Epoxy allergies - options?

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by Lady Sophie, Dec 13, 2012.

  1. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Nitrile is the way to go. I cant remember the price of a box. Even nitrile glove make my hands sweat. I only use them when the job is messy and solvent intensive. . For everyday work like Silka flex or painting, I use the big rubber gloves that they sell for washing dishes or cotton gardeners gloves.

    There is a company called Clics who make the best lightduty, everyday, safety glasses that you will ever wear. Since they are always on your neck ,you always have them ready for use. Well worth buying a few pairs. Most shops who sell work clothing stock them http://www.clicgoggles.com/index.html
     
  2. NY50
    Joined: Jan 2013
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    Location: Crotone

    NY50 New Member

    with direct contact you have imediate itch and local rednes (at the site of contact) and if not treated it can last for a several days.
    breathing epoxy can give the breath problems as asma and it last for minutes (10-60 minutes), the light rash and les strong itch than that with direct contact are due to smal amout of epoxy molecola "flying" in the air and coming in contact with your skin while you breath epoxy.
    we are talking about two diferent kind of allergy. the firs is CONTACT DERMATITIS, the second one is IgE MEDIATE ALLERGY.
    normaly (99%) we have contact dermatitis, only 1% are asma kind.
    using the breathing mask is very important because of toxicity not for this 1%.
    gloves are important because of contact dermatitis.
    hope this can be useful...
     
  3. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    A great thread. I am planning on a new strategy for a larger build project after reading all this information.

    Looks like I will use some of the old electric motors lying around to do an extraction system, and will get better breathing gear.

    One of those setups used by spray painters would mean I could do quality paintwork as well as be safer with epoxy. Sounds like a good investment.
     
  4. BPL
    Joined: Dec 2011
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    BPL Senior Member

    Thanks again. I'm not sure if I somehow brushed against epoxy and got it on my arms at the top of my gloves or what. I didn't find any there when I washed up. The light rash showed up the night after my second round of epoxying. It was itchy but not as bad as poison ivy. I was using lined latex yellow kitchen gloves. Nitrile gloves, a tyvek suit, and a respirator are on my shopping list.
     
  5. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    A beautiful shop tool is a sanding table. Its a 4x8 or whatever size plywoood table surface that is perforated by slots cut with a router , with a dust extraction system underneath. All big shops who build a lot of yacht components and furniture ,use them.

    Another common featue in boat building sheds is a central vacume system. The main shop vac is outside of the work area so that it doesnt stir up dust and make noise. Overhead PVC pipe connects your work area to the vac. You plug in your tool dust hose or a handy flex hose to the overhead PVC for clean up, a simple wall mount switch energizes the vac.

    When you go to composites or paint sheds they are always clean.

    These cheap " dust Cylone" type attachments for typical small size shop vacs are popular and prolong the working life of your shopvac

    http://www.oneida-air.com/inventoryD.asp?item_no=AXD001004&CatId={6EE79B16-EB63-43E7-8F30-1E06240A24A4}
     
  6. NY50
    Joined: Jan 2013
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    Location: Crotone

    NY50 New Member

    very good idea!!!!!!!!!!
     
  7. El_Guero

    El_Guero Previous Member

    There are always people outside of the 'bell curve' who will react negatively to contaminants. It has been a long time for me, so I don't remember all the appropriate terminology.

    But, most epoxies can yield skin lesions regardless of method of contact.

    Poison Ivy does not itch. Me that is. I am one of those not bothered by exposure to Poison Ivy or Oak - It was hilarious to watch my brother run screaming the OTHER WAY when I mowed out the poison ivy in front of our home .....

    I still cannot tell you what Ivy or Oak look like for certain. I get into it, and other people around me get the rash ....

    :p

    But, I do not tempt chemicals or biologicals .... nasty stuff. And if you run into one you react with, you are gonna be a sick puppy ....
     

  8. El_Guero

    El_Guero Previous Member

    Sound investment.

    For most people, negative symptoms develop quickly once onset occurs.

    Most chemical exposures are like radiation exposure, it is LIFETIME CUMULATIVE .... exposure. Once you cross your exposure limit, there is NO GOING BACK .... That is just the way it is.
     
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