Homax 5250 Household Lead Test Kit
by Homax
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List Price: Our Price: $10.44 You Save: $1.55 (13%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $6.49 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Homax 5250 Household Lead Test Kit
Customer Review: There IS a better option.
Summary: 2 Stars
As a previous review mentioned, the color change is ambiguous. Is it red or orange or what? If it changes color at all, does that mean lead is present? The instructions aren't clear on that point. What the packaging doesn't tell you is that if what you want to test is painted red, this testing kit cannot be used since a positive result is shown by the surface turning "red" or "pink." Now I have to find a different tester not only to test red paint but also to confirm the orange result of this testing kit. Save your money and just buy another brand from the start.
*I tried another brand, the First Alert Lead Test Kit, and it does have an option for testing dark-colored items, with a quantitative result chart that shows approximately how much lead is present in your sample, as opposed to the quick swab yes/no (more like "huh?") result this lesser Homax test. Get The First Alert Lead Test instead.
**FINAL EDIT: Both of the aforementioned lead test kits gave false positive results. Unfortunately, I found out only after I'd already hired a lead abatement firm, whose professional detection equipment confirmed there was no lead where these little test kits had shown positive results. Save your money for the pros and get an accurate result before you start worrying like I did for no reason.
Customer Review: These worked great. Instructions could be better
Summary: 4 Stars
I wanted to test the paint in our room before i started sanding. At first everything I tested went was from a yellow to a sort of an yellow orange color, which the instructions did not explain. After spending sometime on there website I found orange signifies barium which is a lead substitute. Also I tested some paint in another area and got purple, which signifies there is tin in the paint. Eventually I came a cross a painted area inside our air ducts behind the vent. (Why the inside of our vent was painted i have no idea) I tested this and it turned a reddish pink. There is a detailed color chart on there website which i compared it to and it was around 8% lead. Yikes. guess I will be removing my ductwork.
After doing a few of these tests I learned to lightly rub the tip of the tester into the paint for 30 seconds, don't mash it in too hard or you wont get good results.
All in all this worked great. They really should put the information on there website in the instructions though.
Customer Review: Packaging flaw
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought 5 packs. The outside of the box says up to 4 tests. However, be warned that the only way you can use ONE swab again, is if you get a negative reading. Once you activate a swab, you get two minutes to use it. I read on Consumer Reports that they had some swabs change colors after 2 hours. So...2 mins-2 hours? I opted to not reuse a swab. Secondly, I had 10 possible swabs. 4 swabs did not works. The liquid was not in there, or it was already crushed. Then I had 1 swab break thru the outer shell and prick my finger with the glass. Other than that, I suppose they worked. I will know for sure in a few weeks when I get my house tested professionally, and update my review.Customer Review: Quick answer as to whether or not lead is present
Summary: 4 Stars
This requires that you read the directions first. How it is used/applied varies on what type of surface you're testing. I ordered this kit over others after its good consumer report review. I'm not 100% confident that I did it correctly, but my results that I didn't have lead present. I would use the second test to confirm but I already applied that to the affected area without reading the directions (saying that I need to use water) so I'd already botched that one. Thanks amazon for carrying this as none of the big boxed stores in my area had lead testing kits. Good luck and I hope you're lead-free!Customer Review: Great, but needs better instructions.
Summary: 4 Stars
Like a previous reviewer, I received an "orange" result after testing a vintage (late 1960s) enamelware pot. I searched around and found out that means it likely contains barium. Since Barium is a lead substitute in enamelware, I am fairly confident that the inside of the pot is lead free. Tested the outside of the pot where there is a bright orange stripe, and the swab came back immediately pink, indicating lead. I felt happy with the clarity of the positive result. I wish the instructions had explained about the possibility of an orange result, though.