yeah, lawsuit-protection complicates things in that the most docile products now have deadly warnings plastered all over them, kind of taking away the impact of seriously important warnings. I tend to be on the overcautious side, so I usually just ask for clarification from someone who knows. As usual, this forum is so helpful in that regard.

Now my big challenge is finding a replacement tip for my Weller iron. I bought it as part of a kit at Home Depot. Does HD sell replacement tips? No. Does Radio Shack? Yeah, but only for "Radio Shack" irons. True Value was most helpful, but they didn't have the right tip and couldn't find it to order. Sears is my last hope before the internet beckons.

I do alot of soldering since I do stained glass too. I don't like wearing masks so I use a fume trap. The added benefit is the fumes are pulled through a filter so there is no leftover smell. In my garage I solder under a range hood that I have a charcoal filter installed in.:)

I get all my irons and tips through the internet.

I have never worried about the fumes, but I have only ever done small jobs with only a few minutes exposure. It doesn't smell good so I avoided smelling it.

Of course, this is how I am left.....

Seriously, I never realized it was so hazardous. In the future I will be even more careful.

Tom W

I set up a oven hood with two fans pulling out in shop,which I do alot of electronic repair which requires alot soldering

It's more of a hazard when using solder that contains lead. Lead free solder is way too expensive to use on windows and lamps. I use lead free solder on jewelry and plumbing. The flux vaporizes when you solder and contains some of the metals you are melting. You can't even have food or drink near you while soldering since the lead can settle on them and be injested later.

I've gotten sick off the fumes.



I was doing simple guitar effect pedals. Got a good whiff (accident) and could do nothing but lay down for 3 days. Headache, pain in the back of the eyes, soreness...


Not fun. I now have a fan and keep the window open.

Those are good ones. I like this one -- lighter weight, they're designed to fit under welding helmets so they must be rated for welding/soldering fumes:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a87...respirator.jpg

I guess I should be dead 100 times over. Spent most of my life soldering electronics or copper pipe. If I was doing stained glas, yeah I'd worry. Otherwise, nah.

When soldering or working with ANY metal, always position yourself UPWIND OF YOUR WORK.

Even heating galvanized metal is just as bad, if not worse than, breathing the fumes from lead-based solders.

Know your work-pieces and connecting compounds and the effects that heating these items, separately or connectively, have on surrounding people, pets and materials.

Also, as an additional safety tip, be sure of the surface(s) around and near the work-area.

A few years back, a neighbor managed to burn down his house using a MAPP Gas torch and solder, working on some piping, when the insulation near the work-area caught fire and immediately "torched" up a race-way from the basement to his attic...house was fully engulfed within 10 minutes and all the Fire Dept. could do was stand there and watch (roof had 5 layers of shingles on it and they started burning like nobody's business...) and keep it from jumping over to our place and the other homes in the neighborhood.