Do you use protective/preventative equipment?

Doing mods and all that with lead-based solder makes you wonder, doesn't it? What do the folks here do in the workplace/shop?

I have a little fume extractor I use when I solder to suck the fumes away. But of course the fumes are from the flux/rosin, not the lead.

And I just handle the solder with the hands, no gloves.

And you?

I AM the fume extractor! LOLZ!

Seriously, I don't use anything like that when I'm soldering. I just make sure not to directly breathe the puffs of smoke when they come up. I handle the solder with my bare hands as well, it's hard to work with gloves. I just make sure to wash my hands very well before I eat anything.

I wear protective glasses while cutting plastics. The reason being I got a piece of plexiglass in my eye that triggered an allergic reaction to where I couldn't even open my eye, much less wear contacts.

I solder in a very large room so the fumes don't overwhelm me, but don't use any kind of air filter.

Soldering iron burns make you leet!

At first I thought this thread would be about surge protector/suppressors... Actually I've been thinking of getting a studio grade rack-mount line leveler for all my electronic shiz because of my town's horribly dirty power. They aren't all that expensive on ebay, but I'm sure shipping wouldn't be too fun.

I live on the edge.

D-Lite said:

Doing mods and all that with lead-based solder makes you wonder, doesn't it? What do the folks here do in the workplace/shop?

I have a little fume extractor I use when I solder to suck the fumes away. But of course the fumes are from the flux/rosin, not the lead.

And I just handle the solder with the hands, no gloves.

And you?

Click to expand...

I thought that Lead based solder was banned in CA?

Anyways, you should be more concerned about your kids... Keep them away from that shit.....

I really don't do much other than make sure to vacum after usage...

hAndling the solder as an adult shouldn't be that risky... Just don't get it near any food or drink...

I agree with Norton regarding children. I solder outside in my garage, because the lead in the solder is bad for the kids. Especially infants and toddlers. Probably sounds stupid, but I usually blow at the soldering gun when I solder. Probably not the most efficiant way, but it keeps the solder smoke away from my face.

My daughters pediatrician gave me the speech about soldering inside the house. So even if I have to do something quick, I stay outside.

I had the workshop inside the house until my kid was a couple months old or so and then moved it to the garage (about 2 years plus now). Much better that way. He knows he's not allowed to touch the stuff too.

I tried gloves for a brief while and that is impossible. I'm a chemist and wear gloves all the time but the scale is much different.

I use a fume extractor most of the time. When it's nice out, I open the window since my soldering equipment/desk is next to a window.

Jeff

When I solder.....I solder near a fan blowing out the window and don't breath the fumes in directly,nor do I use any gloves.
When I worked as a machinist gloves and masks,goggles-safety glasses etc were mandatory to use..(I hated the gloves)

When I drill holes I always use safety glasses,as I've been doing a lot of that lately ..doing mods on the Pocket Bikes.

Yeah Trojans I use safety glasses when do almost any type of work. If I'm doing heavy soldering or anything with a lot of fumes, I wear a respirator.

3xChaos
Michael