I’ve been modeling for two years now. I wear a respirator while airbrushing, gluing, and cleaning my airbrushes. But i’m still worried of getting ill from this hobby. I know most of you are into this hobby longer than i am i would like to know if you have had any health problems caused indirect/directly by our hobby?
Post it here if you’ve had a respiratory problem like asthma, lung CA, or emphysema.
Skin problems, Liver, kidney, or even reproductive problems you think was caused by our tools/kits.
I have been modeling off and on for years and I have no health problems( other than breaking my arm a month ago) but I think that if yiu are that worried about health risks then maybe you might want to quit the hobby. I can buy into the respirator for the airbrush painting but nothing else. BTW to wear a respirator you are supposed to be trained on it. Otherwise it does no good
[#ditto] I’ve been modeling off and on for over 40 years and nothing bad to report.
Heck, I was using Testors tube glue when it was REALLY good! [swg]
As far as reproductive problems? My wife dropped twins on me in 1979!! But, I REALLY don’t think modeling had anything to do with that! [:D]
I have incurred no physical health impairments as a direct result of modelling exposure, but there may have been a few bouts of minor mental & emotional stress and the occassional case of post-traumatic stress syndrome following modelling disarsters.
I started modeling back when airplane glue was really something (in the 1940s) and have been modeling off and on ever since. Like some of the others, I had mental anguish. That and a few scars from exacto and scalple blades. No other health problems related to the hobby. Just follow safe proceedures as you are now doing and you should be fine.
I think the three packs of cigaretts, the 1/2 bottle of Jack Daniels, and the 6 pack of beer I used to do while modeling may have done more harm than any of the glues or paints.
As long as you work in a well ventilated area, you will be just fine. It is a good idea to use the resperator, or a mask when painting or sanding large areas or if you don’t have good ventilation. Like was said earlier, make sure you have the proper filters and are wearing the mask correctly, otherwise your just causing yourself more discomfort.
Scott
i have many allergies and have suffered from asthma all my life. modeling does not affect me at all. i try to make sure i glue and paint in well ventilated areas. i also make sure, just in case, that i have my inhaler close. of course if i do happen to make the mistake of doing anything in a non ventilated area of the house my wife goes through the roof and then i get great ventilation.
I was thinking the same thing, David.
We could all end up with a check for $2.53 US and the attorney will retire in the Bahamas with a summer home on a thousand acres of prime hunting and fishing land in Montana!!
I had a complete physical right after my non model related accident. The doctor said I am in perfect health, for a man my age. I have been building models for over 50 years. The only problem I have is five thumbs on each hand.
I think as long as you use a mask for airbrushing, especialy if you’re using enamels and if your sanding alot of resin or using a dremel to hog out resin from some of the aftermarket stuff you should be ok. Do what you feel is appropriate to your own safety.
If you have concerns about paints or chemistry you might be using in the hobby, contact the company that manufactures it and request an msds sheet. (Material Safety Data Sheet) it will gove you all the pertinent info needed including heavy metals content, flash point etc. While it may not give up proprietary info it will give you the essentials.
All said, it is your responsibility to act as you see fit and appropriately with the materials being used. Some of the materials used in the hobby are hazardous. Cellulose based solvents, resin dust, laquers, etc. all have the potential for harm. But so does a bowl of cornflakes if misused so its really what you are comfortable with.
i’m glad that everyone healthy. It just scares me evrytime i use my glue or paint labeled “has a known substance that can cause repro problems or CA.” Since most of you have been modeling for some time now and never had a single health related problem i guess it’s just what i needed to hear to continue modeling. Thanks for the replies.
Ah, that would explain it then. EVERYTHING causes cancer in California. You’ll find that warning on just about anything that contains more than three reactive chemicals. There for awhile in Sacramento, that warning was included in the water bill. And people wonder why I don’t drink much water.
Very true. Another important point is that it will tell you what safety equipment to use for the chemical in question. I’m a safety officer at my company and the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are one of my responsibilities. There’s lots of useful information on those pages that will keep you safe and healthy.
off the topic a little. did you know that if you drink too much soda at one sitting it can cause cancer? of course i have never drunk that much in one sitting. i believe the number is in the hundreds.