Solderfumes ?

[TroelsM]

Hi.

I'm getting more and more worried about the fumes/smell from my normal Pb-solder.

Would it help if I suck up the fumes and "filter" it with a "active carbon" filter like the ones used in range hoods (in kitchens). Link: http://www.hoodfilters.cn/hoodfilter...t_5054636.html

Would that do any good at all? Healtwise?

Kind Regards TroelsM

[DigitalJunkie]

Solder fumes always give me a headache,if I'm exposed to them for a long time. (like soldering on a project all day.)

There was a thread about this a few years ago on an electronics related newsgroup,A few 'old timers' who have been tech's for decades piped up and said that they've had their blood tested for lead,and everything was normal.

I don't think it's something we need to be overly concerned about,but some ventilation is certainly a good idea.

Just keep a small 12V PC fan on the bench to blow the smoke away from you.

[Geek]

The flux fumes will do you in before any vapourized lead probably.

And for those of us that smoke, solder fumes are the least of our worries

Cheers!

[Dr.EM]

I can't imagine lead becoming airbourne, Its one of the heavyest elements there is ! The flux is the potential "problem", rosin cores can provoke asthma. I also find they can give you a bit of a headache. I have in the past used computer fans to take the fumes away from me and to be honest, that works pretty well for stopping the headaches.

I think unless your spending lots of time everyday soldering (ie, you were working in soldering) then you shouldn't be overly concerned. As pointed out, cigarette smoke is far more harmful and many people intentionally inhale lots of it

[despotic931]

Originally posted by Dr.EM
I can't imagine lead becoming airbourne, Its one of the heavyest elements there is !

Lead does become airborne. We once used leaded gasoline, and the problem with that was that the lead became airborne in the exhaust fumes. Since the outlawing of lead being used as an additive for gasoline the lead levels in the general population have gone down significantly. Scary to think about really, but I wouldn't be concerned about it becoming an issue with soldering. Like everyone said, it's the flux that is bad. It gives me a headache too, but the fan trick works.

-Justin

[rob3262]

Originally posted by Geek
The flux fumes will do you in before any vapourized lead probably.

I attended an SMT soldering/rework course. Geek is correct, flux fumes are an issue.
Hand washing is important to avoid lead contamination

[coloradosound]

You may want to check out fume extraction devices from
All-Spec Industries
http://www.all-spec.com/cgi-bin/fccg...ldering/Rework|Soldering/Rework+Accessories|Fume+Extractors

Also Techni-tool @ www.techni-tool.com

The regular companies such as Allied, Mouser, Newark, and
Digi-key may also have fume extractors.

[MartyM]

Same problem here on large soldering projects (fumes, headaches, and a general concern about it).

So far I've done well with one of the better 3M particle/fume breathing masks. It has a breathing valve and bettering filtering than the el-cheapos.

[Wavebourn]

A bought an organic pine rosin on ePay from kwtubes: I missed the smell of my childhood.

[Juergen Knoop]

I am using a rosin based flux as well...love the smell!
http://www.loethonig.de/
regards