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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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23rd Nov 2019, 6:05 pm | #1 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 341
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Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Back in about 1983, I purchased a new an electric glue pot, which is used for heating animal glue, typically known by its brand name of 'Pearl'.
Recently, a friend of mine saw the glue pot and commented that the outer cladding of the mains cable has the appearance of being asbestos. I had never given this any thought, but now I am wondering. It hadn't occurred to me that any electric appliance made as recently as the 1980s could still be using asbestos, as I understood it had been phased out for health and safety reasons. Is there any easy way in which I could check this, please? I don't wish to take any unnecessary risks, so am inclined to change it if it really is what I'm suggesting. Many thanks.
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23rd Nov 2019, 6:37 pm | #2 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 2,085
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
That's too modern to have used asbestos, looks like nylon braid and strands
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23rd Nov 2019, 6:40 pm | #3 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
I doubt that asbestos was used that recently, but OTOH it does look a bit like asbestos. I think that it is more likely to be rayon covered or similar.
I would be inclined to replace it for two reasons, firstly just in case it IS asbestos, and secondly because it has started to perish at the termination. I suggest wearing a dust mask and doing the replacement outdoors. Any modern type of heat resisting flexible cord should suit. (I suspect that some asbestos covered cable was sold long after it was banned. Consider a small privately owned factory manufacturing specialist appliances. It seems possible that they might have carried on using asbestos flex until their stocks were exhausted. That could take some years. If the appliance was then kept un-sold on a distributors shelf for some more years, one might see how the odd appliance with an asbestos flex might be sold ten years or more after the ban.) |
23rd Nov 2019, 6:42 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,737
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Looks like nylon to me too.
Easiest way to find out is to apply a lighter or match to the frayed end. If it’s nylon, it will melt rather than char.
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23rd Nov 2019, 7:02 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,951
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
I'd be thinking it's more like spun-glass fibres. Though perhaps with asbestos included?
Either way, looking at how it's frayed and exposed the inner wires, I'd be replacing it. Silicone-jacketed heat-resistant flex is cheap and easily-available. https://www.screwfix.com/p/nexans-he...5m-white/5703t |
23rd Nov 2019, 7:11 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,583
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Certain forms of asbestos were still in common use in the 80s. Remember Artex? The authorities were incredibly slow to ban the stuff completely. All forms of asbestos were not banned in the UK until August 1999.
Alan Last edited by ajgriff; 23rd Nov 2019 at 7:18 pm. Reason: Additional Information |
23rd Nov 2019, 10:21 pm | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Scratby, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 648
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Hi,
I believe CAF (Compressed Asbestos Fibre) was still permitted for gaskets for certain gases (I can't remember which) until the early 2000's. Kind regards Dave Last edited by Dave757; 23rd Nov 2019 at 10:49 pm. |
23rd Nov 2019, 10:27 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
That flex looks very similar to the one on my Philips steam iron (new in 1987)
And do I spy an MK SafetyPlug...?
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Best Regards, Peter. Last edited by Lancs Lad; 23rd Nov 2019 at 10:44 pm. |
23rd Nov 2019, 11:30 pm | #9 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 682
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
One possiblity is to take a couple strands take them outside and put a Match to them .if it’s asbestos it won’t burn or disintegrate.
One other thing is the item double insulated as unless it’s hidden in the photo I can’t see an earth wire . Andy |
23rd Nov 2019, 11:42 pm | #10 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,800
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Nope, that looks like a BICC plug. Quite well made but a bit thin to grip for pulling out.
David
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24th Nov 2019, 12:46 am | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
It is a Legrand plug on my iron, David - but I actually meant the MK one on the glue pot!
See second picture in post #1.
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24th Nov 2019, 1:41 am | #12 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 209
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
I'm sure the asbestos queries will continue but if this was mine I'd change the cable entry grommet as the existing one shows a certain amount of disintegration and appears to have been slit end to end to allow fitting to the cable after connecting the conductors.I've been there many times.Peter.
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24th Nov 2019, 1:55 am | #13 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
I think that's probably a moulding mark, but the blue/brown wiring colour code would seem to me to make any asbestos in it's manufacture unlikely.
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24th Nov 2019, 10:44 am | #14 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 209
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
You're probably right about the moulding mark Bill,but if you look at the right hand clamp screw there appears to be a split in the rubber which whilst not life threatening will require attention at some time.Peter.
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24th Nov 2019, 12:09 pm | #15 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,527
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Whatever else might need attention, the strain relief arrangement at the pot end needs to be remade properly!
Hope it's better controlled at the plug end.
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24th Nov 2019, 7:51 pm | #16 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Gloucestershire, UK.
Posts: 1,043
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Hello,
It might be cotton covered which was quite common for heat resisting flexes at one time. Yours Richard |
25th Nov 2019, 12:52 pm | #17 | |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,583
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Quote:
I would reiterate what I said in an earlier post in that many things manufactured in the UK right up until the end of the last century could contain asbestos in some form or other. Furthermore it was still in widespread use in the early 80s when the cable in question was made. If it were my appliance I'd replace the cable with a silicone version along with the strain relief which is clearly perished. Alan |
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25th Nov 2019, 7:06 pm | #18 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,529
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
I have an iron with similar flex, used for iron on edging strip. Would be vintage 1988 probably. Pretty certain its some kind of cotton blend over rubber (hopefully silicon rubber).
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25th Nov 2019, 8:16 pm | #19 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,583
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
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26th Nov 2019, 10:34 am | #20 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,111
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Re: Is this appliance mains cable asbestos clad?
Asbestos flexibles tend to be 'fluffy' to the touch. That one looks like a modern-day 'heatproof' type, but without the garish colour.
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