[Jewelry making - Article 00536] - Re: [Orchid] Low temprature solders

[Gail Smith]

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    While I don't know anything about the strength of lead solders vs
    tin solders (i.e. staybrite et. al.) I know a little bit about lead
    poisoning.  It is NOT absorbed thru the skin, you have to eat it, or
    inhale fumes from hot metal. If your friend has ventilation, she
    should be all right.  Whether it's a torch or a soldering iron
    doesn't matter. It's the heat that creates the dangerous fumes. 
    Lead poisoning is additive, it takes your body 4+ months to get rid
    of it (like carbon monoxide). It's far more dangerous to children
    than adults (the developing brain) but still dangerous to adults. 
    Lead is present in the environment. Doctors refer to a "lead
    balance".  You can have a blood and or urine test for Heavy metals
    which will let you know if there's cause for concern. 

    I have used lead based solders occasionally, but not enough to gauge
    their strength.  I have have used Stay Brite solder (96% tin 4%
    silver) and Tix extensively and feel that Tix is far weaker. I only
    use it when the melting point is critical- i.e. repairing a mystery
    metal piece. The trick with soft solders is to increase the surface
    area of the joint wherever possible, so if it's a pin finding, I
    hard solder it to a disc or a plate and then soft solder it to the
    piece.

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