So soldering...(Health Hazards?)

[MonoTekETeA]

Well I've been doing it for a few months now, but am starting to get pretty worn out. What I mean is health wise, I think breathing in these fumes is doing something to my throat. I was wondering if if anyone has experience with trying to cover your mouth? Should I just get those little white carpenter masks, is there something that works better? I have been using my shirt tucked over my mouth and nose, and that just doesn't seem to cut it.

Let me know

-Jeremy Speer

[Bratwurst]

Uhhhh.. you know some solder has lead in it. Do you know what kind you have? Either way it really is inadvisable to breathe the fumes, even under a paper mask. I pace my breath so I can hold it while using an iron, breathing out when I'm done so I don't draw in any of the smoke. You should probably get a fume filter, there are commercial brands available under hobby & electronic supply venues. Little fans that sit on your desk and suck the fumes up.

[Starwander]

I second Brawtwurst warning, soldering contains lead and is downright bad for you health wise. Using it sparingly is okay without protection, but if you are going to use it on a regular basis you need a respirator. Go over to home depot and buy a gas filter for $29.99 and you will be read to go. Here are the symptoms of lead poisoning from WebMD.

Stomachaches, cramping, constipation, or diarrhea
Nausea, vomiting
Persistent, unexplained fatigue
Headache
Muscle weakness
Higher rates of tooth decay

[shadowkn55]

The solder fumes are actually burning flux. Soldering irons don't get hot enough to vaporize lead (boiling temp 1740 C) so you don't have to worry about lead poisoning. The fumes won't hurt you but its probably wise to err on the side on caution.

[InsaneDavid]

Come on boy, inhale those fumes through your nose and exhale them through your mouth - now you've earned your modder street cred!

[Bratwurst]

The solder fumes are actually burning flux. Soldering irons don't get hot enough to vaporize lead (boiling temp 1740 C) so you don't have to worry about lead poisoning. The fumes won't hurt you but its probably wise to err on the side on caution.

http://www.sentryair.com/solder%20fume.htm

[SkiDragon]

I usually try to use a fan of some sort, and/or hold my breath, and/or use a cheap mask, but usually not the last one.

[shadowkn55]

http://www.sentryair.com/solder%20fume.htm

I stand corrected. I guess that explains the headaches after soldering for a few hours.

[InsaneDavid]

What it really comes down to is something you should have to begin with - good ventilation in your work area. This goes for any type of work you may be doing. You don't need fans, air cleaners, resperators (unless spray painting or doing something that specifically requires it such as grinding ABS plastic), and the like. If you have good ventilation and decent air flow in your work area (which you should) you'll be fine. I have a window at the exact height of my workbench directly across from me (it's on the other side of the bench) and a screen door on my shop. Additionally I set a small cheap fan on the bench in front of the window to draw in clean air when necessary such as when I'm doing a lot of cleaning. The fumes off most household cleaners, rubbing alcohol and so forth are what will really knock you out.

[MonoTekETeA]

Lol, wonderful, I will look into a lot of things then to keep me from killing my self. Now I feel just as bad as some one who ate paint chips.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions
-Jeremy Speer

[DogP]

I typically just hold my breath while the soldering fumes are blowing past me, and turn my head to breathe fresh(er) air. I do have a fume fan with a filter, but it's not very convenient, and I only use it when I'm doing a lot of soldering. For soldering just a few minutes at a time while fixing stuff, holding my breath works fine.

DogP

[MonoTekETeA]

http://www.sentryair.com/solder%20fume.htm

Alright, so I am willing to throw money into a fan with filter, are those guys top of the line, where should I be looking for decent one?

-Jeremy Speer

[jb143]

We have fans at work but no one uses them. They're really loud and annoying. The lead in the solder shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't eat it(keep it away from kids) and be sure to wash your hands before eating anything. The warning on solder usually says that it's known to cause cancer in California so you might want to move if thats where you live. The main thing, as others have said, is that you do your soldering in a well ventilated area and don't breath the fumes.

[thegardentool]

Almost all, if not all, solder should be lead free in the United States now. If you are using old stuff then it could be lead you are inhaling but new stuff shouldn't have any.

[MonoTekETeA]

Still my throat gets very agitated by elements such as the fumes and now a days dust, this is after that month straight of soldering. So I donno, but I need to rock something up to clear the air out.

[jb143]

Almost all, if not all, solder should be lead free in the United States now. If you are using old stuff then it could be lead you are inhaling but new stuff shouldn't have any.

This isn't quite true (yet). While it is true that the industrial side is sloooowly making the switch to lead free it is still widly available. Expecially in the hobby market. This is what Radio Shack sells right now "Standard 60%-tin/40%-lead".

But...as someone else pointed out. A soldering iron won't evaporate lead so you don't have to worry about breathing "lead fumes". The fumes are the solder flux, which is added to "eat" the corrosion off the metal so it will take the solder. This could cause long term health problems if you breath it alot, especially if you already have a breathing problem like ashtma. Keep your work area well ventilated and use a fan if it's really bad. Even just a regular fan blowing away from you will do.

Something else that comes to mind. What kind of solder are you using? Make sure it's even meant for electronics. Acid flux solders shouldn't be used. You also might want to stay away from really heavy rosin core solders.

[SkiDragon]

I don't know about lead in solder, but in general, things don't necessarily have to be evaporated to be vaporized.

[Bratwurst]

But...as someone else pointed out. A soldering iron won't evaporate lead so you don't have to worry about breathing "lead fumes".

It's really not cut and dry like that.

[MonoTekETeA]

I don't know about lead in solder, but in general, things don't necessarily have to be evaporated to be vaporized.

Plastic is a good example, you watch that burn and all around you are minute pieces of airborne plastic.

[jb143]

It is true that fine particles of lead will fly off when soldering and could be inhaled but the fumes themselfs are not lead fumes. It's flux fumes. unless someone is intentionally breathing the fumes you probally get more lead from not washing your hands and eating something. The point is that you don't want to be breathing this so make sure your using ventalation. My other point is that some solders are more iritating than others so it's possible you could have one of those.