Do you want me to test your fidget spinner for lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic?
I would LOVE to test your fidget spinner!
Note: While the consumer available swab test (that you can buy at most hardware stores) might work for some fidget spinners they will not detect lead in most spinners and they will not detect other toxicants like mercury, arsenic and cadmium. An XRF instrument is needed for that. The XRF is a scientific instrument that gives quantitative results (for lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic) for any item you test with it. Learn more about XRF testing here and here. Thank you!
The thing is, since I posted these videos this past weekend and since the press picked up the story a bit, everyone is asking me “Which spinner is safe?”
I don’t yet have an answer for that as there are so many different kinds and I haven’t tested enough to have an answer. I need more data points.
The other problem has been that the spinners I have tested so far have not had any specific branding on them, so I’m also not yet in a position to say “Stay away from this brand” or “Only buy this brand.”
Carissa and I came up with a plan that would make it possible for me to test as many different brands and types of fidget spinners as you (my friends, fans and followers) want me to test!
The plan in short: You send me your spinner, along with a small contribution ($10) to help cover the rental of the testing instrument + $3 to cover return postage (if you want it back) and I will test your spinner the weekend of June 16-17-18 and post each spinner tested here on my blog, with a photo, manufacturer (if known) place purchased, purchase price, levels for lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic and any other information that is available. This will help to create a fidget spinner toxicity database of a sorts – on my blog.
You will be doing this for your own information but also for the benefit of everyone else out there asking questions… so you will be participating in a grassroots movement that helps parents everywhere.
So… do you want me to test your spinner?
- Send me your spinner OR order a spinner online and have it sent directly to me.
My home address is: Tamara Rubin, 7933 Se 15th Avenue, Portland, Or 97202 - IF you have one sent directly to me from the company PLEASE make sure your name is somewhere on the package (so, for example send it to YOUR NAME, c/o ME., or you could include a gift receipt with your name.)
- PayPal via “send money” $10 (or $13 if you want the spinner sent back to you) to TamaraRubin@mac.com
- Email me with a note with “#FidgetSpinnerTesting” in the subject line to let me know that you have sent a spinner and what your RETURN MAILING ADDRESS is, if you want me to send it back.
- Sit back and wait for me to do the testing and report the results! (the week following June 18th)
- If enough people contribute I may be able to rent the instrument for a full week to test more spinners… but the weekly rental ranges from $1,500 – $1,800, so I would need to get 150 spinners in to test to make that happen! [But wouldn’t that be terrific to test that many!]
As always, please let me know if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Tamara Rubin
“Unexpected Lead Expert”
I call bull shit
Why?
It’s true they have Mercury to lubricate the ball bearings
I have not heard this at all and have not found anything in my testing that would indicate this.
I have 3 that I would like you to test. Is it still $10.00 plus 3.00? Or 10.00 each?
$10 each, plus return shipping.
Is it $13 per spinner you test if I want them back?
It’s $10 per spinner I test plus $ for postage for me to send back to you, usually about $3 for one or two depending on how heavy they are. You can send the testing contribution first and then follow up with the postage contribution once you know how much that will be (once you send it).
My name is Omar Hagen. I have two children a son and daughter, who are two and four we avidly collect fidget Spinners bar are pruned not to buy cheap knock-offs. Even though we do have some, I have purchased a few brass ones which come to find out do contain lead. I was interested in possibly having them tested to see how much laid my children do not play with these these are for my personal use. Which I would most likely need to keep bees away from the kids at all times
If you want you can email me pictures of the spinners you have first and I will let you know if anyone else is already sending those in… so you can send me only the other ones I am curious to test (as I expect they might have lead.)
Have you tested RoseGal fidget spinners? I would be willing to pay for that
I have not. 🙂
what if you are local to Portland area?
I have about 7 fidgets and i dont think I can afford to have them all tested. All of mine are made of stainless steel, alluminum, or brass. No painted plastic spinners
You can bring them by – or share pics with me and I can tell you what my best guess is… best place to post pics is via Facebook. http://www.Facebook.com/MisleadMovie
Have you tested the Vibe brand spinners from Walmart?
I have two fidget spinners that I’d like you to test. Can I send you a check for the testing and shipping? I don’t use paypal
sure
Are you still able to test spinners? I had heard about the lead scare in them, so purchased one that was supposedly made with high standards. It is painted metal though, so it worries me to give to my son without really knowing…..I am happy to pay the fee and shipping for it…..Thank you!
yes!
Let me know if you need the link with the details.
Yes, that would be great! And when would you be able to test it?
Can I still send a spinner to be tested??
Sure – but the turn around may be 4 to 8 weeks, depending on when it lands and when I am doing testing.
I have 3 I would like tested. $13 each or is it $13 per person sending? When would you be able to do them and get them back to me? Thank you!
Are you still testing spinners. We have a four year old and a spinner and want to test it for piece of mind.
I am! I will update this post, but the details are pretty much the same. I am doing testing once a month – so depending on when you get it to me it could be a bit before I test it.