JEM Watercraft

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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