I am using lead to bring my cars and motive power up to NMRA standards. Mainly I am using fishing weights, hammering them to shape. My question is about the safety of handling lead and it's link to cancer. I am thinking of painting all my lead weights after installation with gloss paint to seal them. I have to handle my rolling stock a great deal and I hide my weights sometimes between frame rails under passenger cars. Any thoughts or suggestions?
First, lead does not cause cancer, it damages brain cells. It is said that the Roman empire fell in part because they used lead for drinking cups. Suggest you wash your hands after working with lead weights. The lead itself does not give off any gases or rays, so it would not be necessary to seal it unless it were in a location where it was handled often and I would imagine you would place your weights where they could not been seen (or handled).
Definitely wash hands after handling lead, better yet use throw away gloves. Its the lead dust that can cause problems. Do not use open flame to heat lead without breathing apparatus.
Lead can cause brain damage especially in children,BUT. I think the way we use lead to weight cars and locos is safe, as long as we arent puttng it in our mouths.The only way lead can cause harm is for it to enter our blood stream. So normal handeling of lead will be compleatly safe. Just dont create any dust or inhale molten lead fumes.Of course if you are cutting it you will want to be careful , especially if you have some kind of open cut on youre hands....Mike
I handled lead type daily as a compositor in the printing trade for twenty yeaars, without, I think, any problems. Just be sensible about washing hands after handling and you will be ok
Steve, I agree with the suggestions on handling lead. I also started by reshaping lead fishing sinkers. Some people perfer b-b shot but the best idea I've picked-up was using lead flashing used by the roofing trade to seal (Flash) around chimneys and vent pipes. It's available in most lumber yards and plumbing supply areas and is easily cut with a scissor or sheer. Take care, Jim
i eated pante chiPs with Led WheN i werr a kiD and aint' nuffin evre happent To Me yet! just kidding!!!!!
I remember as a kid we had 1/4" scale toy cars made by TootsieToy in England, that had white rubber tires, and the whole car was a lead die casting. We used to bite the headlights off and chew them like gum. That was 1935, and I'm 70 now, so yep, your right! Lead is bad for the brain. Mopac is a good example!! snicker, snicker, hee hee!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash: We used to bite the headlights off and chew them like gum.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> LOL! D6
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> We used to bite the headlights off and chew them like gum. That was 1935, and I'm 70 now, so yep, your right! Lead is bad for the brain. Mopac is a good example!! snicker, snicker, hee hee! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Thats why Watash owns a heavy Harley!!! and put it trough a barbed wire fence and went lip dirt diving!!!!!!!!! I don't know whats worse "lip dirt diving or chewing tobacco........ [ 11 March 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Chewing the cud of plug deffinately is worse because tobacco makes your babies be born naked! Lip trenching in a plowed field isn't near as bad as doing cartwheels through a west Texas prickley pear cactus patch at 30mph while you are trying to out run the bike that's right behind! Yer pickin on me again John!
Watash, I musta ate a lotta lead paint off my crib. That, coupled with all the second hand smoke and cinders probably helps to cut down the green glow of all the radiation I absorbed working with that consarned e-lek-tric-i-ty. It's all dangerous and life shortening. Guess that's why I'm only a little bit over 60. Fitz
Yes Watash i'm agrivating you. I have to livin it up some with my 2 cents! Your a well of info and I admit that and I've learnt some already from you and besides that I get a laugh from a few things you've said so far like the switch backs..... "Couple a Big Boy to it and PULL HARD" ***LAUGH*** [ 16 March 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Be nice to me guys, I'm fragile. I'm about to get over all this wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath everytime I stand up. My wife is changine my cough syrup to a new brand that she says is better, its Viagra or something like that.
