Respirators and other safety tips for spraying sealant?

That is a heavy-duty dust mask (I don't know why they get labeled "respirators" by the companies, since it makes it confusing for a lot of people). It would probably be okay for sanding with sandpaper, although for dremelling or taking a belt sander to resin, I'd probably use a respirator with full filters.

For any kind of spray, you want a respirator that will seal to your face, which is the reason for the molded rubber/plastic part on actual respirator--it fits tightly to your face so vapors can't leak in around the edges. You also want removable filters, because they will wear out and need to be replaced (generally they need to be changed after about 8 hours of use.) "NIOSH-approved" is a term to look for. You want something that will filter out vapors & fumes. (If you can smell anything, it means there's either a fit issue or that you need to put new filters on.)

An airtight plastic container to store your respirator in is another thing you will need. (That sounds fancier than what it actually is--a plastic box sold for storing leftover food.)

 

I almost fell for the bling! lol. I ended up ordering the cheaper of the two! Will give it a test run tonight with some heads up I need to finish up.^^ thanks again for the sensible pointer. haha.

 

There are two parts to the MSC that makes it dangerous.

1. is the powder suspension that gives the Matte finish and
2. is the solvent based liquid the powder is suspended in.

Even after the FUMES which like fuel/gas/kerosine/aerosol/methanol etc.. are immediately toxic (causing dizziness and a feeling of disassociation) from MSC have dissipated from a room the powder which is micro-fine hangs in the air for a period of time afterwards. This amount of time depends on varying factors ie: do you have a fan in the room, are you outside, is there a breeze etc?

This powder has the same effect on your lungs as asbestos, masons dust, chalk etc... they are all carcinogenic (cancer causing) and can lead to hardening of the lung tissue. So care should always be taken.

I work with my husband in our yacht business and we use resins, epoxies, fibreglass, enamel paints and lead based anti-foul and even when I'm just using MSC at home I still wear a carbon filter mask, every little bit of exposure will compound.

Using it three or four times in your life wont harm you but for face-up artists and people using it for extended periods generally should take precautions. Repeated exposure of lung tissue to any irritant has dangerous long-term affects most of us wont be aware of until we are well into our pension years

Freaked out yet??? A simple face-mask will prevent inhalation of the powder and is ok for the odd small spray but always spray outside or in a ventilated area with good air flow Or invest in a NIOSH approved mask or any carbon filter fitted respirator mask.

These are what our clients are required to wear when previewing work on their yachts and are great for hobbyist who wont be using the spray for extended periods Honey Comb Carbon Filter mask

 

This thing's scaring the shit out of me ;_;
Yesterday I had used a coat of Testors for my doll and like I was breathing it in (but trying not to)
and felt really light headed (so I kind of...ignored my doll and the testors can for a while)
and now I have a cold. Does that raise any alarms? I'm super scared about this (and paranoid)
soo..yeah. >>; btw; would an eight dollar mask from work against testors? (..kind of?)

 

This worries me. Is there anyway to get 100% protection? I've been inhaling MSC frequently for about a year without wearing a mask and I can feel my lungs hardening. Even with one, I can still smell the lingering scent on my clothes, etc. when I take the mask off.

 

I wouldn't necessarily worry about the cold--that's probably unrelated. However the dizzy light headed feeling can definitely happen when you're dealing with fumey substances. I tend to have more trouble with MSC in that department than Testors (though Testors is really gross too). Some people are also more sensitive to stuff like that than others. Sounds like you should look into getting a mask.

 

Go see a doctor right now. See if there is anything they can do. Never spray any sealant without some sort of protection EVER.

Where have you been spraying and what type of mask have you been using when you do use one?

 

Thanks for your concern! I already went to the doctor a couple months back and took a break from face-ups. I feel better now and just recently reopened my shop so I want to protect myself as much as possible this time around.

For a year I've been spraying MSC (and airbrushing for two months) in my bathroom haha ^^; Terrible, I know but now I spray outside with this mask.

I'm currently trying to research some more and perhaps buy a better mask and take precautions.

