Go suck an egg. . . .

[PJ Hardtack]

Well, Capt., fact is a LOT of folks don't know what might be considered to be common knowledge regarding potentially hazardous materials and substances. It's both a matter of education and habit.

Remember lead based paint on the window sills we used to gnaw on as rug rats? I know a lady who removed all the lead based paint in her house - without wearing a mask! She paid a terrible price with her health.

Is there anyone over 60 on this forum that didn't play with mercury as a child? A lot of thermometers were 'accidentally' broken for our amusement, and I recall doing the same thing in the science classroom, the lost mercury disappearing between the hardwood floor boards. Who knew?

Remember DDT? I recall seeing cans of it and 'Raid' in the kitchens of some pretty high end restaurants I got into as a technician; along with various rat and mouse poisons.

And you obviously haven't used many public washrooms if you think everyone washes their paws after a session, despite signs advising this.
Our church insists on a "shake a paw with someone you don't know" ritual at the height of cold and flue season, something I find appalling after watching people blow their noses and wipe those of their kids. Christians are immune, dontchaknow .....

Is there any pregnant woman out there that doesn't know the dangers of ingesting alcohol and other mind and mood altering substances? And yet we continue to have FASD babies and drug addicted new borns.

Who doesn't know the basic food rules and yet we keep stuffing ourselves with 'fast foods' and pre-packaged crap not fit for a dog. Diet and exercise as the keys to good health comes as a total surprise to many people - after obesity and diabetes. Look at our kids; the first generation that may not live as long as their parents.

I could go on, but you get the picture .....

[Cookie]

Seriously is there anyone left in this country that does not know, you need to wash your hands after using the toilet, picking ones nose, scratching certain areas?  Does it not follow then if you are messing with a potentially hazardous material hand washing would be in order prior to eating, smoking or sticking ones fingers in contact with any mucous membrane.

Is there anyone? Of course there is... even assuming that many things are "common knowledge" (ie - things every adult knows), you certainly aren't born with that knowledge, that means there's at least 10,000 people learning some item of "common knowledge" every day! And that's just in the USA.

Since no one is born with common knowledge, that means they need to be taught it, and often they fail to learn simply because so many of their elders simply assume they already have that knowledge.

Heck, I'm sure most people on this forum remember when there was regular and unleaded gasoline and what exactly that meant. Common knowledge, right? Well, you have to be pushing 40 for it to be so common. That's just one example. The simple fact is that the upcoming generation is so wrapped in bubble wrap that can you be surprised when they don't have any knowledge of how to deal with something truly dangerous? Can you really blame them? They've been so over-protected they assume the world is a safe happy place.

I'm a part-time adult educator and you'd be surprised how uncommon common knowledge can be. And it's Cpt Dan's attitude that causes that, not some failure of the uneducated.

How many times will someone who lacks knowledge keep asking if they receive the above response? Then where will we all be?


To Dick:

Just to be clear, I respect you Dick, but I respectfully disagree with you. I think giving someone needed advice does not make you "responsible" for them. But refusing to give that same advice, especially when morally required does make you responsible (as in refusing to tell someone how to easily avoid brain damage).

I also feel that lead exposure is not something to be taken lightly like you seem to. And I think proclaiming to a public audience that lead exposure doesn't matter enough for someone to be concerned is pretty irresponsible. Luckily there's enough solid information on this board to counter your post and I hope everyone reading this realizes that.

And lead exposure is directly tied to your business whether you like it or not. (You make molds for pouring molten lead into, after all.)

Your main advertising avenue seems to be this forum,  and so you've stated that your company policy is to tell anyone who asks your advice to "Go suck an Egg".

Several have mentioned so far that they think this is an obviously unwise business decision, but you're an adult and this is still a (somewhat) free country. Do what you want.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Maybe it boils down to we are not dealing with something that is common knowledge.  How is one to know what alloys to use, what temperature the pot should be maintaining.  Bottom pour vs dipping, iron/steel vs aluminum moulds.  Types of lubes, proper sizing dimensions the list goes on.

Where does one obtain said informaition - the manual that came with the casting equipment, or if one obtained used equipment without a manual one had better of obtained one.

Turns out the written word also contains the appropriate cautionary info concerning lead exposure.  Failing that one could google casting bullets cautions.  First listed is Tacticool products - lead safety.

I am beginning to understand why Claymore Mines have "Front Towards Enemy" cast into the front cover.

The billions spent on Flu season precautions also seem to be terribly misspent.

[Dick Dastardly]

Each and every Big Lube®LLC mold comes with the following warning.

WARNING

Melting lead and casting objects will expose you and others in the area to lead, which is known to cause birth defects, other reproductive harm and cancer.

That warning is an industry standard.  Lyman, LEE and others use similar disclaimers.  This warning is repeated on both sides of the product sheet.

Just how to avoid excess exposure is not explained.  OSHA information, as already posted, is readily available to the person wanting to learn about exposure to lead.

DD-MDA

[Cuts Crooked]

DD has been coming here since the day this place opened. And he has been at the head of line when comes time to help others.

This is the very first time he has felt the need do a small rant....I can give him a break for that. Every once in a while I get on my soap box too, so do many others. No one is here is much hurt by this, it's the way of life so to speak.

Time to let this one go.