resistors - safe against skin ?

Grimbal

This is a bit of an odd one

Does anyone know if a resistor (such as this one at Maplin) are safe for use in non-electrical settings like jewellery ? I have at best only a vague understanding of these things, but think they're made of ceramic materials ? Any nickel/lead etc?)

TIA

EssexExile

If they were dangerous, after 40 years in electronics I'd be dead by now. There could well be some "health & safety" rule about not eating them though.

Grimbal

Thanks EE, much appreciated. Just wondered if there were some trace elements in there that were vital to its function (eg Ni/Pb) that you'd obviously want to avoid if making into earrings. Have you spent much time with earlobe-located resistors ?

C_Mababejive

I think a nice variable capacitor makes a lovely necklace...

Will your resistance be low?

brightontraveller

Depends on type but most resistor itself is small rods of ceramic coated with metal (such as a nickel alloy) or a metal oxide (such as tin oxide)with lacquer coating, The wire itself can be made from a multitude of alloys really only manufacture could tell you

Some of the more common metal alloys that cause allergenic reactions in sensitive skin are Nickel, it dissolves in water and forms salts. Through sweating or washing, the salts get into the skin and cause itchy, painful reactions. Copper and cobalt

Hypoallergenic Metals that cause very few allergic reactions are
Niobium, Stainless Steel, Titanium etc with the more precious gold, platinumit’s often the alloys mixed with them that can cause a reaction

A good Lacquering would eliminate much of the problem, Chances are that those that would have a reaction would have for any jewellery apart from the hypoallergenic made ones e'g Niobium, Stainless Steel, Titanium

Geodark

Grimbal wrote: »

This is a bit of an odd one

Does anyone know if a resistor (such as this one at Maplin) are safe for use in non-electrical settings like jewellery ? I have at best only a vague understanding of these things, but think they're made of ceramic materials ? Any nickel/lead etc?)

TIA

are you making circuits with these? if so keep in mind that the solder you get may contain lead. Likewise if these are re-cycled parts you are using the solder originally used may have been lead based.

Mankysteve

Lead not used in any components now a days and the same goes with solder.

paddyrg

Mankysteve wrote: »

Lead not used in any components now a days and the same goes with solder.

Shame, the lead solder used to flow much nicer ;-)

Grimbal

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I think a nice variable capacitor makes a lovely necklace...

Will your resistance be low?

I'm hoping for low resistance from my customers, rather than myself

Grimbal

brightontraveller wrote: »

Depends on type but most resistor itself is small rods of ceramic coated with metal (such as a nickel alloy) or a metal oxide (such as tin oxide)with lacquer coating, The wire itself can be made from a multitude of alloys really only manufacture could tell you

Some of the more common metal alloys that cause allergenic reactions in sensitive skin are Nickel, it dissolves in water and forms salts. Through sweating or washing, the salts get into the skin and cause itchy, painful reactions. Copper and cobalt

Hypoallergenic Metals that cause very few allergic reactions are
Niobium, Stainless Steel, Titanium etc with the more precious gold, platinumit’s often the alloys mixed with them that can cause a reaction

A good Lacquering would eliminate much of the problem, Chances are that those that would have a reaction would have for any jewellery apart from the hypoallergenic made ones e'g Niobium, Stainless Steel, Titanium

perfect, thank you

System

Mankysteve wrote: »

Lead not used in any components now a days and the same goes with solder.

Fraid not. Standard multicore solder bought for electronic use is still 40% Lead, 60% Tin although you can buy lead free but it will be explicitly marked as such.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/?searchTerm=multicore%20solder&cm_mmc=UK-PPC-0914-_-google-_-2_Multicore+%281%29-_-Multicore_Soldering_%2Bmulticore+%2Bsolder_B&gclid=CNqB_qrescMCFbMatAoduh4A7g