As fly tiers, how concerned should we be about the lead hazards in the brass tying tools that we frequently handle such as bobbins, vises, hair packers, hair stackers, etc. As I look around the tying bench there are many tools that are made of this metal. As I understand it, brass usually contains varying amounts of lead. Does anyone know if it is a legitimate concern to our health or not? Thank you in advance for any replies.
AAACCCKKKKK!!!
Is it possible that if you don’t run around with your hands in your mouth (usually it’s just feet that get stuck there!), and you’re fastidious about hand washing, that the amounts would be low enough to not cause problems?
I’d figure that if you don’t chew your nails or fingers while tying or afterwards until you wash your hands well there would be no problem.
Anyone else?
A site I looked at spoke of the dangers of lead in brass keys. According to this article, there is about 2% lead in keys, it is put there to make cutting keys easier. Apparently, the big danger is to kids playing with and sucking/chewing on them. I would think that the amount of lead in our brass tools is lower and the big problem would be the lead wire we use. I have been involved with lead abatement, and again, the main concern is for children.
If I recall correctly, brass can vary as to composition, but is primarily made of zinc and copper. Lead, if present at all, is very minimal (usually less than 1%).
I have not seen any studies but would guess you face a far greater hazard in using the tools than in being poisoned by them.
(If you’re really that concerned, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands after using the tools.)
GrnMtn,
Living is hazardous to your health.
IF, and I say if again, using the tying tools we do were dangerous to your health a majority of the people posting here wouldn’t be alive.
Awhile back I worked in a Department store. At Christmas time we sold the string of lights. All of a sudden one year this warning starts showing up on the boxes about the lead contained in the wire. DAILY I would get customer complaints about how terrible a company I worked for; and how could I sell this item…etc., etc., ad naseum. You would be amazed at the number of items we touch in a days time that contain lead.
There was a member of an organization I belonged to who was an Electrician; he lived to be 87 years young. He had a hearty laugh when I asked him about this new found lead concern; and gave me this great comeback line (which I will modify for this forum…)
Please do not eat your tying tools.
Jim
<deep sigh of relief!!>
I hear Toilet paper contains various chemicals that could cause… Errr Nevermind… I can’t remember the last time I heard someone died from handling there tool to much, but if its a real concern consider natural alternatives!
Brass band instraments are made out of well,Brass. including the mouth pieces which are plated but the plating is often worn off, if this was a problem all the trumpet, trombone, tuba etc players would be dead from Lead poisening.
I think a far greater hazzard is the pesticides we put on the feathers and fur.
To fight this I have a glass of ice water on my tying table and when I need to wet somthing I just touch the outside of the glass, the condinsation then wets my fingers. I then wash my hands at the end of the tying session.
Eric
Stop tying immediately.
It’ll kill you.
I’ll buy your stuff cheap…
Okay, I know that he was being serious. Folks see those ‘warnings’ and actually think there might be a danger.
It’s not a problem. Never has been. Never will be.
Not even a shyster lawyer would take on this one (maybe, you know how lawyers are…)
By the way, that 's all there is to this, ‘legal protection from unscrupulous lawyers’ explains this better than any other reason…
Go forth and tie. If it kills you, it won’t be from the brass…
Buddy
Legitimate concerns about lead, such as lead water pipes, kids eating paint chips, birds and lead shot, has caused alot of paranoia.
I work in electronics manufacuring. 20 years ago most of our assembly was done by hand soldering with lead solder. Assemblers handled the 40% lead solder all day every day. When tested none of them ever had lead levels to be concerned about.
Dihydrogen monoxide kills far more people than lead.
Hmmmm,now, THIS, could explain my current medical problems!?! "I’ve tied too many flies, using “lead poisoning tools”!?!
Except, with the amount of lead, found in tying tools, I’d have to grind up and ingest probably several thousand bobbins, bodkins, whatever, every day over a period of probably 109 years to use that as an excuse.
“Brass”, contains less than .500 ounces of lead per pound. Break that down, to the “two little buttons”, on the ends of your bobbin arms and I don’t think you’re going to grow a third eye, anytime soon.
However, SOMEONE, out there in the fly tying industry is covering all their bases!
I wish I’d saved the clear envelope, it came in so I could have scanned it and posted it here. But, recently buying a package of lead barbel eyes, on the back of the clear envelope was a sticker that read…
“The contents of this package have been shown to cause reproductive harm in humans and pregnant women in the state of California”.
Of course, being a conscientious fly tier and fisherman, I immediately put these lead eyes in a locked, safe, place so if any “reproducing humans or pregnant women”, came visiting us, from California, they wouldn’t be in danger!
The label didn’t say, anything, about "Other reproducing and pregnant people, from OTHER states, besides California so I guess people from California are “built funny” or something!??!
I have heard horrible things about dihydrogen monoxide… pretty nasty asphyxiation hazard. 
The worst part is we are surrounded by the stuff. 
FAOL members are just too funny. Some of these replys ar great!!!.
Led is only dangerous when ingested or breathed in. Not too many things can be absorbed thrugh skin. I would not worry about led in tools. In other palces use of the lead is not so great. My entire family does no longer buy led for fishing weights. Although we still have some left overs from the old days.
BTW. Led was used for many things over the time. It only became a “problem” when it was convieniet for some lawyers - just like many other things. I constantly get a kick out the warning labels attached to great many products I buy…
The legal system needs to change to a model used in most European countires. This would cut a lot of BS in our lives and forced people to excesise COMMON SENSE!!! Sorry about the rant. I feel much better now 
.
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned lead crystal glasses that we drink out of.
A few years ago I was tying about 18 hours a day non-stop and using my brass tools like crazy. I started to feel sick and I went to the doctor and he told me the lead was killing me and I only had 3 months to live.
Boy did I make a jerk out of him; it’s been 6 months now and I never felt better in my li
If you are really concerned, be sure to wash your hands and keep the tools away from young children.
the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!:D:D
Lets see I have taught over 150 boy scouts since the ffishing merit badge came out ,many cub scouts and school kids----shall I try to get in touch with all to warn them of the lead danger ??? Ever read the warning that comes with perscription medicine that you take-------Thats scary. And then there is the lead shot Ive touched, molded sinkers, relaoding bullets and I’m 85 years old. I’d better start worrying about my health. BILL
Paul…you have to be in California for it to matter…so Bill please don’t teach any boy scouts in California…
Excuse me, I have to go have lunch…think I’ll gnaw on a bobbin…ooops , forgot…I’m in California