 

I know this may sound really too crazy, but whenever I spray, I wear a special set of thick, well-insulated clothes that I keep especially for spraying MSC. I don't even wash them with my other stuff, and when I am done spraying or just need to go back inside to start doing faceups, I change back in to a different, clean outfit before going back inside the house for breaks or to use the restroom. Possible residue on my clothing particularly concerns me as I have a small doggie who loves to sniff at my shoes every time I walk in the door. I do this even if it means multiple changings, because I, too, could smell the MSC on the clothing. I also shower as soon as I have sprayed my last coat for the day, and then hose-down the cement area around which I sprayed about an hour after finishing spraying (so that any stray particulate matter that is on the cement will also not be breathed in by my little doggie or family when they go outside).

All this in mind, I also tend to be very chemical-sensitive in the first place, so will likely be switching back to Zoukeimura powder when I start doing faceups again.

Lie Xue~ Let us know which mask you end up buying after you do your research. I'm glad that you are feeling better and can start again.^^

 

i'm a chemistry major and i read some of the stuff in this sealant and highly suggest something to prevent breathing these chemicals in. i think i'm going to use the hoods at school.

 

A curious bump. Someone must know? :]

I'd hate to think I've been wearing the wrong this all this time.

 

I imagine that would be fine, either that or one for fine dust (for the fine particles that dry in the air)

to be hoonest I think as long as you work in a well ventilated area you should be fine with any filter

 

I'm fairly clueless about respirator masks, I went for the strongest ones I could find. I'm using disposable ones right now (although I'm going to get one of the kind where you just change the filters, as I think it might work out cheaper), and I'm using the P3 Valved Respirators from this page, as it says they provide protection from high toxicity solid and water based aerosols. From reading this, I *think* you want FFP3 filters.

Anyway, bumping this thread in the hope that someone more savvy will offer advice.

 

I use a basic disposable mask respirator that you can get from any hardware store- the ones I use are made by 3M I believe. They seem to work just fine, but I'd go with filters for vapors as you said above. More importantly, spray outside or in an otherwise ventilated area. The mask won't help you if you get lingering chemicals inside your work area or home.

 

I was given a respirator from a family member. it's really odd. You put it in your mouth and breathe through it like a snorkel. It' government issue for hazardous factory work of a secure sort, so I think it would work. >< But i have no idea what grade it is, what it keeps out... Will the spray still go up my nose if it's not covered> maybe where it with a pair of swim goggles that cover my nose. LOL.


Has anyone heard of that type of respirator before?

 

Okay, I've gone through every page of this thread and am still not quite sure what I should get as far as a respirator goes.

I want to start doing faceups soon and might be doing some sanding as well.

I have asthma and want to be as safe about this as possible.

I was looking for respirators and found THIS ONE.

Can anyone tell me if this would provide maximum protection for both spraying AND sanding? I'm really worried about starting anything major without getting one first so I want to be sure that I'm getting something that will actually protect me.

Any help or suggestions for SPECIFIC respirators would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

shou-kun, that respirator is fine, but I would recommend you get one that you can replace the filter cartridges (pink bits in the pic you've linked to) on.

I think mine is thisone: http://www.amazon.com/3M-6300-6000-...ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1234248533&sr=1-3
This is the cartridges I use: http://www.amazon.com/3M-OH-ESD-207...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234248625&sr=8-1

I cannot be certain (and am no authority) this would be right for you, and I recommend you speak to your doctor to be on the safe side, perhaps even contact 3M customer service and tell them what you will be using the respirator for so they can recommend the most suitable filter product. MSC is super nasty in several different ways, while sanding is not as bad, especially if you are wet-sanding.

 

Thank you very much for your help, twigling. ^^ I really do appreciate it!

I plan on doing wet sanding and will actually be starting out with the Zoukeimura finishing powder, which, from what I'm reading, doesn't seem as bad, but I might go ahead and contact 3M and find out if they can tell me what would be best.

Thanks again!

 

I just got a gas mask this past weekend. From Lowes. It was 29.99 and worth every penny!

