Anyone have issue breathing the fumes of soldering?

[Audiotexan]

Speaker glue does it for me.

Mmmmm JBL black or red cap?!! Decisions decisions....lol

[Audiotexan]

over the years in working with all kinds of chemicals and stuff, I ended up with throat cancer....it was wicked....lost 67 pounds in 4 weeks....gave me a new perspective on life in general.......

Sorry to hear that Bsco. I worked with MEK for a long time, and LOVE the ease of use that it provided (it would pick up/remove anything), but man that stuff was vicious in tight areas. Hope you've been cancer free for some time. Best to ya all the same.
I wouldn't wish cancer on my worst enemy.

[g1]

Glad you're still with us Bernie, you got it beat?

[The Dude]

I second (or 3rd) that. Hope all is well with you Bernie!

[Chuck H]

over the years in working with all kinds of chemicals and stuff, I ended up with throat cancer....it was wicked....lost 67 pounds in 4 weeks....gave me a new perspective on life in general.......

Maybe this needed an "unlike" button. From a place of empathy of course. I've been put down like that. Not from solder, but it IS life changing. And reporting on the potential dangers from an experienced perspective has come at tremendous cost to you!!! I hope everyone here pays attention. Glib jokes are fine. I like them. But this is the reality of it. May everyone here listen and learn. Open a window and use a fan for circulation!!! It's easy to do. If you miss smelling something wonderful, roast a chicken or bake some bread. Maybe bake some chocolate chip cookies!!! Not much smells better than that.

[Alan0354]

I am almost running out of solder, I bought a small roll of MG Chemicals 60/40 RA flux 2.2% flux. I feel it is inferior compare to the Kessler roll I have. The Kessler is so old I cannot read anything out of it anymore. But the MG Chemicals seems to get old very fast after it melt. It's like unless you make the solder joint within seconds, the solder loss the flux and won't make a good joint. I know in ideal world, you solder in split seconds after you melt the solder, but there are a lot of times you can't do that even if I tint both sides first. The Kessler just seems to be a lot more forgiving.

Is it the brand or just the Kessler I have is different or MG Chemicals are just inferior. Of cause MG Chemicals is cheaper, but I did not think it will make that much of a difference. I really feel there is a big difference to the point I do all the critical solder with the small amount of Kessler I still have and use the MG just for rough solder. I need to order new solder soon, please advice.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Is it the brand or just the Kessler I have is different or MG Chemicals are just inferior. Of cause MG Chemicals is cheaper, but I did not think it will make that much of a difference. I really feel there is a big difference to the point I do all the critical solder with the small amount of Kessler I still have and use the MG just for rough solder. I need to order new solder soon, please advice.

Kester, I think you mean. You're noticing a quality difference, and the cheap stuff isn't cutting it. You know what to do: stock up on the brand you know works for you. I mentioned Ersin, it's less common but also top quality. Alpha used to be second rate but they improved. 30-40 years ago house brand Radio Shack solder was awful. Then it got good. Then they took it away and substituted "safe" nanny-state approved no lead solder. Grr, back to no good. So there you go: Kester, Ersin, Alpha. Nothing else will do.

Kessler Institute is a rehabilitation hospital in West Orange, NJ. About a mile south of where I grew up. They've helped thousands of people over the years but couldn't fix Chris Reeve after his horse riding accident, no matter how they tried. And they don't make solder. Sometimes our minds swap similar names. I do it all the time.

[bsco]

Thanks g-one;Chuck;Dude and Audiotexan....it was not easy but I did beat it...of all the people that were in the hospital with me at that time only myself and one other person walked out...the rest didn't make it....I had to live on intervenus for 3 months because I could not eat or drink anything....I couldn't even lift the bag of sugar that was on the kitchen table....It was not good....

.and I blame it on working on electronic equipment over the years...using all kinds of harsh chemicals....and working on crap like liquid toner copiers,printing equipment and of course solder fumes in a room with no ventilation and everybody smoking.......there were no rules back in the 70's.....so my message is DO NOT use chemicals in confined areas.....as a matter of fact I mostly use soap and water now for 90% of my cleaning.....works great....

and keep your hands protected if you do have to use harsh chemicals......that was another problem that I ended up with from the 70's work era...............now the palms of my hands get so dry they crack and bleed....I have to wear gloves with the fingers cut out so I can coat the palms of my hands with ointment to help keep the skin from drying out and cracking up.....so watch what you are doing......if you don't you will end up having some very serious health issues....
Cheers,
Bernie

[Leo_Gnardo]

using all kinds of harsh chemicals....

