Respirators and other safety tips for spraying sealant?

Put your room mate in a giant zipp-lock bag...?


Okay, serious now...
Hm... maybe you could look around for a community art center? I don't know where you live in Pennsylvania, but in some places there are such programs. Maybe you could find somewhere that might let you work?

Otherwise you might want to build some sort of rack that can hold doll parts evenly so you can put them on it, spray them lightly and then go back inside while they dry for a few minutes, and then bring them it. Just make sure that their temperature changes gradually, so nothing cracks. However, I'd say that when it it actually freezing, you would probably be ill advised to work with other people's dolls outside until you were sure of the effects.

 

Nothing really exists where I'm at in pa, I've recently moved to williamsport. But, it's nice to know if you stay outside as it dries it won't bead up or peel.

 

When I lived up north, I found that even with tons of snow, the air was still VERY dry. It's moisture that hurts faceups, so as long as you're not reaching, say, -38C (they canceled uni that day, lol), I should think it would be okay.

 

Taco: Thanks for telling me about what has happened to your Testor's. I think the Testor's doesn't really dry at all much below room temerature; it just sort of solidifies, like when you put on too much nail polish and you think it's dry until you reach into your pants pocket for something, and gouge the crap out of your nails... (sorry, I make analogies all the time ) Hence the white spots and peeling. I've spray painted in the winter before, and it got kind of gummy on me. I'm hoping to get around that problem...

Elasaid Aiden: Ha ha, zip-lock!
Yes, I agree it's not a good idea to have people pay me to experiment on their dolls. My boy's body is going to arrive in October, and we usually get our first snow in that month. I'll use him as a guinea pig.

My alma mater is actually a few blocks away, and I'm certain that they'd let me go there, but I was hoping to not have to truck everything over to the college everyday between full-time work and sleeping... It's a great idea, but my last resort.

Hi, thanks for the comment, but that's actually off topic for my question. In my original post, I stated that it was in fact very humid where I live. I'm concerned about what to do in freezing weather, not humidity or lack thereof. I really need proven information about this spray from people's personal experience, not speculation. I am taking this very seriously, as I am trying to expand my business of commissionable services. ​

 

I dry my doll's head with hairdryer if when it's humid
(or when i'm too impatient to wait for it to dry^^; )

As for the heater idea... it's not a good idea to spray it hear heat sources.
If you can bring up the whole room temperature with the heater to a decent point
and use hairdryer for extra heating to dry the head.. that might work out.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

I think your comment was really uncalled for. She was asking about MSC spraying in the winter and what other face-up artists do about this. Telling her about where you lived and the humidity didn't particularly help and from what I gathered she wanted to clarify what type of information she wanted from other users. I really think you should take some of your own advice about being snippy, because she clearly wasn't and you clearly are.

As for Ukelala, I hope you get your answers soon. You do really lovely work.

 

Wow, that was uncalled for.

I don't see where she was getting snippy when she specified she wanted personal experience. A savvy business owner, when confronted with a situation and a product that are subject to outside factors (such as the weather) is going to search out the most valid, worthwhile information regarding those outside factors before offering their product to the buying public. It'd be a very very poor business owner who operated purely on hearsay and someone else's conjecture, then found out that the external factors adversely impacted the quality and quantity of her product after taking commissions.

Now, if you've done faceups and worked with the product in question in those conditions, then I'm sure any advice you could give would be welcome. If not, then it isn't enough to truly address the situation and give her a workable base to go from. That isn't "being snippy when other people give advice she'd do well to consider". That's good solid common sense.

ukelala, I hope you get the answers you need soon. Your work is great, and I'd hate to see something like the weather impact it.

 

I did not intend for my comment to be 'snippy'. I only asked for information pertinent to my original question, which was strictly about temperature. Please do not be so condecending to others if you wish for them to take your advice.

