How Toxic Is This Stuff?

[Mayawizard]

So i have been really working hard on this project for about 5 days, resining, bondoing, sanding etc every day......i keep getting whiffs here and there of the chems. and the question is...is that going to be alright? what i mean is...how much and how many times do you need to be around it before it becomes hazardous to your health for good. and also...should i change after using, sometimes i can smell things on my cloths...like i did tonight on my hat. how bad is breathing in the fumes every once and a while.?



Thanks



~Mayawizard

 

[sik1276]

So i have been really working hard on this project for about 5 days, resining, bondoing, sanding etc every day......i keep getting whiffs here and there of the chems. and the question is...is that going to be alright? what i mean is...how much and how many times do you need to be around it before it becomes hazardous to your health for good. and also...should i change after using, sometimes i can smell things on my cloths...like i did tonight on my hat. how bad is breathing in the fumes every once and a while.?



Thanks



~Mayawizard

You mean like after you take the respirator and you accidently get a whiff? Shouldn't be too serious as reaction stuff are done

 

[Brandon McClain]

I generally wash my stuff when its done. The whiffs won't get you too bad, they still aren't healthy, its prolonged exposure that's bad. Even 15 minutes will give you a headache/lightheaded/high feeling, which is your body telling you that what you are doing is not kosher. The VOCs from Bondo and resin are really bad news. Its an easy way to make yourself stupid fast. I don't take my respirator off until I am inside the house and it goes into its own ziploc bag (which also helps to preserve the life of your filter canisters) I wash up outside, Brake fluid or rubbing compound (for polishing cars) works really well to get resin off. Use that then wash with soap and water and you are good as new. Bondo and resin won't come out of clothes, but you can wash them to eliminate the smell. I also double or triple bag my garbage, more if I can still smell it. Then I use a fan to air out the area I was working in. Might seem a little excessive, but those VOCs are nasty buggers.

 

[Heatshock]

agreed - I am not as exacting as brandon

but I actually have a set of overalls that go over my regular clothes when I am working with resin/bondo

the vapours are nasty. A whiff here and there wont kill yer, but best to avoid as much as possible



now remember - the styrene fumes themselves are cancer causing

once set, the smell can sometimes still be present btu shuold be "safe"

when sanding - although solid bondo is not cancer causing - the particilate dust is nasty for your lungs too.



nice tip abt the respirator into zip log bags - must start doing that!



Nate

 

[CPU64]

Never had to wear a respirator working with resin outside. It will get to you if:

1. you work indoors.

2. You're glassing your helmet while wearing it.



Also some people are more sensitive. My mother says she can smell spray paint even before I start to spray, and immediately gets a headache. Doesn't bother me much.

 

[gakkengod]

as much as Brandon hates how i go about it: It is VERY TOXIC. but do not use a respirator, I work in a highly ventilated room. semi outdoors.

 

[Brandon McClain]

As far as not needing fumes outside, not all VOCs are easy or even possible to smell. Just because you can't smell them, doesn't mean they aren't there and aren't dangerous. Always wear a respirator. ALWAYS. If you read the instructions on the side it says use in a well ventilated area and to avoid exposure to dust and/or fumes (resin just says fumes). Both body filler (Bondo) and resin are known carcinogens (cause cancer) and both declare it on the label. The resin even states that repeated exposure to the vapors can cause serious brain AND nervous system damage. So when I say if you want to make yourself stupid fast that not wearing a respirator is an easy way to do it, I mean it. So be smart. Wear a respirator. Read safety labels. Follow instructions. And most of all, HAVE FUN!!!!



PS, you will find some paper respirators that say they are rated for fiberglass, that means the dust from sanding, not the VOCs (fumes) from resin. You need a filter that seals around your mouth and nose, and whose canisters are rated for VOCs!