JAndrew
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2013
- Messages
- 113
- Reaction score
- 21
HMEM,
I've been doing more projects with 12L14 steel and looking at future projects with brass alloys. 12L14 and most machinable brasses have a Lead (Pb) content of a couple percent. How fearful should I be of this Lead.
Maybe I'm just oversensitive to this topic because I live in California "The Land of Infinite Cancer Warning Labels" but I feel more concerned about it since I have a young child in the house. Lead can be bad stuff for small children.
The other day I was sanding some 12L14 with emory cloth and the shiny dust was all over me afterwords. I wear a dedicated shop apron and take off my dedicated shop shoes before going into the house (and sometimes my other clothes too). It brings to mind so many other questions though...
Should I be wearing a dust mask for that type of sanding? Should I wash these clothes separate from other laundry?
When I think about it I want to say, "Nah the lead is trapped in a steel or brass matrix..." but I don't really know how serious the risk is...?
Are leaded brass alloys skin safe for jewelry type items? etc...?
Any insight from the safety keen would be greatly appreciated.
-JAndrew
I've been doing more projects with 12L14 steel and looking at future projects with brass alloys. 12L14 and most machinable brasses have a Lead (Pb) content of a couple percent. How fearful should I be of this Lead.
Maybe I'm just oversensitive to this topic because I live in California "The Land of Infinite Cancer Warning Labels" but I feel more concerned about it since I have a young child in the house. Lead can be bad stuff for small children.
The other day I was sanding some 12L14 with emory cloth and the shiny dust was all over me afterwords. I wear a dedicated shop apron and take off my dedicated shop shoes before going into the house (and sometimes my other clothes too). It brings to mind so many other questions though...
Should I be wearing a dust mask for that type of sanding? Should I wash these clothes separate from other laundry?
When I think about it I want to say, "Nah the lead is trapped in a steel or brass matrix..." but I don't really know how serious the risk is...?
Are leaded brass alloys skin safe for jewelry type items? etc...?
Any insight from the safety keen would be greatly appreciated.
-JAndrew