And I actually did study meteorology. Just because the air holds less moisture when it is cold does not mean that the air cannot hold all the moisture it is capable of, resulting in a high humididty percentage. Thus, you can still have 90% humidity when it is 30 degrees. Also, I live in an area that is prone to the lake effect, and at a higher elevation than any of the land in the path of those winds. The air blowing off the lake rises, and as it rises, it cools, forcing a 'drier' air to become more humid by decreasing the amount of moisture the air can hold, while maintaining the amount of water vapor already contained in it. When the humidity in the air reaches 100% or very close to it, precipitation occurs. Simple meteorology. And to put it in perspective, my locality receives 100 inches of snow each winter.

I in no way intended to be rude, and if I have been percieved as so by anyone, I am sorry. I do actually understand the question I have asked, but I did not expect to have to prove it. I only ask for an answer to the original question I posed, not just something vaguely related to it. There are other threads which concern the sealants and humidity. This is not one of those threads. I would prefer if experienced face-up artists who have encountered this problem could please give me their input. This thread is getting very off-topic, so if anyone has pertinent advice for me, and would rather not post, please feel free to PM me, it would be most appreciated. Thank you.

 

What I did in the winter would probably be something akin to what you're thinking. Last winter the company I worked for had an unused loading bay, and I worked nights with no supervisors around. I used Helene's method of preparing my sealer (usually Games Workshop's Purity Seal) by shaking it for one minute, holding it under fairly hot water for two, then shaking for another minute.

I'd spray the head in the loading bay and take take the Purity Seal back in with me to sit on my desk while I was waiting for the head to dry. With the abient heat, the loading bay was probably around 50 degrees or so (cool enough I would have liked to wear my sweater but not so cold it wouldn't dry.) The time I tried with doing a head without all the preperation of the Purity Seal (and left the can in the loading bay) it came out terrible and blotchy.

If it gets really humid, maybe you could find a dehumidifier? My parents have one in their basement so it doesn't smell like a damp basement.

 

Honestly, I don't really recommend Testor's at all (especially if you're looking to do commissions) since it does yellow over time (MSC may very well too, I don't know, but no where near as fast). However, having used Testor's at one point myself I understand it's much easier to get a hold of, and for the most part cheaper. But um, sorry, I know that's off topic too.

Anyway, when I used Testor's in the winter I would open the back door and stand in front of it. I would spray out the door so that I wasn't spraying the Testor's into the house, but the head never really left the house, so it didn't get cold. I didn't find I ever had problems with it this way. And since my first 4 dolls all arrived in winter I did a lot of face-ups at 7pm in the dead middle of January lol.

 

Spray booths http://www.utrechtart.com/dsp_view_products.cfm?classID=2117&subclassID=211710&brandname=Artograph

I'm not sure about how well any of them do in a living space--I suspect they're intended for use in a dedicated workspace that the user isn't in all the time.

I haven't used any of these particular models (basically I've only used the giant commercial ones first when I was at school, and now at my work, which is my plan for defeating winter.) But it sounds like a spray booth is essentially what you're looking for--something that will suck all the vapors away to the outside when you spray, but still be indoors.

This will be my first winter with dolls, and depending if I decide to redo their faceups in the dead of winter, I'll probably just haul them into work and spray them in the spray booth there. (Otherwise I'd probably just do the "hold the head out the back door and spray" thing.)

I'd also look into the MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet) on Testors. There are a fair number of products that do produce aromatic vapors, but they're not necessarily toxic, especially in hobbyist quantities (and by hobbyist quantities, I mean, using it for maybe a half hour a day or so, as opposed to 8 straight hours). I don't know if testors is or not (and it's better to be safe than sorry.)

 

sleep_pattern, you're a genius. That is the simplest solution I have ever heard of, and it'll work! Maybe even a small fan blowing outside.... but genius!

 

I would suggest checking with local colleges, art schools and art centres. Many have special ventilated rooms for student use and may be willing to allow you access, perhaps for a small fee. My university allowed access to alumni, but you were expected to leave if a current student needed it for a project. Doll spraying doesn't take long, so it may be doable for final coating.
Outdoors you have to consider the sealant freezing or congealing in the can, not just drying.

I used MSC this winter off the balcony and just made sure to shake it well and keep the parts outside for a few minutes until it dried. We're off a lake as well so it was in the negatives celsius and quite humid. Testors seems to be a bit more, uh, testy.

