Here are some tips for safety while pregnant (or for anyone looking to up their safety game) from
@kaypeajewelry - “When I found out I was pregnant in May one of the first things I did was start worrying about the affects of the various fumes and chemicals that I work with in the studio. I started my research by reading the Metalsmith Society blog post on Jewelry Studio Safety while pregnant which had a a lot of great information and then asked other smiths who had worked while pregnant if they had any advice for me as well. Here are some of the changes I made to my studio to feel more confident about working while pregnant: -Eco Jewelry Handbook: I’ve been trying to be better informed about the chemicals I use for a while now and this book breaks down all sorts of options for things like flux, pickle, patina and more and gives each one a health rating. I highly recommend this book to everyone, pregnant or not! -Hakko Fume Extractor: this was my big purchase. I’ve been wanting to get one for a long time and finally decided to pull the trigger. This fume extractor is quiet and POWERFUL and pulls away all the fumes quickly while I solder. -Firescoff Flux: This has a top health rating in the Eco Jewelry Handbook and I find it to be easy to use with good results. -Salt + Vinegar Pickle: this also gets a top health rating from the Eco Jewelry Handbook. I had some trouble with this at first but discovered that you need to add way more salt than you think and use it super hot (just keep going until it doesn’t dissolve anymore). It also needs to be changed more often than the pH down I was using before.-Safety Glasses + Gloves: I especially take care to wear these when working with chemicals like black max. -Respirator: I used to be terrible about wearing this but now I make sure to err on the side of caution. If I can smell anything while working I will wear this, especially when using paste solder and when I do sand casting. I hope this helps some other expecting mamas out there who want to continue to work while pregnant! I’d love to hear other good tips from people who have worked throughout their pregnancy!” Thank you for compiling these helpful changes!