Add me to the list of people that are darn glad you're here Bernie. It didn't take much exposure to solvents like acetone, dry-cleaning fluid, MEK, xylene and the like to convince me, this isn't the place to be. Been in those cig smoke filled rooms too, and as a non smoker it was extremely unpopular with me too. Glad that's over and not likely to be repeated.

It's amazing how much you can clean up with a dab of dish washing detergent in water. On circuit boards where I need a solvent, distilled water is the first choice, then high-concentrated ethyl alcohol (Everclear and Polmos are my go-to brands, 95% ethyl. More expensive than denatured alcohol, but also no methyl or other obvious poisons.) Only in a pinch I'll use anything stronger. So far so good!

For dry skin I can suggest Vaseline brand skin lotion in the brown bottle - cocoa butter and doesn't smell like flowers & whatnot. Maybe you have something even better. My 94 year old neighbor was prescribed some special stuff for cracked & flakey skin on his feet and lower legs, a lotion that was 11 or 12% ammonium something... can't remember 'zackly but I'm sure your pharmacist and/or doc will know. Wasn't terribly expensive either, about $12 for a bottle that looked @ 12-16 ounces. Didn't take long and his condition was relieved.

[bsco]

Thanks Leo......I use Polysporin and Vasaline as well...sometimes I will use a hand lotion....but I always use soap and water to clean ckt boards...and a soft paint brush....works wonders......stay away from the chemicals....they are not good for the equipment or yourself.....
Cheers

[Alan0354]

Wow, I am from the late 70s. But I never have problem until the coughing now. The doctor think it's allergy, but I insisted in having a X-ray. I am crossing my finger everything is ok.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Wow, I am from the late 70s. But I never have problem until the coughing now. The doctor think it's allergy, but I insisted in having a X-ray. I am crossing my finger everything is ok.

Coughing and general discomfort go to a maximum around here mid winter when the air is very dry. I put on a simple cheap dust mask, and that keeps a cloud of damp air near mouth and nose, better than any pill or potion. Also don't have to run a humidifier and waste power trying to dampen air all over the house. After seeing photos of people walking down the street in Japan & China with similar masks on many years ago, got the idea to try it myself. Funny thing, last time I was in Japan, it was March and top of the allergy season. Pollen from Tsugu cedars blows in all across Siberia as well as more locally, causes a lot of misery. One day I ran out of my own, and took a walk to a nearby pharmacist in Sapporo. They must have had twenty choices of style for "masuku." Cheap, no chemical relief. So what if I look funny. I look funny anyway. Let 'em laugh. I'm comfortable, that's what matters.

Hope your tests come out OK, and stop off at a hardware or Home Despot or similar, get a pack of cheap masks, worth a try.

[Alan0354]

Thanks. Right now, I use a construction mask with two filters one on each side and I use a fume filter fan to suck the fumes every time I solder now. I am not taking any chance. It is getting better. I do miss the smell of the flux, I always like the smell.

After reading about chemicals, I should cut down the flux removal sprey. I use rubbing alcohol to clean flux first, then last round with the flux removal before using forced air to blow dry. But the flux spray worries me now.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Thanks. Right now, I use a construction mask with two filters one on each side and I use a fume filter fan to suck the fumes every time I solder now. I am not taking any chance. It is getting better. I do miss the smell of the flux, I always like the smell.

After reading about chemicals, I should cut down the flux removal sprey. I use rubbing alcohol to clean flux first, then last round with the flux removal before using forced air to blow dry. But the flux spray worries me now.

Good choice for a work mask. Try the cheap charlie version for comfort while you're watching TV, using computer, reading. You can make one last a couple days.

Try ethyl for flux cleaning. Years back @ 20 there was a spray called Flux-Off. They must have had a big laugh naming that one! Very effective, also very loaded with solvents to avoid. For tough cases, I still have a little left. Gotta set up ventilation, even if it's -10 F outside. Fan, open window, finish the job, close the door & go make a cuppa tea or something.

[Alan0354]

Good choice for a work mask. Try the cheap charlie version for comfort while you're watching TV, using computer, reading. You can make one last a couple days.

Try ethyl for flux cleaning. Years back @ 20 there was a spray called Flux-Off. They must have had a big laugh naming that one! Very effective, also very loaded with solvents to avoid. For tough cases, I still have a little left. Gotta set up ventilation, even if it's -10 F outside. Fan, open window, finish the job, close the door & go make a cuppa tea or something.

I go the porch outside to do any cleaning, I don't do it inside the house at all. Luckily I live in the Bay Area, it's not that cold even in winter!!! I have to look around for ethanol rubbing alcohol, I know I had seen it before. I just keep grabbing the Iso-Prop. Alcohol.