 

This past winter I set up a spray booth in my basement. I chopped a large cardboard box (it had a big piece of furniture in it, to give you an idea of the weight of the board) in half, then cut a hole in the 'back' of my new spraybooth. Into this hole I ran a shop-vacuum hose, the exhaust hose for which then went out a window. I also kept the nearby door open, and had a shop light to keep the area somewhat warm and dry.

I still wore a mask, though, and sprayed as close to the door and as little as possible, and left the vacuum running and the door open for as long as possible without losing the housecats. Remember, if you can smell the spray, it's still in the air and a danger to you and your family. Spraying directly out the door may be worth trying, because this setup was kind of a pain! :P

 

I'd also recommend a spray booth, I know lots of otaku who spend a lot of time on resin figure kits and or Gundams and they are very useful cleaning air from paint and sealers . However they can be expensive but there are online tutorials for making them yourself at a more economy level.

If its humid you could get a de-humidifier .. with that and a spray booth you should have no problems with weather.

 

I've heard of people spraying their doll parts outside, then bringing them inside right afterwards, to the warmth of the house.

I hope you find something that works!

 

Hmm its warm here all year long, so Im not much help, but maybe spraying them in a agarage with some source of heat coming from there, then you going into the h ouse while they dry so you dont breathe in so much of that stuff?

 

Well... i'm going to start to give my floating heads some face ups. But when i was reading through the 'How tos' in this forum i found i don't understand this...

I made a check list of things i need. Some old coat, gloves, goggles (would my brother's swimming ones do?) but i don't have a mask...

I just want to know where can i find one and is there any alternatives? I don't want to do any harm to anyone while i spray the MSC.

I'm either going to do it in the backyard or in the bathroom (we have a ventilator there) So i was wondering what other precautions?

I know the spray is highly toxic but is wear a mask that necessary. Can i tie a scarf around my nose and mouth and wear gloves and goggles?

 

OK. It is the dust from sanding that is highly toxic. MSC is just nasty in enclosed spaces. You don't need a respirator mask, especially if you are spraying outside. I don't use one, although I would go full-out if I were sanding. I just stand upwind and spray carefully and in short bursts.

 

If you're spraying in the bathroom I would make sure to use at least a basic mask (hardware store, paint area), and expect to not use that bathroom for a while after spraying. A standard home bathroom vent is not really adequate to vent the MSC fumes. I agree that spraying outside a little care and common sense is enough unless you're going to be spraying a LOT.

I've been doing all my work outside, so I only use the safety equipment (goggles, mask, etc) when I'm sanding, not for painting/spraying.

 

oh thank you. It was suggested by another member over in a 'safety' thing for MSC. I feel much better now and would be able to start very very soon! (though sanding is coming up so i think i would need a mask for modding)

 

I'm not sure if this is in the right place and I tried searching and didn't get the answer I was looking for. I thought I would start this thread also because I'm curious how other people deal with sealers.

MSC is harful to breathe in as is other sealers I believe. The problem is that it isn't truly avoidable. Sometimes the vapors find their way into your face.
So I'm asking fellow customizers their experience on working with sealers and how they prevent from causing harm to themselves.

It's hard when you want to do a face up and it's freezing outside so you try and do it inside with the windows open. It seems to not fully disappate into the outside air for a while causing some inhalation. Even with a gas mask myself I'm still not protecting others. How do you deal with these problems and what problems have you experience from using the sealers healthwise?

Any tips you can give to keep one's self safe would be highly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

To be honest I just spray outside when it's not ranining, I have birds in the the house and I would not want to risk it.

 

When I have to work in my room due to inclement weather: I close the door to keep it from getting into the rest of the house, open the windows all the way, and set up a fan on full blast to blow the fumes out. And wear a big NIOSH gas-mask and goggles.
In my INFINITE GENIUS I wore only a surgical-type mask once to spray a model with Testor's. Found out the hard way that they're permeable to organic compounds, in the form of a splitting headache and altered vision.

 

For people who have experience using MSC outdoors, about how long does it hang in the air? I live in an apartment building in the city and would probably have to spray in the carport, but obviously I don't want to put my neighbors at risk.

