Horrible History
Lead the Way: The Ancient Poison That’s Still Ruining Lives
We always knew lead was poisonous. So why is it in everything?
I was talking to my grandfather the other day about my work as a jeweler.
Soldering is a big part of my production process, as it is for most metal artists. It’s possible to create pieces without it if you’re clever, but you often need a way to ‘glue’ components together for intricate creations.
With solder, I can create truly incredible pieces out of a pile of scraps and a dream. I place the pieces together in the configuration I want, lay the solder along the join, and apply heat with a torch.
Voilà! The solder melts and fills the gaps, and as it cools, it becomes a solid form.
This allows me to assemble small pieces into complex works of art. Soldering can be used to manufacture just about anything, including bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. I’ve even used solder to make little silver boxes and knick-knacks for display.
It’s like glue; a solid solder seam will never come apart, making a durable join.
My grandfather asked me if I used lead as solder, which was typical when he worked fixing cars as a young man. I quickly…
