I have never thought about this issue before, but today a friend asked me whether a specific maker uses lead-containing solder. He also told me that some of the people he knows avoid that maker because of the lead.

As far as my high school chemistry knowledge goes, I don’t think lead-containing solder will have any effect on player’s health, since the lead is not in vapor form, and normally any leached lead from the solder would not go into player’s mouth or nose. Is my understanding correct? Or does anyone avoid makers that use lead-containing solder as well?

Also, my friend wants to know which maker uses lead-free solder as well. I know Yamaha uses lead-free solder since they advertise it, but I don’t know about other makers. Anyone has information on this?

Look at it another way. Is lead poisoning endemic in brass players? As far as the evidence suggests, no, it is not.

[quote="Burgerbob"]Look at it another way. Is lead poisoning endemic in brass players? As far as the evidence suggests, no, it is not.[/quote]

I thought so as well.

There is a law in Europe called the Reduction of Hazardous Substances Act (RoHS) that states the content of any product of four metals (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and hexavalent chromium) must be reduced (most to less than 1000 parts per million; cadmium less than 100 parts per million).

For musical instruments, the only metal of interest is lead. Metallic chromium as plated on slides is not regulated.

Manufacturers planning to sell in the EU had to find a solder with reduced lead content to meet this regulation, so nearly all manufacturers in the world opted to convert to this new material for all product made after 2006. As far as I understand it is not illegal to repair solder joints with the old solder.

There is an alloy of brass used for mouthpieces that has more than the approved amount of lead (it acts to help machining). I'd defer to the mouthpiece makers to let us know if they have stopped using this alloy. Most mouthpieces are plated (with silver, gold, or occasionally chromium) so you will not get in contact with the lead containing alloy, but older unplated mouthpieces could have a problem. I had one old one that I wanted to try playing and coated it with an epoxy polymer called Probimer to contain the old leaded brass.

From a user standpoint even an instrument with leaded solder will not have extensive contact with lead unless you happen to suck on the solder joints.

FWIW, I used to work as an analytical chemist testing solders for compliance with RoHS.

Which makers are using leaded solder, and which are using non-lead solder? I only know of one maker, Yamaha, that advertises specifically that they use lead free. How do you know what the other makers are using? Does it really matter?

I regularly sell new instruments to customers in Europe. I have never once been asked what I use.

And on the subject of lead, I had my blood lead level checked in November and it was 1.7

I have been handling and working with regular raw brass for over 40 years.

Look up for yourself what's considered elevated.

To echo Doug's comment, I've been soldering stuff pretty much every single day for the last 17 years of my work life. I also regularly play horns that I made. I had a blood test done about 6 months ago, and my lead levels were well within accepted numbers (I don't recall what that number was now)

The idea of dismissing, or favoring, a particular brand of instrument because they use a certain type of solder is ludicrous.