Philip Poburka on tue 21 jan 03
Hi Lilli, et all...
Printer's Type is not 'lead', but does, or did contain it.
The requirements of the alloy being similar to the
requirements in some ways of Babbet, as was used to line
bearings of many sorts, in Automobile Engines and many sorts
of stationary Machinery. The alloys are close cousins.
Being generally of Lead, Copper, Tin, Bismuth and maybe
Antimony, if memory serve.
The alloys so used, did not shrink when cooling from a
molten state...and were resistant to wear in their way.
Melted at reasonably low temperatures and filled out detail
nicely.
Anyway...if the Lead content bothers one in holding the Type
for impressing figures onto Clay or other...one may coat the
handled end with some epoxy, 'J-B' weld, liquid Rubber as
some use to dip plier's handles in, or even some tape I
suppose. One could similarly affix the Type pieces to a
small handle of Wood even.
That would keep your finger tips from contacting the alloy
itself...and elimanate any possible consequences or
discomforts of that.
God luck!
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lily Krakowski"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 1:28 PM
Subject: Re: alphabet letters/and lead
How should I know? This is where we always seem to get
conflicted. I know
two artists who got lead poisoning from materials. One was
a graphic artist
who had used lead based paints and inks for years and years;
the other a
young woman who ???. When I handle these pieces of lead my
hands often are
sweaty, or have some slip on them--no idea what sweat does
to lead etc. When
I do this imprinting stuff I often handle a fistfull of
letters for an hour
or so. MY FIRM, TRIED AND TRUE idea is to be as careful as
I can about
these things unless I have read something that makes me feel
confident that
there is no risk. As in this case I do not know, and do not
feel like going
to a lab etc--I simply wear latex gloves...Duh...
And you, like everyone else, do what YOU want.
Lois Ruben Aronow writes:
> On Sun, 19 Jan 2003 11:32:12 -0500, you wrote:
>
>>Try a local printer or newspaper....Many still have old
type fonts (I have
>>several coffee-cans full) from their linotype days. Be
advised; THOSE ARE
>>LEAD; REPEAT LEAD. If you are going to use them, you
should dip the
>>non-funtional end in plastic or somesuch, or wear gloves
when using.
>
> I use old lead printers type all the time. You can't
possibly tell be
> telling me that impressing them into clay for the second
and a half it
> takes to make a mark could lead to lead leaching?! And
could holding
> them in your hand REALLY be a health concern? seriously?
> --------------------------------------------
> Fine Craft Porcelain - New and Updated for 2003!!
> http://www.loisaronow.com
>
>
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Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
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