 

It takes a couple of minutes for the air to clear. It either settles to the ground if the air is very still, or swirls around in a cloud for as long as two minutes if there is a breeze. I wear an AO Safety #95115 Paint & Pesticide respirator and a pair of splash goggles. I work on my back stairs where the wind is very unpredictable and I can never be sure that I won't get it in the eye. I look like a nut with all of that on, but I've got enough heath problems without tempting fate some more.

 

ok, I hope someone here can answer this is or say what you think.

I have read in many threads of how MSC can be harmful and that you have to wear a mask. Someone mentioned a pesticide type mask, and I'm considering that.

but... the times I have used MSC, I spray outside for like 5 seconds in short bursts (eye, eye, lip/chin, cheek, cheek) from like a 20-30 cms distance, not holding my breath but breathing out, walk away immediately and let the head there for a few minutes and then I come back and put the head in a safer place (still outside) and leave it there for 15-20 more minutes and then I put it inside an unused room sometimes for a couple of hours ^^;;

How safe/unsafe is that?

I haven't even smelled the MSC, only the smell from the head as I'm moving it, but it's a kinda faint one.

I'm wondering about all this, cause I think I've been exposed to other stuff even more harmful or at least annoying for far too long.

As my father and my brother are heavy smokers, if I'm unlucky enough to walk right into the spot where they lit their stupid cigarettes a few seconds ago (even outside, they don't smoke inside the house), I can't stop coughing and my throat gets sore. And right now they're painting a room and I got very dizzy with the smell X_x

So i wonder if I SHOULD wear a mask also in those cases X_x

I haven't experienced anything when I have used MSC, or at least not that I have noticed (sometimes I bump into cigarette smoke on my way inside the house after spraying).

So is a mask really necessary? Or it isn't the MSC that's going to kill me?
Do you think such a short exposure to it could cause problems? It's not as I use it too often either, I have done it like 15 times (as in 15 layers of MSC, 5 layers per face-up. Had to clarify cause some one asked me if it were 15 heads ^^;; ) in 3 months.

 

I'm about to get started on one of my doll heads this week for the first time and I've been doing a fair amount of research on the topic of masks. However, I still feel a bit unclear on the subject.

I was wondering if there is any mask that is recommended for both sanding and spraying?

If not, what kind of mask is needed for sanding? Can you use a disposable dust mask? (I do plan to wet sand, but I know resin is harmful and would like the best protection, so if this isn't the case can someone point me in the right direction?)

From my research I've gathered that in terms of a mask for spraying you need a P100 filter respirator mask that is NIOSH/OSHA certified. Is there anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

Bump to see if anyone has any answers.

 

I'd like to know too. I plan on sanding a doll soon and I want to be as safe as possible!

 

Even for the dust from sanding resin you need something more than just those little clipon masks. I have a respirator with carbon filters that filters even things like pesticides and paint fumes.
Example
I use it for both sanding and spraying. I hope that helps.

 

Yeah, that seems like a good sort of respirator.

(Disclaimer: I've never actually purchased a respirator. I have one that I use at work that was provided to me by the company.)

Things to look for when buying one:

Will the store employees help you fit-test it? (There are different brands and sizes and it's hard to guess which will fit you.) There are certain ways to test to make sure a respirator fits properly and it's hard to explain how to do the tests, without someone who knows what they're doing. I can try to explain, if you'd like. But a respirator that doesn't fit properly is basically the same as not using a respirator at all.

Can you easily buy new cartridges for it? Cartridges last about eight hours of use before they need to be changed (at least the ones that fit mine do.)

Other things that are useful to have:
An airtight container to store your respirator in. (Like a large food-storage container with a lid that seals.) I don't remember if it's true or not, that the cartridges keep filtering as long as they're exposed to air.

Cleaning wipes for cleaning the interior of your respirator before you put it away after using it. (I generally use alcohol-based ones. Can't suggest brands, because the ones I use come from some random industrial supplier.) You can also occasionally completely disassemble your respirator and thoroughly wash each part to get it good and clean.