I am a cheap person...I like to save my money for importaint things,like dolls. So buying something like this was not really something I wanted to do...but after reading posts on DOA,I decided it was really a necesity..especially in this kind of hobby. The mask I got protects againts spray paint and sealants and also dust and particles..so it will be perfect for when I sand off seams and stuff too.

I am very happy with it and I have to say,it was worth every penny! It fits like a glove and after using it this afternoon,I did not smell a thing! It was awseome..and easy to put together.

Really worth it for peice of mind!If your on the fence about getting one,definetly go for it!Its really worth it!

-Ina

 

Nice!!

Would you happen to have a link or a model name of what you got?

 

until i saw this thread i totally didn't realise the importance of wearing a respirator...will look out for one before i try any face-up-ing or what. (not that i have my doll yet-.-)

 

Hi!For sure!

Its put out by 3M and its model number 0V/P95 in size medium. And under the medium on the right hand side it says R6211

Its entitled "Paint Spray Respirator-Low Maintenance"

It fits great and is really high quality! I know 29.99 sounds like a alot when you compare it to like..regular dust masks(which dont do the job from what I read anyway)..but I look at it as an investment. If you take good care of it,it will last you a really long time. Plus I am in an artistic household, so more than one person will get use out of it.

good luck in your search for one!

-KittenINAbox

 

I'm thinking of either getting a cardboard box or making a wooden box to do my spraying in so that the Testors doesn't drift into my next door neighbor's back yard. I fully intend on getting the mask because I'll be going back into glaze formulation and I need it for that.

 

as long as you get filters that are called "p100" you should be fine. i think that's as high of protection as you can get...i wikipedia-d it.

 

thanks so much Kitten for your info!!!
last year I posted in this thread saying I bought a respirator but it didnt work properly (I was still smelling the msc when spraying and wearing the respirator). So since I started doing faceups again, I checked this thread to see if there are any news. I am glad Kitten recomended the 3M one so I already ordered one on eBay ^___^
I also took some goggles cause Melbourne has these weird gust of wind which can be pretty dangerous while using msc.

Oh I wanted to share a tip... when I finish spraying msc and dont feel like to wait for it to dry, I simply use my Ionic hairdryer for a minute and then I can continue painting right afterwards. it saves me heaps of time (I used to wait for 30min-1 hour for each msc layer). I am not sure if this was an obvious thing to do, but yeah... :P

 

okay, i have a question now. i am using the 3M half face mask, with 2091 filters. these say they are for "organic vapors". i used it for the first time today, and as far as i know it is a good fit - BUT i could definitely still smell/feel the msc through the mask. i'm paranoid about this because i have pretty weak lungs already from asthma...does anyone know what i should be doing/using?

oh, and i always spray outside.

 

If the mask is a good fit, you shouldn't be smelling the MSC. The rubber portion of the mask should fit snugly enough that the whole thing sucks more tightly to your face when you inhale.

 

In the instructions that came with my 3M mask (sorry, dunno the model number off the top of my head, and I'm not at home), they give a couple of tests you can do to see if your mask is sealed tight to your face. First test, place your palms over the filters, covering up their intake. Then suck in a deep breath and hold it briefly. The seal is good if you can create a light vacuum. For test number two, place your palm firmly over the intake where your mouth is. Blow out a large breath, filling your mask with air. If the air has nowhere to escape, then the seal around your face is good. As St. James says, if the fit of your mask is tight then you shouldn't be smelling any sealant.

On a related sidenote, I was using my mask a while back on a project that had me spraying, waiting, blushing, spraying, waiting, etc. Well, I got a little lazy after a bit and instead of taking off all my gear (which would normally include my "spraying clothes" but it was a small project, so I didn't totally gear up) I just pushed my googles up on my forehead and pulled my mask down around my neck. Well, after a bit I started getting a headache and noticed the faint smell of MSC even when I wasn't spraying. I quickly realized it was coming from residual on my mask. So I completely suited down and immediately began feeling better. Moral of that story: not only should you have gear for spraying MSC, you should get out of it as soon as possible.

