Soldering safety

[BodhiBenz1987]

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?

[WVOtoGO]

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.

[BodhiBenz1987]

Originally Posted by WVOtoGO

BTW - That label on the product is no joke.

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

[eagle-co94]

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

[WVOtoGO]

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

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 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.

[BodhiBenz1987]

Originally Posted by WVOtoGO

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. 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.

[Chad300tdt]

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.

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by WVOtoGO

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.

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:

[BobK]

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.

[mgburg]

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.

[davestlouis]

Good grief, I work in the front office of a body shop, so I'm exposed to all sorts of nasty fumes/dust. etc. The guys all say that there's no such thing as an old body man, presumably due to all of that exposure. I walk through and smell all sorts of things, none of which can be healthy.

Anything with lead in it is BAD NEWS, just be extremely careful.

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by mgburg

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.

What was the insulation? Styrofoam? I thought the cellulose based stuff was treating to be fire retardant.

I've worked on some roofs like that. Good lord, you cut out a skylight and there it is: 4 or 5 layers of petroleum based Roman candle (potentially). Amazing when you think about it.

[TheDon]

proper ventilation?

[83*300D]

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