need help!!

[Russ Nobbs]

Hi Marina!

Which Sydney are you in? Ontario? Down-under?  

The US brands we are familar with are Tix and Stay-Brite. Neither have lead. Both have a small amount of silver. Both are primarily tin. Both are intended for jewelry. Both come with flux intended for jewelry.

In the US (and I think Canada) most tin based soft solders no longer contain lead. The label should detail the content. Check your hardware store and read the labels.

Don't use the electronics type solders that contain a rosin core. The rosin is the flux used for electronics but it does not work well for jewelry.

And if you really can't find a soft solder without lead remember that lead/tin solders were used for a long time. I remember using "30/70" solder as a kid. I fear that was probably 30% tin and 70% lead. I made it to my  60th birthday. I don't think it made me toostupid. Many stained glass artists continue to use lead "came"  to build windows. It's dangerous if you breathe the fumes from molten lead or eat it or absorb it through your skin. It needs to be used with great care.

Are there other dangerous things? Yes! Many dangerous things. Breathing fumes from overheated plastic is one if you try to solder costume jewelry with plastic stones. Heating up a piece that was glued with superglue releases toxic fumes. There are way too many safety issues to try to list them here.

http://www.caseweb.com/acts/ is the website of a safety hazards group for the arts, crafts and theatre industries. You can find some guildelines there.

But if you read the labels, follow directions, and as you do, keep asking for help you should do just fine. Be careful!

[marina]

Hey

I have a whole heap of information on the difference between 'hard' and 'soft' solder, and the time has come for me to actually buy soft solder so i can start practicing with soldering and my dads soldering iron.

However, all the jewellery supplies stores in sydney dont have anything!! They all have hard solder which requires a blowtorch etc etc, and they are all reccomending i get some soft solder from hardware stores. But don't they contain lead, which can be dangerous??? Are there any soft solders used for home and electronics work that contain  no lead AND can be safe and easy to use for simply closing up a jump ring or soldering a brooch back to the back of a brooch???

Also, are there any other subtances i have to be aware of if i do buy lead free solder from the hardware store? eg, any other dangerous metals etc etc

hope to hear from you soon

regards
Marina

[Metalman]

You might check at the hardware/plumbing supply.  Here in the US, lead solder for plumbing is now prohibited but they have a tin based 'non-lead' solder for 'sweating' [soldering] copper plumbing.  Hope this helps.  As to lead hazards, as long as the joint is not in a skin contact position, and is small you should be okay.  As to working with it, ventilation and clean work habits are the key.  Before you eat, drink or smoke, wash your hands well. I do stained glass and when working the lead, my hands get black with lead - the best hand cleaner I have found is a citrus and pumice based one - works great.  In general, you have to ingest the lead- that means smoking, drinking or eating it.
Good luck, play safe but play