During the soldering process, fluxes are heated to the reflow temperature of the solder, converting some of the flux ingredients to gas fumes. In applications where there are large amounts of leaded parts that handled, the lead dust could also become airborne and would require wearing a safety mask.įluxes are chemical mixtures containing acids, sometimes solvents and other chemicals. This same situation would apply in battery manufacturing, gun ranges (leaded ammunition) and other industrial applications. So, for most users’ soldering applications, it’s the dust or residue from touching the solder itself that can cause a health issue. Solder metal will only create fumes if heated above ~ 1200☏, which won’t happen in normal soldering applications whether using a soldering iron or a pot. It is preferable to wear gloves, and leave the gloves on the bench or wear disposable ones. Therefore, it’s critical that you wash your hands with soap and water whenever you step away from the workbench. This is the route in which lead can get into your system, as most exposure to lead occurs through breathing or eating. It’s important to note that if your solder contains lead and you hold the solder wire or bar, you will get lead dust on your hands. When soldering, most people do not wear gloves and hold the iron and solder wire by hand. Flux, an acid mixture, is always used in conjunction with the solder to permit the molten solder to bond with the surfaces being joined. Solder is used in many industries from electronics and sheet metal to stained glass.
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