Hope this helps!

 

^thanks both of you^

i tried the vacuum test - and i definitely could hear that suction noise when i tried to inhale, as if the mask was kind of sucking onto my face...so i thought it was tight enough. plus it's a size small, so i don't think it's a size issue. but, i guess i'm doing something wrong - so i'll keep fiddling with it.

thanks for your advice!

 

Orphansparrow: I have the same respirator as you and I was able to test it yesterday for the first time. I didnt smell the msc at all finally something that works for real! I made sure to test the suction before using it. I am usually very paranoid about safety so I made sure it was super sealed on my face. afterward I had this big red lines on my face from the mask lol :P

 

Just wanted to toss this into the mix -- I use a 3M paint spray respirator, model R7511ES, with organic-vapor cartridges 6001. I like that it comes in size small, so I can actually get a good fit, and it's comfortable to wear. I can't smell the MSC at all when I'm wearing it properly (one time I guess I broke the seal by yelling at my roommate to get out of the garage while I was spraying, and a hint of it came in). The face seal is silicone, so it's good for people with latex allergies.

Amazon links: The mask, and the cartridges.

 

do you guys leave the doll outside for drying? i mean since its toxic, is it safe to take the doll back inside after spraying? o.o i also dont wanna ruin my work by touching it after spraying..

 

Everyone is talking about how toxic it is to breathe in sealant, but what happens to the stuff that gets on your clothes or something? Is that gonna kill you if you touch it or breathe on your clothes? I might sound stupid but I just want to make sure it's not gonna kill me if it gets on my clothes.

 

Sometimes these threads scare me and make me nervous...
Once the dolls dry long after being sprayed, are they safe to play with?

 

I think we'd all be poorer people (more so then we already are- I mean, we're dollie people!) if we were throwing clothes we'd been wearing during faceups and modding away, or washing them everytime. XDD

I'm certainly not and expert, and I'm definately not making light- resin dust / MSC fumes are dangerous and toxic, and can make you sick. Take a bit of time before spraying to make sure you know which way the wind is blowing! It SUCKS having a burst of wind blow the stuff back at you! XD But if it's on your clothes, just pat yourself down in the case of resin dust and make sure your dry if it's MSC BEFORE taking the mask off, and you should be just fine. I've never noticed lingering smells on my clothes because of MSC, and you can definitely play with them all you like AFTER they're completely dry. I wouldn't use MSC if I couldn't, I hold my dolls close to me all the time. XDD

As for the inside/outside drying question, I'm sure this varies according to whoever you ask. I don't like leaving my dolls outside (I live in the desert- bright and hot!!), so personally I take it in a put it on a few paper towels in front of an open window (Find a shady spot!! A shady spot!!), most of the time with a fan on. The stuff dries pretty quick, but if your nervous about it, by all means find a nice safe shady area and sit with it for a minute outdoors.

Like I said, I'm no professional, but it's really easy when you get into the proper safety routine, and after a while the nervousness about toxic fumes eases off once your safely protected behind the right respirator. I've also got a 3mm with P100 cartridges, and I always test it's working with a bit wiff of nail polish remover (smelliest stuff I've got, lol) when it's nice and on there, lol. It really works like a dream! No smells have permeated the mask so far- but for the love of things Holy make sure you don't eat anything smelly before an extensive job behind one of those things, 'cuz the smell can't get out, either, lol. Onion rings right before two hours of modding does not a funtime make. XDD

 

I've been thinking about purchasing this one, so it's good to know it works for MSC. I own this respirator, but I think I originally bought it anticipating using it for sanding (since it's specifically for toxic dust). I guess I thought it would work for MSC, too, but it really doesn't - at least not completely! I did find this helpful site, though, for anyone who's confused about all the respirator terminology like "P100" and "N" and "R."

 

Deadly does in fact mean It Can KILL you. Just because it doesn't do it right away doesn't mean it's not harming you.
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/s...you-need-to-know-about-respiratory-protection! Respirator. Wear it. A real one, not a surgery mask.