 

I say better safe than sorry. I didn't realise the need for a mask before reading this thread, but I'm glad I did, otherwise I would have gone straight on to do my first faceups with no face covering whatsoever. If you're worried there'll be a problem, wear a mask. If you're not worried...perhaps you should be, at least a little. This stuff is toxic, and very little damage done to your health is actually reparable.

Now I just have to track down a mask....>.>

 

OMG, I just read this. I thought I was the only one doomed with freak winds. I had the can of MSC for ages and couldnt bring myself to using it because of my sensitive respiratory problem. Finally took the courage the other day and went outdoors to spray fully geared with a disposable mask (I can't get a proper one), plus glove and apron. I did check the wind direction and sprayed but the freak wind took a swerve and blew the spray right back on me. I had to run inside, wash my face and hands, rinse my mouth too as I feared I'd inhaled some because I could smell the MSC in my mouth. Got a splitting headache immediately and felt very sick for a couple of days. So, pls pls guys do be careful and protect yourselves when using MSC.

 

I have asthma so I don't think I will be risking anything o.O Its a face mask and gloves for when I start doing face ups! xD I've always been a bit lax when it comes to spray paint, (silly really...) but I think for sanding and MSC I will be more careful. ^^;

 

I just had a thought...how toxic is Zoukeimura finishing spray? Is it as bad as MSC?

 

I'm a retired RN so I'm putting my two cents worth in. BUY THE MASKS PEOPLE. Yes, if you only spray a doll occasionally the odds are against anything happening to you without one BUT if you are unlucky and the wind shifts at the wrong moment you could have real problems. Most people, especially young ones, will not have serious repercussions from a one time exposure but you never know if you are one of the people that will have a rare allergic reaction until it happens to you. And just because you have been exposed to the toxins in the past without a problem does NOT mean you will never have a problem--sometimes the first exposure just sets your body up, sensitizes it, for the next time.

An allergic reaction is not the same problem as long term lung damage from the toxins in the spray. The lung damage can cause major problems at a future point or make you more vulnerable to lung related illness such as pneumonia, asthma or cancer. A hyper allergic reaction could cause your respiratory passages to swell very rapidly, then you can't take in air and you die--usually before you can get help. Its called anaphalactic shock. Its the same kind of reaction people who are allergic to bee/wasp stings have and its why they carry emergency kits with them. Only, if you don't know you have that reaction and don't have an emergency kit, you are in real trouble. I would be worried if you had an exposure and had reactions like headaches or shortness of breath and really urge you to get the mask before using the spray again. Eye protection is good too.

Like I said, its not very likely to happen, but if one person who would have had that type of reaction reads this and buys the correct mask and enjoys this hobby in safety I guess its worth my sounding like a paranoid nagging mother. (Even tho I'm not one, nurses and mothers have a lot of overlap in their reactions to dangerous stuff)

 

ok, got it! Then no matter what a mask is needed XD
Thanks for the info!

But... what kind of mask is the right one for this? I have looked and seen tons of totally different ones. Someone suggested one for pesticides, and I have seen some that are for working with asbestos, and others with other chemicals... any help? ^^;;

 

If you are a student, check to see if you may borrow a fume hood in a lab--engineering is a better choice than personal protection.
Pop some newspaper in to protect your doll from the probably-gubby hood and the hood from your spray mixture, put in the doll & spray, and pull down the sash so the glass is down--there may well be a mark at the side of the hood showing how far down the sash must go to get good fume protection. Spray doll as you would normally do, and allow the spray to dry.

For spraying MSC and other aerosols, you need protection from alliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, and aerosols.

Asbestos makes very very fine dust, which will linger forever; I doubt very much that anyone produces dust that fine when sanding a doll. A more ordinary dust mask, or a sinkful of water in which you sand your doll, will be quite adequate.
Pesticides are a different class of toxins entirely.

None of this works unless the mask is well-fitted, though, because you will breathe outside air through any cracks between the mask and your face.

If you chose to go this route, buy your mask somewhere where they do fit tests, at the very least breathing fit tests.

This is all very generalized information; if we could get an ingredients list in English of MSC contents, then advice could be focused correctly.

