Wet & Dry

[Guest]

Hi (again)

As always as I trundle my way through my model (1st one as you probably already know) I get something that comes into my head about safety, painting techniques and as always this is my first port of call. Anyway heres my usual questions stupid or otherwise:

When sanding (and I mean on a small scale) plastic parts alot of people on other forums are saying to wear a dust mask. Does anyone else do this on the forum? Surely if you are using a sanding stick/sandpaper on a 1/72 model and sanding tiny parts I could'nt see how this would pose a hazard.

I have Tamiya fine grade sandpaper of 400, 600 and 1000 grading. Is this the same as wet and dry sandpaper? Thanks in advance as always for any advice.

I mentioned Squadron green putty on another posting but boy does that stuff look nasty!! Im in two minds whether to even bother going near the stuff!!!

[Guest]

On a personal note , I only really use a mask when cutting and sanding anything resin and using anything solvent ie- paints cleaners thinners etc , I do have a cheap airbrush expo paint booth which is great for acrylic stuff for which I don`t wear a mask , bottom line is if your happy using a mask then carry on, as you say health and safety is no 1 ,

another thing is good ventilation for modelling no matter if its winter or summer if you can keep a window or two open then do it

Richy

[Guest]

On a personal note , I only really use a mask when cutting and sanding anything resin and using anything solvent ie- paints cleaners thinners etc , I do have a cheap airbrush expo paint booth which is great for acrylic stuff for which I don`t wear a mask , bottom line is if your happy using a mask then carry on, as you say health and safety is no 1 , another thing is good ventilation for modelling no matter if its winter or summer if you can keep a window or two open then do it

Richy

Hi Richy

Resin seems to come up alot when masks are mentioned. I have a half face mask with pre and main filters. So I am covered I suppose.

I tend to do alot of hand painting in the living room with enamels and acrylic paint. I have to admit that I don't open a window the odd time and I get a sore head occassionally. The problem for me is that other people are present in the living room when I paint so I would be more worried about polluting their atmosphere than myself. A trip to the garage to work? Then winter means I can't do anymore building.

Doh. All personal perference I suppose but surely working only now and again (an hour or two at best) with Tamiya paint/thinners Revell enamels/thinners could'nt do that much harm? Could it? Call me paranoid. It is bad not having my own workspace. Just a table at present unfortunately (and the aforementioned garage sometimes)

[stona]

As above,I sand resin wet (makes a mess) and honestly don't always wear a mask,I probably should. I never bother with a mask when sanding plastic,usually it's just adjusting a fit or cleaning off attachment points anyway.

Personally I don't use the Squadron putties anymore as I find the Tamiya stuff much better.

I do my brush painting with both types of paints at my desk with no particular ventilation. I spray (acrylics) with a mask and well ventilated. It can be a bit chilly!

Cheers

Steve

[geegad]

Hello bud about the mask the only time I wear one if I remember is when I use my air brush but apart from that there is more to worry about what you breath out on the street than a small sanding bud..

And the putty as long as youvwash your hands after and don't suck them clean you will be fine

Geegad

[Dave W]

Squadron green (and white) filler contains Toluene.This stuff gives off harmful vapours and is not used in the Aviation industry any more (although we are allowed to use MEK which is just as nasty!).My modeling is done in a large draughty shed so i dont worry about it.In fairness to Squadron,the tubes have a warning on them that the stuff gives off harmful vapours.

[Guest]

I think a bit of common sense is all that's needed, if I can smell it or see it in the air I wear a mask. If I read the packaging and I think it's risky I wear a mask

Other than that health & safety experts can kiss my a###, we all have to die some day :laughing:

[Guest]

Read your comment about working in the garage Neil & which is just how I work.

I have made this cosy. Cheap carpet tiles from B & Q on the floor. Polystyrene 2 inch thick panels stuck to the garage door for insulation. A thermostatically controlled heater. Very pleasant with my music in the corner.

Heat only when I am in there. Bought a Stuart gardener's incubator which is thermostat controlled. Insulated the walls with foam & has a temperature for drying of about 26 degrees. Takes a Lancaster 1/72 fully completed. Also have a £65 spray booth. Cut a hole in the garage door with a proper louvre externally & a plug when the spray booth ducting is not being used.

Very happy & not having to endure some horrible television programme.

Laurie

[Guest]

Dave W. Ref. filler.

Just got hold of some Vallejo filler & it is the best filler I have used. No smell at all. Comes in a tube with a long thin dispenser. Dispenses about 1mm thickness. Quick drying & does not splinter or disintegrate when sanded.

Filled 4 holes just over 1mm. Left the filler proud. Sanded after 20 mins. Airbrushed 1 coat & you can only just ghost see the filled holes by looking close up. Good especially as the filler is white & the paint dark green. The paint is Vallejo Acrylic so cannot vouch for enamel.

Laurie

[Guest]

Gentlemen, there's a simple rule; if your body can't break it down, it's harmful, since it will stay in the tiny tubes of your lungs, choking them. My heart always sinks, when I read (usually from someone a lot younger than myself) "We all have to die sometime." There once was a big, strong, modeller, who wrote for Scale Models, and specialised in conversions. He never wore a mask, and died, at a fairly early age, and, according to reports, had turned into a broken, shrunken old man; the cause was cancer, usually associated with smoking, but he never smoked, and general opinion had it that it was the styrene/resin dust, which he'd inhaled. Respiratory diseases are not to be dismissed lightly; the effects on the human body can be devastating, not just for the patient, but also the family left behind, who can only say,"If only." Read up about how many miners have died early, just from the effects of breathing in coal dust, which was always thought to be innocuous. £15-20, for a facemask may sound expensive, but it's cheaper than the average life insurance policy, these days.

Edgar

[Dave W]

A lot of us older modellers (im 53) grew up before health and safety became the big thing it is today.I joined the RAF as an Airframe fitter in 1975.Most of my coleagues back then had a cavalier atitude towards working with dangerous substances.Even doing airframe repairs some engineers wouldnt bother wearing goggles when drilling metals.These days i work in civilian aviation and great importance is placed on health and safety.Respirators,rubber gloves and all the the safety equipment is provided.Even body harnesses for working at height which were unheard of in my time in the RAF.Our young apprentices have been educated in the health and safety culture and take it very seriously.Those that dont are reminded by myself or one of my fellow inspectors!.What im saying is attitudes have changed and rightly so.I now wear a respirator when spraying models.And i wear rubber gloves when cleaning my airbrush and mixing paints.I used to get thinners all over my hands before which cant have been good for my skin.Ive had skin Psoriasis since the age of 13.Maybe its a result of getting paint and thinners on my skin(started modelling at around 8 years old).

[Guest]

I also from 18 suffered form Psoriasis Dave.

This skin problem is hereditary & is something to do with a a snagged up gene.

Paint thinners etc will aggravate but not cause it. It is the immune system which works overtime & does not know when to stop which causes the problem. Noticed when I was using enamels for a short period it aggravated the skin on my hands but calmed down when I went to acrylics. Which is a warning to others that these things are harmful not only to lungs but also skin.

Laurie

[stona]

The good advice and salutary tale above add up to one simple injunction.

Enjoy your modelling but for God's sake do it safely.

Steve