Are lead minis dangerous?

[Henry]

Lead salts are highly toxic as they are readily absorbed, however elemental lead is not readily absorbed...

(SNIP)

Grant Kinsley MD

And THIS is why I love this place. It's better than the frikkin' Internet.

Well, you know what I mean.

Thanks, Sawbones!

 

[tetsujin28]

I've been working on a Web site that's a repository of informaiton on lead poisoning, which got me thinking. I have a fair number of old Grenadier and Ral Partha minis that I've never painted, and which I believe are lead (we're talking c.1982 here). Are they hazardous? Should I be concerned?

If you eat them? Yes. If you're a young child? Yes. Otherwise, wash your hands thoroughly after handling, don't make any pottery glazes out of them, and try to avoid inhaling any lead dust if you use a dremel for modifications.

 

[buzz]

So, assuming I get around to painting them, I should wear gloves and use a respirator, and then make sure that I and my group wash our hands after every game where we use them.

I'm still leaning towards selling them.

 

[tetsujin28]

So, assuming I get around to painting them, I should wear gloves and use a respirator, and then make sure that I and my group wash our hands after every game where we use them.

I'm still leaning towards selling them.

Once they're painted, they're perfectly safe. And I've never worn gloves whilst painting. I have used just a paper disposable mask (like the kind you'd use whilst operating a saw or painting) if I use my dremel, just to avoid inhaling dust.

 

[sawbones]

So, assuming I get around to painting them, I should wear gloves and use a respirator, and then make sure that I and my group wash our hands after every game where we use them.

I'm still leaning towards selling them.

Again the amount of lead salts that would be produced and absorbed in the routine handling/painting and sanding of lead based miniatures would be insignificant. Enjoy your minis, paint away.

Grant Kinsley MD

 

[pogre]

Again the amount of lead salts that would be produced and absorbed in the routine handling/painting and sanding of lead based miniatures would be insignificant. Enjoy your minis, paint away.

Grant Kinsley MD

This is nonsense of course - your old lead minis are very dangerous!

The best thing to do is ship them to me so I can take care of the problem for you.

thinking only of your health...

 

[Len]

This is nonsense of course - your old lead minis are very dangerous!

Darn right! I've seen a couple of lead minis tear through a whole herd of plastic WoTC goblins.

 

[thalmin]

most of the companies stopped using lead in 1983. but some small mom&pop ones continued for a little while longer before going belly up.

Wasn't it closer to '93? The big move to "pewter" was at just about the same time that Magic hit.

 

[pogre]

Wasn't it closer to '93? The big move to "pewter" was at just about the same time that Magic hit.

That matches my memory as well. I vaguely remember something about a suit or statute from New York being the catalyst. Ral Partha renamed their pewter something ridiculous that escapes me just now.

 

[Dirigible]

I think we're neglecting the dangers of plastic minis. Anyone got the generic regimental Citadel goblins from the 'Eltharion vs Grom the Paunch' edition of Warhammer? Those lil dues were razor sharp...