Someone has asked about lead poisoning from tank miniatures, specifically turret turning, do PP miniatures contain lead?
I cannot see any information on the PP website.
Thank you and best wishes,
Martin, from a small village near Grimsby
PP figures and tanks are about 8% lead. The rest is tin etc.
Please do not ingest figures or models.
There is no lead poisoning risk from this sort of amount, but I repeat that models should not be ingested. This is due to the sharp points more than the lead.
I handle a very large amount of metal. I do wash after a casting session. I would handle the equivalent of 100 tanks in a mould making session.
If folk are very worried they should not turn the turrets. Just glue them in place or varnish it.
martin :)
Having been in the business for forty years now, and working with molten white metal almost every day, I've made a point of getting my lead levels checked every few years - if you ask your GP when you're having blood tests done for anything else, they can add a lead test to the form (you may have to ask firmly, because it costs the NHS a little more!) - I've never shown anything more than a fractional rise above the Joe Public average, and certainly nowhere near the sort of level when my GP would be at all concerned.
As Martin says, just be sensible* - wash your hands after handing any unpainted stuff, don't chew or lick your miniatures, and you'll be fine....
Swallowing figures might kill you, but it'll be due to the spiky bits ripping your insides to shreds rather than the lead content. ;)
* "Make something idiot-proof, and Nature will just build a better idiot..."
Jon.
Indeed Jon. Useful input.
martin :)
As the saying goes in my line of work when I train Curators in object marking techniques... the only real COSHH guidelines you need are wash your hands and don't drink the paint! Everything in moderation.
I don't know whether there is a secret recipe or guild for casters out there but I notice figure metal quality is quite variable. Essex are noticeably easier to work than Minifigs which is easier than AB and other lead-free pewter devotees. Piggy men are harder to drill but hold detail better.
Neil
Martin,
Thank you for the information on lead content I have passed it on.
Jon and Neil,
Thank you both for input. As an ex industrial chemist I'm a big believer in hand washer and never underestimating the ability of idiots to completely screw something up no matter how simple you make it.
Best wishes,
Martin from a small village near Grimsby
Essex use a 60% tin 40% lead. It is called "L" in the trade. It is much cheaper and easier to drill/file.
martin :)
Quote from: martin goddard on August 04, 2025, 09:16:47 PMEssex use a 60% tin 40% lead. It is called "L" in the trade. It is much cheaper and easier to drill/file.
martin :)
Thanks for the info Martin. I am grateful L is softer to work since I use a pin vice for all my head swaps, wire spears etc. Soon to clock up my three score years, it is harder going... The PP 'head wiggle' replacement method with the better quality metal certainly helps things along though.
Neil