How toxic is lead in a wedge is it a bad idea to use lead for re-scales and restores? most of it goes on to the file or sand paper when ive reshaped one before
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How toxic is lead in a wedge is it a bad idea to use lead for re-scales and restores? most of it goes on to the file or sand paper when ive reshaped one before
I was just about to post a thread asking this. I have two razors with lead wedges and was a bit unsure about them myself.
Lead is not harmful if undisturbed, however it is toxic in dust form. Don't file it! Lead poisoning is very possible if inhaled.
I've seen guys here reuse them and coat them in CA or epoxy to prevent or reduce the possibility of them becoming disturbed.
However alot of old Sheffield wedges are pewter, some are lead. I am not entirely sure how to tell the difference - in any event I don't mess with them.
I would not hesitate to use lead for a wedge as long as I used proper shop hygiene, dustmask when sanding, cleaning up then washing up after leaving the shop area.
Charlie
There are 3 ways to poisoning, inhalation, ingestion, absorption. Protect yourself in regards to these methods of entry, it would also take a lot of exposure to harm you. No need to fear.
pppfffttt...I wouldn't worry too much about it. You're not exposing yourself for hours at a time for years on end. You're not drinking powdered lead like the Romans did. The scare-tactic folks will have you believe that if you touch lead or mercury once then it's certain cancer. It's the same guys who want you to believe that cell phones will give you brain cancer.;)
Mostly yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by red96ta
A geochemist will tell you that lead is one of the lowest
mobility metals as an oxide. However in the presence
of acid it change and moves a lot. When mobile it is
problematic to living things. I had an economic geology
professor express an opinion that it was one of the key
underlying reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire. This
was long in advance of the scare tactics. You could still
buy lead paint at that time with no restrictions. Some
did express caution... and lead was still in gas.
I would not rip it out. I would not use it on new scales
for an old blade restoration.
I think the bottom line is if there is a substitue that performs about as good I would use that. If it was already in the scales I wouldn't take it out though.
Thanks for all the quick responses
I grew up in house with lead plumbing and lead paint on many surfaces. I've spent hours on indoor shooting ranges and re-loading cartridges. Then there are the decades spent breathing in car exhaust fumes. As a kid I used to cast my own fishing weights and crimp the lead shot onto the line with my teeth. Maybe the lead wedge in a couple of my razors will be the straw that breaks the camels back. I'll try to avoid licking them.
I think everyone's had a good point so far.
I'd treat it like UV radiation.
Is it bad for you? Sure.
Will it kill you? Well...It can
Are you gonna stay out of Sunlight? No.
Use Sunscreen when you know you gonna be getting a high dose? Yes.
Scared of Sunlight? About as scared as I am of a lead wedge.:beer2:
Respecting the fact that something isn't "good for you" and being afraid you'll drop dead in 10 years are two entirely different things.
I cast bullets and work with pure lead, as well as lead alloys all the time.
I handle lead sheets and lead ingots with my bare hands.
I get my lead levels checked yearly. I've never been even slightly above normal.
The big risk with lead is when it becomes a dust.
That should never happen with your wedges. Don't eat them, and you'll be fine.
One big risk is regulation.Quote:
Originally Posted by HNSB
If you have a business it can matter. In California USA we
have prop-65.
Customer Service - Woodcraft.com
It goes on and on around the world to one degree or another.
BTW: I eat wedges all the time... cheese, apples, oranges, grapefruit....
thought they was good for me.
I've been in the printing industry for 30 years. We use lead in letterpress as "furniture" to build out printing chases. We also use lead pigs as dead weight when padding jobs for customers.
About 15 years ago - 3 months after I'd taken over as plant manager - OSHA walked into the shop to check and see how many ways we were trying to kill our employees.
As I was answering her question and walking her through the shop she saw the lead weights sitting on top of a padding job. You would had thought it was acid. She freaked out and insisted that we send the man who touched the lead the most and for the longest time in for a blood count.
I tried to explain to her that since we didn't allow them to eat the lead he was fine but off she went.
While we were waiting for the test results to return he was going around bragging that he had "more lead in his pencil" than the rest of us.
Of course his blood test returned comletely normal. He'd only been handling lead ingots, cutting them with a saw, hammering, etc for around 35 years, 5 days a week for 8 or 9 hours a day.
I wouldn't worry about it since that fella is now 90+ and still going strong.
Hell, I use to tell the new hires that he lived life like this.
He gets up at 5am and plays 18 holes of golf before arriving at work at 9am. (he was working part time by this time - a young 75+) Works here until 4pm then takes Mama out for dinner. Then dances till midnight and makes love till morning before starting all over again. We should all be in as good a shape as him.
So, don't eat it. Dont grind it up an stir it in your coffee in the morning or comb it through your hair and you should be fine.
Zacsdaddy
used to put fishing sinkers on with my teeth as a kid and I am still here.