False positive on DIY lead test?

[vanhelgan]

Hope this is the right board to post on...

I have an old pine chest that I was wanting to renovate (wax finish). When I was given it it had a painted finish. Even though the paint was chipped in places it didn't look like desperately old - perhaps 5-10 years at a guess. Anyway - as I was pregnant at the time I did a DIY lead test (on a paint/bare wood patch) which came back immediate strong positive.

We had the chest stripped professionally and I've now come back to it with the plan of sanding and waxing it. As I had the second lead test in the pack I thought I'd just check(!!) and did it on the now visibly bare wood. Lo and behold strong positive again

I've spoken to the technical advisor on the number given by the test and they've just told me that positive indicates lead - full stop. On the one hand with small kids in the house I feel like just ditching the chest and forgetting it. That said if it is not a true result it would be a lovely and useful item of furniture which we cannot really afford to replace. I also don't want to pass on the problem to someone else. Can the lead really leach from the coating into the wood like this? I was under the impression that the coating was the concern - advice is usually just to strip it away.

Any thoughts appreciated!

 

[joe-90]

It's been decades since lead was used in paint. Sounds like a false positive to me.

Anyway, you have to chew on lead paint like toddlers do to be at risk. I'd simply go ahead and wax it if it were mine.

 

[vanhelgan]

Thanks for your reply. How about the sanding though? - it's going to be dusty. Like you I really struggle to believe this result but am finding it a bit difficult to ignore with small children in the house especially when the advisor seemed to discount a false result? Wish I'd never tested tbh!

 

[joe-90]

Sand it outside with a good mask and I reckon you'll be fine. The wax will seal anything left behind.

They say that our houses are full of asbestos fibres and we all breath passive smoke and exhaust fumes - all more dangerous. Just don't chew the box.

 

[vanhelgan]

Thanks - I think that's exactly what I will do.