Suicide-by-model: sniffing paint fumes

Maybe this is why Barrow Minilow doesnt make models ;-)

It's a bit unrelated, but the subject "Suicide-by-model: sniffing paint fumes" provides a pretty good excuse to tell the following story:

About, oh ... twelwe years ago, when I lost interest in the hobby, I put all the various types of glues I had in an empty jar -- you know, one of those sealable jars you would put home-made jam in -- and put it in a cardboard box with all the other hobby-related stuff I had and placed it on top of a shelf in the basement.

Then, when I got back into the hobby a few years ago, I went down into the basement to get the box and see what would be of any use. I placed the box on the kitchen table and opened it. Well, I found my old air- brush ... and noticed a mysterious jar underneath with some whitish liquid inside.

I couldn't remember and couldn't figure out what it was so I opened the jar and took a carefull sniff ...

... After which I somehow managed to crawl outside of the house where I regained my senses enough to figure out that it had been filled with various types of glues which over time had dissolved everything inside the jar. :-P

The vapours were strong enough to damage the paint on the wall next to where I'd opened it and gave me a headache which lasted for over two weeks ...

Any idea how it got into Vess's vaporizer? ;-)

WmB

To reply, get the HECK out of there snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net

I guess the people I gave it to for safe disposal must have resold it as nose-drops or something ...

Don't fight it...you'll only make it worse...just relax, and breathe deeply...

Around these parts everyone seems to sell the 3M product. What brand are you using? You're not looking for a "dust mask"-you need what's called a respirator with replacable cartridges. The cartridges I'm using presently are good all the way up to Methyl Ethyl Ketone. The respirator can be the nose/mouth style or full face.

Additionally I've been told these things don't work well with beards because they don't seal well. Got a beard? The respirator should be made of a rubber/vinyl compound so it will mold to your face. hth

The Keeper (of too much crap!)

So that's what a Colorado Rocky Mountain high is!

;)

Bill Banaszak, MFE

In news:1gl1nzi.1ouky6o1xhgk84N% snipped-for-privacy@zzzzonnet.nl.invalid, Harro de Jong bitched and moaned:

A dust mask dipped in water work well for me when I was doing rust cutting and priming on cars a few years back.

The one I'm using has no brand information on it. It's a $25 disposable mask, basically one step up from a basic dust mask. I'll go try and find a respirator. Thanks!

And end up like you? ;-P

if my house was that neat, i'd be lost.

You say that like it's a BAD thing...;)

Sound awfully familiar when working with the various dust masks. I figured enough was enough, and bought a gas mask. Given that I have a beard, this doesn't offer total protection, but it keeps most of the thinners and paint out of my lungs, and I can paint without any noticeable effects (other than the ever widening grin when the results are good:-). Off course, once the entire paint room is saturated with paint and thinner, even this mask throws the towel into the ring.

Rob

I was having this problem as well. My paint booth is in the ngarage, but I moved it closer to the door (at the time to make room for more firewood) and now I paint with the garage door open and a dust mask over my yap. Its reduced the problem somewhat.....

-- John The history of things that didn't happen has never been written. . - - - Henry Kissinger

$25 should buy you a decent respirator. Does your present one have a replacable fabric or foam filter? That's good for woodworking or maybe resin sanding.

For those of you that use US Safety respirators, I have some extra 21845 cartidges (NIB) ov/ag/p100 which are good for MEK and down. Box of 4. hth

The Keeper (of too much crap!)

to prevent slowly poisoning myself?>>

Not sure what mask you may be using, but there's definitely a leakage problem. If the mask you're using isn't an actual industrial respirator, chuck it and get one. If you have an automotive paint supplier handy go there and try on a few different masks of different brands and sizes. The two main criteria are: it absolutely MUST fit properly, and it MUST have filters for organic materials. Some have single cartridge filters, some have double--single is sufficient for modeling. Remove the filter if it's already installed and cover the inlet with tape or its protective cap if it has one. Put the mask on with the straps reasonably snug (not tight) and breathe in; if it seals properly you should not get any air. Try as many different masks as needed until you get one that seals. It took me almost a dozen tries to get the right one. The counter clerk didn't like it, but I told him these are MY lungs, not yours, shut up. If you have a beard you won't get a complete seal--consider shaving. After you find the right one, then you can consider buying it or getting the same one online, but if you buy online, make sure you get the EXACT same one, brand, model,size, etc or your tests have been pointless. Before you use it, rub your face well with some skin creme; the softer and smoother your skin is the better the seal. DO NOT use Vaseline! It can attack the materials in the mask. You also might consider the exhaust fan in your booth. Is it moving enough air to clear the fumes well? As a test, leave the fan turned off, spray the booth full, then flip the fan on. If it hasn't cleared completely by the time you count to five (I prefer three) you need a bigger fan. The new booth I'm building has a fan out of an old microwave oven, and it moves plenty of air. Ok, I'm done, hope this helps.

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. --Leonardo Da Vinci EAA # 729686 delete .mil.nav to email

Don't get me wrong here, but a water-based condom lubricant is probably the safest for both your skin and the mask. And you can have a banana-flavored one if you like...

I do not want to think about banana flavored condom lubricant thank you.....

you could always go jerkin the gherkin and lube it for free :-o