Which if any manufacturers are making figures with lead? (1 Viewer)

[Kurt]

I was under the impression that most toy soldiers were still made of lead, but was told recently that most if not all manufacturers stopped using lead many years ago. Can anyone confirm that lead is no longer used and if so what year they stopped using it (some of my figures are about 12 years old).

Here are the makers I am asking about:

King & Country
Aeroart/St. Petersburg Collection
First Legion
W. Britains
The Collectors Showcase

 

[katana]

Tin is the primary metal used today in Toy Soldiers. The material is an alloy of several metals and will vary with the manufacturer. Lead is verbotten due to toxicity.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I think William Britain stopped in 1966.

 

[theBaron]

Actualy, lead is not forbidden, just regulated as to the percentage of lead in things like metal alloys used in consumer products.

Today's casters use an alloy that is referred to as "white metal", which is generally an alloy of tin, antimony or bismuth, and lead. Each metal has its own qualities. Tin by itself is too brittle, and castings made of pure tin would tend to crack or break. Lead, by constrast, is soft and it's been used for centuries in an alloy with tin, to reduce that brittleness. Antimony and bismuth both help when casting objects with intricate detail, imparting the quality of casting and retaining fine details. For toy soldiers and model figures, the alloys are going to be at least 80% tin, or even higher, with the antimony or bismuth forming most of the remaining mix, and 5% or less of lead. Those are the proportions I use myself, roughly estimated, when I cast. Though, when I use silicon rubber molds, I'll add a little more lead to the mix, compared to casting with bronze or zinc molds. I get better results with the silicon rubber molds and a little more lead in the mix.

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

Also, if you have older figures, made prior to the late Sixties, do not worry that you're going to get lead poisoning from them. Just don't chew on them.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Kurt]

So, most makers could be using as much as 5% lead?!

 

[theBaron]

So, most makers could be using as much as 5% lead?!

Possibly!!!!!!!

Lead is a naturally-occurring element, and it's used in many things. Like I said, you have nothing to worry about, unless you've been licking your toy soldiers.

Prost!
Brad

 

[katana]

A business must meet safety standards established by the country in which they operate and to which they sell. Modern Pewter is 99% Tin alloyed with less than 1% Antimony and Bismuth typically. Hobby casters may include some portion of Lead; but Lead is a toxic sustance and should be avoided in the interest of safety IMO.

 

[tdubel]

I am not going to quote any manufacturers, but I can tell you that a few still have as Brad described lead in the quantities he portrays.

"White" metal is a term. Katana - I hate to break it to you, but it is more than 1%. Last time I saw my toy soldiers boxes, I can't find one that is marked "Lead Free".

And as Brad said, to all , stop chewing on your soldiers and you will have nothing to worry about.

TD

 

[theBaron]

A business must meet safety standards established by the country in which they operate and to which they sell. Modern Pewter is 99% Tin alloyed with less than 1% Antimony and Bismuth typically. Hobby casters may include some portion of Lead; but Lead is a toxic sustance and should be avoided in the interest of safety IMO.

You can always contact the manufacturer and ask, and then call the EPA, if you're worried about figure makers breaking the law. Lead is not plutonium, you're not going to get poisoned by a single touch, you need long exposure to it, to ingest or absorb the amounts necessary to cause problems.

Prost!
Brad

 

[blaster]

Tin is expensive, lead is cheaper. A tin/lead alloy of 60/40 has an eutectic point (lowest melting point) than pure metal. Variations to this percentage and addition of other metals will alter the mp. Home casting was usually done with low melting alloys but nowadays I think most industrial casting is done with pewter-like alloys.

Rgds Victor

 

[rpk]

I had bookmarked this thread on the forum from years ago that discussed the materials, including lead, that made up the products we collect. My understanding from that thread was that Conte, ONWTC and W.Britain, at that time, were lead free options. Given that the thread is almost 10 years old, things may have changed, and vendors have come and gone. I lean towards lead free if the choice exists. Just one less thing to worry about around the kids, even if the likelihood of them chewing on them is remote.