Ann in CT

 

Once, I sprayed it indoors (but it was fairly well ventilated) without a respirator, but here's the thing- I put 4 layers of a very thick blanket over my nose and mouth and held my breath, PLUS I did like maybe 1 second sprays when I did spray. When I read this thread, I went "CRAP!" and immediately launched into a panic attack.

I didn't have any side effects. No headaches, no coughing. Nothing.

Initially I was worried about my pets, but it's been a month since that incident and they're all fine. I'm figuring since it's been a month, they're fine. As vivacious and obnoxious as ever.
And I'M fine. The coughing I have now is because of my allergies and even so, I barely cough even once a day.

The next day I went to the doctor (world class physician) who took the spray, sprayed some on a paper towel and just sniffed and said I'd be OK. I don't think she'd do that if she wasn't aware of what she was doing. She told me that it was like any other sealant in the world.

I'd like to make you all aware that there are people out there with severe panic attacks (like me) so could you PLEASE make it clearer what this could potentially do to harm you? And it's not as widely stated that MSC is toxic. I know it should be obvious, but sometimes it's not.

Please don't rag on me for being like this. I don't want me or any of my pets to end up dead. :/ Can you blame me?

 

I always spray outside and with a mask. I have bad lungs as it is without inhaling MSC.

 

EDIT: Found a better site! ^^

Would this mask with these filters be alright to use as protection when spraying msc? I'm pretty sure other people use the same mask, so it's the filters I really want to check!

 

I would like to ask if a respirator like this one is good enough to be protected against sanding dust and msc:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Chemical-Res...ryZ20798QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I dont really know any stores in Melbourne which would sell respirators, so my only other option is ebay..

 

look in to a paint supply or like home improvement place. I bought mine from an art supply store.

 

Okay, so I know it's best to use a respirator when spraying MSC, so that's what I'm going to do. ^^ Me and a few friends are eager to start customizing when our incoming dolls finally arrive! xD

But here's the thing, since I don't know exactly what the ingredients of MSC are, I'm not entirely sure what filters to get for the respirator that I already have.

It is a 3M 6000 half-mask respirator as seen here. I know other people use this mask for face-up work, so that's fine, but I'm not entirely sure what filters to use with it. I already have some filters which are labelled 'gas/vapour filters + gas-filter' and they have a double stripe of olive green and brown along the edges. (Can't find an example online since they came from my dad's workplace. D:<) Could someone tell me if these are the right ones to use?

If not, would these be more suitable?

I would really appreciate it if someone who has the same mask or knows about these things could just point me in the right direction!

 

In the end I bought that mask from ebay, however even when wearing it, I can smell MSC :S which means it is not working gosh....

 

I'm slightly appalled at seeing so many of the posters in this thread taking health risks they're not even quite familiar with. Protective gas masks (+goggles and gloves etc) aren't that expensive - and definitely not so compared to the actual dolls!

If you can afford the doll, you can afford to protect yourself.

It feels ridiculous to even have to make that comparison, but what with reading how so many people "just take the chance" I couldn't NOT say anything.

If you don't know what chemicals something contains, assume it's bad, and protect yourself accordingly. Even if it's "just once and for hobby use and I only sprayed for five secons and I felt fine afterwards", it's NOT okay to do nothing!

Some serious side effects take YEARS to develop. You will not notice this right away, and it is eternally better to be safe than sorry!

This kind of information should be clearly visible in a sticky somewhere. D:

 

For me it isn't so much a matter of money as to it is the fact I have a tendency to freak at having anything covering my nose & mouth. Logically I know I can still breathe but try telling my - call it fear center I guess - that. Some days I can handle a dust/paint mask okay for awhile but on others I can't stand it for more than a few seconds. So there you go.

Morgan

 

I have not found an appropriate respirator yet for a "reasonable" price.

Has anyone found a good, adjustible one at a Home Depot or other common store they can recommend? Brand names would be really helpful.

 

I have a question, I have a NIOSH P100 respirator I use when spraying MSC, are my lungs fully protected? I still smell the stuff a bit through my mask, is that just the smell coming through without the bad stuff? Or am I breathing toxic stuff if I smell it? I sprayed a lot tonight, so I'm a bit worried. I feel fine though, but I thought I'd check of othes also smell the MSC wearing their respirators?

