Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

whiteshadow · Joined: 24 Jan 2011 Posts: 78

Hi,

I'm playing about with a 1933 Singer Saloon......Am I right to think that the paint/undercoat (to metal & wood) is likely to contain LEAD?!

If so what is the best way to remove it, without it getting airborne?

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

I must admit, when I restored my 1935 car I never thought of that Embarassed

m ind you there wasn't much paint left on the chassis and the bodywas pretty much 50% rust.
Laughing

It also never crossed my mind to grind or sand paint off like so many people seem to do. Paint-stripper must be the way to go or let a professional take the risk.

There are many ways to kill yourself with old cars and although I wouldn't underestimate the risk, I guess that the dust from grinding, fumes from fluids and welding and carcinogenic effects of oils and petrol fumes will contribute more to many restorers' ill-health than any lead in paint.

For the first 18 years of my life I probably consumed a chunk of lead with the cumulative effect of lead pipes for the house water supply. Rolling Eyes

Jim.Walker · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield

Kelsham · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 9:31 am Post subject:

I have often wondered about the danger, I grew up chewing lead sodiers, moved on to biting lead shot onto fishing lines.

Drank water through lead pipes. ground paint off several pre-war cars.

Worked in a brake manufacturer to top up the lot with a good layer of asbestos.

Moved on to working with ammonia gas and Banda fluid, the later was found to be a cumulative poison and discontinued.

I reach 70 in March, Much is probably down to genetic tolerance.

If you are concerned use paint stripper, not as good as it used to be, chemicals have been removed because they are dangerous to health.

Regards Kels.

Jim.Walker · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield

Kelsham · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:16 am Post subject:

Jim, The asbestos used to worry me.

Where I worked it used to build up on the rivetting equipment and the linisher. Occasionallythe owner would come down into the workshop and tell us the works inspector was due a visit.

We would then sweep the dust of everything and stand in clouds of it while it settled.

I mentioned it to my Mother when the news began to circulate about the danger of asbestos.

She told me she had worked during the war making aeroplane gaskets using blue asbestos.

She died recently at 95 of a heart attack. I am hoping I have the same genes.

Regards Kels.

welshrover · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326

they dont make folk like they used too kelsham. the older generation were as hard as iron Smile

woodbines , park drive no problem. my mate was 93 years old smoked parkdrives most of his life and still got around ok just a bit slower than when he was a lad ,well thats what he told me.
he was lucky to be alive .he told me a story when he was out in monte casino on patrol one night with his best mate,when a sniper shot at him but just missed him and killed his mate instead, so 93 was a good age after a close call like that. R.I.P. BILL Sad