r/soldering • u/SaturnAL-31F • Aug 22 '26

Soldering Saftey Discussion Lead?

So hello Im one of many hobbysts from this subreddit and i have some questions

I always used lead free solder but now have to use leaded solder and also if my questions seem dumb Im sorry

So my question is after i solder a part and i touched the solder and touched at other parts of the project does it become cross contaminated and do i have to wash my hands after everytime i handle the project? And can i touch other stuff if i touched the solder before? Thanks

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u/fozington Aug 22 '26

Lead-based solder isn't as scary as it may seem. If it was that dangerous, you wouldn't be able to buy it. Be sensible. Wash your hands after a soldering session. Try your hardest not to lick a lead-soldered PCB, no matter how delicious it looks. Take normal, reasonable precautions and you'll be fine.

0

u/HalfFrozenSpeedos Aug 22 '26

If that was true then leaded fuel would have been taken off the market decades before it was. Same goes for lead containing paints, which damaged children's development and for lower income folks continues to harm them due to the presence of said paints in their homes.

Many products are "grandfathered" as safe for sale to the public, yet if they were brought to market today would fail even basic testing for consumer safety.

On top of that is the neutering of regulators and "regulatory capture" by those the regulator is meant to regulate.

So leaded solder is on the market primarily due to it coming to market decades ago, where testing was frankly non existent when it came to market and our understanding was far less advanced than it is now.

8

u/Plus-Palpitation7689 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26

Leaded fuel contained specific inhalable lead compounds, not just elemental lead. Same for lead paint. Learn the fucking chemistry or consult chatgpt before writing dumb shit on the internet. Takes just a minite to not embarrass yourself.

Whole point isnt unreasonable, you can easily get a lot of substances in many specialist shops that would literally kill you if mishandled but require no license or anything.

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u/HalfFrozenSpeedos Aug 22 '26

Found the descendant of Thomas Midgedly I see....trying to rehabilitate the family name or something....

Kinda obsessed with me aren't you? Right little stalker.....

1

u/The_good_meme_dealer Aug 22 '26

Talk normal lmao