EN1APb (230M07Pb) Usage.

[grim_d]

Evening,

I bought a fair chunk of En1a steel bar offcuts to practice on with the lathe, when they arrived the ends were magenta/purple indicating it is the leaded flavour, since I have no test to confirm nor deny I am going to assume it is.

Now I've read a fair bit about handling lead safely, and I know it has a very small amount like 0.25% lead in it but I've a couple of projects I'd like to make from bar this size that will be handled, I.e a chuck key. I know lead cant enter the body through skin and such a small amount would generally be harmless to adults but would it be unwise to use this material for such a project?

I'm, nor anyone that may handle such items will be licking or otherwise ingesting them, or at least I hope not.

I've been putting this question off because I probably sound like a paranoid wreck...

 

[Spark plug]

Stop worrying, you probably come into contact with more lead that you don't know about every day than you ever will from your bits of steel

 

[grim_d]

You make a good point.

It's not me my concerns were aimed at. If they were picking poster boys for health and safety I, nor my lungs ashamedly, certianly wouldn't be in the running

 

[TechnicAl]

Its manufacture is virtually banned everywhere in Europe but they allowed Corus / Tata / British Steel to keep making it here in Rotherham........I think they believe were all brain dead anyway..............Im not sure if its still made here though

Having said that I believe its the fumes that are the problem

Have you tried a google

 

[grim_d]

I've Googled loads and read plenty on lead safety but very little available on leaded steel specifically and it's handling, at least not that I've found.

As above though, he's likely right, we probably come into contact with more lead naturally than what is in my bits of steel.

 

[ronan]

I would say the chances of ingesting lead from handling it are virtually zero, if turning or milling it, you might take in a tiny amount through dust, but using suds would kill the dust.

 

[Shox Dr]

I wouldn't worried about it, I must have accidentally swallowed countless of airgun pellets, and had thousand in my mouth, along with lead fishing shot as a kid.

 

[Pete.]

You're worrying about nothing. Common dust would be more hazardous.

 

[grim_d]

I'm content then. Ill go ahead and use it for anything.

I've clearly fell victim to a bit of h&s scaremongering. (I hate how I've become an annoying twunt on this forum!)

Still, no harm in asking! Cheers lads.

 

[Pete.]

It's quite alright to ask questions if you're concerned. One good thing is that en1a is just about the easiest steel to machine so great for practising on. Don't try to weld it.

 

[grim_d]

Well pete if I've learned anything through my searching it is that it doesn't weld!

 

[Wozzaaah]

I wouldn't worried about it, I must have accidentally swallowed countless of airgun pellets, and had thousand in my mouth, along with lead fishing shot as a kid.

Aaahhhh.....that explains things....

 

[grim_d]

The results of not worrying about it... I can use my 4 jaw much easier now.

Other things I learned today are...

En16 seems to turn into a banana when it gets a bit hot?

Allen keys are very hard.

 

[Parm]

I learnt today that En1A has a tiny tiny amount of lead added to it to make it free maching for high volume production work

The lead is tightly bound in the matrix of the steel. Virtually no harm to you unless your planning on eating the swarf

 

[grim_d]

Yeah I've been using it for all sorts, like you say im not eating the swarf.

There will be more lead probably all over the walls of my house, 1881. Must be Asbestos sonewhere here too . Suffice to say im no longer worried about my free machining steel.

 

[skotl]

Completely fftopic: and I've been interested in this thread, but I can't help seeing see a weird dichotomy between your avatar and the very serious post. I read it as;

All in jest, though and I love the fact that your avatar is the last image I'd expect to see for someone called "grim_d"!

 

[grim_d]

Haha. Very good ya wee rascal. 

Those poor donkey's though!

 

[eSCHEn]

He's fae Ayrshire Scott, it's all a bit grim over there.

:hugs: at ya grim X


That chuck key looks a proper job