I should use that on my fingers after a day of soldering, yikes.

I actually had my blood drawn years ago when I worked on pinball part time (lot of board work) and also reloaded/shot ammo a lot for another job.

My blood lead levels were a bit elevated. No intervention required but just trying to be proactively safe about it. I did and got checked a year later and things improved.

I wouldn’t expect to see much lead in the paints used on pinball machines but I’m wondering how far back we’d have to go to see them on cabinets if they were ever used.

After all, at one point tilt sensors were made out of mercury.

That was only briefly, something like 5 machines or so by Gottlieb. It was not popular or standard. That’s just a fake fact unfortunately. I’ve heard it a lot more lately and it bugs me. The old “ball and circuit” has worked in some variation for 70 years Mercury was just a flash in the pan with “the latest and greatest” at the time.

Yep! The way cabinets from the 60s and 70s flake off tells you they’re definitely lead paint. If they taste sweet that’s also a bad sign

But unless you’re working with EMs you’re fine. Lead paint was not popular for finely detailed work. Just fast large batches like commercial jobs, such as cabinets!

Thanks for sharing your results. But, maybe add date(s) to thread title to clarify?

I work on EMs and I have some lead test kits, but have been too lazy to use them.

Not for commercial use, though.

My Williams Mardi Gras and Tom Tom have have mercury switches in them. I have a few other games from that era that probably have them also (haven't checked).

I have sanded back 1978 joker poker, 1975 el dorado and 1977 centigrade 37 cabinets. I wore a mask. Didn't realise lead would be an issue. What precautions should I be taking in the future?

I use citrus stripper to remove paint from my EM cabinets, it gets 99% of it off. But I never tested for lead.

I tested my Drop-A-Card (1971) several years ago and it tested negative for lead.

I worked in auto-body in 84-85 and every can of car paint had a "Contains Lead" warning label. I sanded down a lot of cars back then and I'm still kicking. I wouldn't sweat it if you've sanded down a suspect cabinet and are worried if you poisoned yourself. Lead is way more dangerous to small children than adults.

Also, I'd be more worried about using or (especially) working in an indoor pistol range. Imagine how much lead dust is floating around...

Studies have been done on that, and the results are not good.

What studies?

If you have evidence, post it.

I tested a 1969 Williams- Smart Set pinball machine. No lead present. You never know, best to get a test kit. Super easy and cheap.

This is very true! Lead is like mercury, the danger is severely overhyped and even hobby usage is extremely unlikely to amount to dangerous levels. Work/commercial environments are where I’d be worried.
Worth mentioning that soldering is one of the of the more dangerous as that is direct lead vapors and that stuff can add up way quicker than you think.

I’m shocked that the DAC cabinet tested negative for lead considering the paint flakes off exactly like lead paint does..

That's not lead vapor coming off your soldering, it's the flux. Not that you should breathe that either, but unless you're soldering >1500F, it's safe.

Don't hold the leaded solder and then lick your fingers, of course. Wear gloves or wash your hands before eating.

Hell - not only do I lick my fingers after soldering, I lick what I soldered, to make sure I don't have a cold solder joint!