[TheForge] Fluorospar (was: Flux, was rust & pickling)

Thu Aug 21 11:49:00 2003

Thank you for the concern - I am aware of the quite nasty effects of F=20=

and plan on only using this flux sparingly, within the confines of my=20
forge hearth which is a reasonable approximation of a vent hood (ours=20
has a particularly large pipe and a good draw.) I planned on=20
approaching it cautiously, and will use a remote-intake respirator as=20
well. Luckily the grade of coal I can get produces lots of smoke, a=20
good visual indicator to the hood draw conditions.

I investigated hazards of inorganic fluorides when experimenting with=20
aluminum welding flux. Most of these contain lithium fluoride, also=20
quite nasty. I haven't done much more attempts at gas welding aluminum=20=

as a consequence.

Thanks again for you comments, Bruce,  and I suggest to anyone else=20
using or thinking of using some of these compounds that they take=20
whatever measures needed to ensure the exposure is kept within exposure=20=

limits - for many fluorides it is less than 2.5 PARTS PER MILLION. For=20=

flouring gas (some of which is likely produces when melting fluorspar)=20=

an msds list exposure limits at only
1 part per million, in the US. Germany lists it as 1 part per ten=20
million.

On Thursday, August 21, 2003, at 08:49 AM, Bruce Freeman wrote:

> Let me throw in my 2 cents on fluorospar.
>
> Any time you see that "fluoro" in a chemical or mineral name, there's=20=

> a good chance there's fluoride present.  Inorganic fluoride is the=20
> same thing put in water for the good of your teeth, but in much=20
> greater concentrations is a toxin.  If you're working with=20
> fluoride-containing flux, you're exposing yourself to potentially=20
> toxic fluoride levels.  You're fre to do that if you like, but I'd=20
> suggest you read up on it first, and not just plunge in.
>
> Try an MSDS for sodium fluoride as a starting point.
>
> Bruce
> NJ
				Cameron Stoker
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