 

I would NOT want to get this stuff in my eyes. My dad has a moped, and here in the Great White North, you must have goggles.... nevertheless he has these things that can fit over my glasses, yay!

 

I quoted these because I find what Zazagael and Lily said very useful.

I tend to be the happy-go-lucky type but hearing stuff about MSC irritating the throat, eyes, skin, giving headaches and dizziness made me a bit careful when I was doing my MD Ryu's faceup last week.

I have allergies and I'm fully aware of all the health risks involved when spraying MSC and anything that can be dispersed into the atmosphere in tiny particles that can be inhaled.

When I did my doll's faceup, I was spraying the MSC outside and I had gloves, a raincoat (yes seriously!) and surgical mask on. I still sprayed the head at a good distance (about 6 to 12 inches distance from can to head) and it just happened that there as no wind or soft breeze when I sprayed.

But I did get a whiff of the stuff when it was already ON my doll head and it is strong. It kinda gave me a scratchy throat afterwards and being the paranoid person that I am, I had my RN aunt check my throat. No headache or dizzyness, though. And the throat scratchiness went away after I gulped down some warm tea.

Anyway, that mask looks like a good investment and a trip to my local hardware superstore and shelling out $30.00 would do me some good. I may as well send a faceup artist acquaintance of mine a message and let her know to invest on a mask like that pictured above.

Heck, with the atmosphere being polluted, second hand smoke, kitchen cleaning and bathroom cleaning products, hairspray, and MSC the damage to me has probably been done--I'll die of lung cancer or whatever when I'm older. O_o;;

 

Alithea, thanks for bringing that info from Zagzagael and Lily over. I also find it extremely helpful to see an example of a recommended respirator and find out the price range, which is shockingly affordable!

I don't do many faceup's and body blushings, but I do some. It is worth it to me to invest in a respirator because my health is priceless and I hate breathing in any kind of paint, stain, or sealant fumes.

 

Oh, no problem! I was thinking about this, too, when I was reading a post about fumes from doll resin.

I thought the respirator they were talking about was the type that the HAZMAT people used (with space-style suits and all!) and thought that a mask like the one pictured in Lily's post would cost me hundreds of dollars.

I'm actually glad that this thread exists and so, it is very very helpful--even to us amateur faceup artists.

 

I think we have a respirator around somewhere here, but i may have to go out and buy one. (I work at a lowes, not a big deal).

but i have a question. Which brands have you all tried? Which ones seem to work the best, i.e. you can't smell the fumes or anything? Do i need a better mask to use MSC UV cut?

 

St. James~ Thank you so much for indicating which mask you use. I am currently torn between ordering the one you recommended and this one: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=84707-429-95095-00000&lpage=none

Anyone out there use the Aearo Company QuickFit Respirator or a different respirator? I would very much appreciate seeing just which masks others are using to protect themselves.

 

That respirator is pretty awesome since it has the built in goggles, but that's really expensive. You can get essentially the same protection with a half mask for no more than $50 and a $5 pair of chemical splash goggles. Sure looks cool though!

 

Does this mask block completely the smell from the MSC?
http://www.amazon.com/AO-Safety-Paint-Pesticide-Respirator/dp/B00009LI4J

I'm using a respirator too but I can smell the MSC a bit through it.
Then I used Mr. Top Coat once for something else and I could really smell the stuff through the respirator I'm using and I felt sick for a couple of minutes after spraying, so I think my mask is not good for "coating sprays.." and maybe not that good to block MSC either. Is that one blocking all the smell when you spray MSC?

 

Well, these respirators are still only 95s (basically meaning they'll block about 95% of the particulate and odor) so there is still a faint odor. If it's enough to make you sick you may need to tighten it so it fits without any leaking or add another filter on top of the cartridge. I can smell it more when the cartridge is worn out. The other option is switching to the Volks Zoukeimura spray, which seems to be less of a problem for people with severe sensitivity.

 

Quick question - is this ok to use or do I have to get that expensive one?