Epoxy dust containment

NeilJ · Post by **NeilJ** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:59 pm

So I told my wife I need good respirator so I am not breathing epoxy dust while I sand my boat. Now she is in a bit of a dither because she is worried about our young children breathing the epoxy dust as well. I have hung plastic on the boat shop side of the garage and of course the kids are not around when I sand but she is worried about what I have left on my clothes and bring into the house as well as what is on the floor that I don't get swept up and what is inevitably left on the tool boxes, bench etc on my side of the garage. Am I being careless? How much do I need to contain the sanding dust from from the epoxy? How much of a concern is it?

Post by **jem** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 4:48 pm

For me, it's always been a mild concern.

To contain the dust, what has worked best for me is using sanders with the vacuum attachment.

Also, when the boat gets dusty, I wipe it with a damp cloth instead of blow it off. Or, if the hull completely sealed, I'll hose it down.

Kayak Jack · Post by **Kayak Jack** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 4:52 pm

If your wife doesn't want the dirty clothes in the house, make some kind of an arrangement with her to come take them off you before you enter the house.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for additional children at your household.

hairymick · Post by **hairymick** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:50 pm

As far as I know,

Epoxy and fibre-glass sanding dust is only a potential problem if inhaled. ie when it is airborn.

Once the dust settles - so to speak,

it can be safely wiped or vacumed up.

I remove dusty clothes in the laundry before entering the house proper, and shake them out outside before washing.

Some form of dust extraction on your sander is a good idea. Standard vacume cleaner duct taped to the exhaust of your sander works well.

A good carbide pull scraper will eliminate around 60% of your sanding. Do it before the resin completely cures ie when it is dry to touch but not properly hard.

Re how much of a concern is it.

Like any airborn dust, it is a potential resporatory irritant. That is all. I don't think the dust is particularly toxic. just dust - is all. My kids and grand kids come and go from my shed all the time. I hunt them out of the shed when I am sanding or shortly there-after.

Oldsparkey · Post by **Oldsparkey** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:39 pm

Sanding anything on the boat , If I can it is usually outside with a fan blowing. When the sanding is done then the boat is wiped down with a towel.
The last step is when the compressor is dragged out , plugged in and the boat gets a final dusted with a air gun.

Then it is back in the shop and the process continues with building it.

Minor sanding is done in the shop without any protection.

One exception , when working with Cedar or Red Wood then a respirator/mask is needed when sanding since that dust is toxic. Inside the shop or outside it is a respirator/mask all the time with those woods.

Chuck.

craiggamesh · Post by **craiggamesh** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:04 pm

I like Jack's idea the best.

I also keep the kids out and wear a half face respirator and keep the garage door open when sanding.

LEE SCHNEIDERMANN · Post by **LEE SCHNEIDERMANN** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:17 am

Kayak Jack wrote:If your wife doesn't want the dirty clothes in the house, make some kind of an arrangement with her to come take them off you before you enter the house.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for additional children at your household.

You know Jack, on some other sites, you'd have your posts deleted for that baudy, raucious language. Please try to control your s*x talk!!

Lee

Kayak Jack · Post by **Kayak Jack** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:18 pm

Must be the result of those testerone shots. they're working.

Lee, I'm going to back channel you about paddling your area.