The back of the Squadron putty tube seems to be telling me I will get killed if I look at it. Is this true or do they just not want to get sued? I know I should not put a bunch of putty in a plastic bag and inhale the stuff, but how ventelated should the area be? What precautions should I use when handling the putty?
Toluene is an extremely dangerous chemical. I only use the putty in a well ventilated room. Well ventilated meaning I have a fan blowing the fumes away from me and towards an open window. A respirator is recommended (not just the paper dust mask, they’re useless against fumes). I avoid contact with my skin and use rubber (not latex) gloves if I can’t avoid it. Breathing the dust caused by sanding the dried putty is also dangerous.
From Wikipedia (in this case Wikipedia is well documented!):
Very true!, but if anyone that has been building models for any length of time will know that it’s what gets a person “high”. ie: glue sniffers, huffers, etc. Remember when they stopped selling Testors orange tube glue to kids? I don’t think we need Wikipedia to remind us of that. Stay Safe.
Given the extremely small amounts of putty that are typically used during any modeling session and the time spent using the material, overexposures to Toluene are very unlikely to occur. Of course, it’s still a good idea to work in a well-ventilated space. Interestingly, Toluene, like most organic solvents (particularly the aromatics) has what’s called an “odor threshold” that’s several times below the level at which inhalation toxicity occurs. The “average” individual can detect Toluene as low as 2.0 ppm, while inhalation toxicity may occur around 50 ppm, the current lowest recommended standard. So just because you can smell it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re being overexposed to it.
For reinforcement, I did a little “worst-case” math. Say you’re using about 2 oz. (~59ml) of lacquer paint and thinner (both contain Toluene) to spray your model, and somehow you were able to vaporize the entire 59ml instantaneously. Let’s also assume static conditions such as no ventilation (no spraybooth, no open windows, all doors closed and sealed, etc.), and your modelling area is an average size room (12ft. X 11ft. with an 8ft. ceiling). Depending on the percentages of Toluene in the lacquer mixtures, you can expect exposures within the range of 22.8 to 44 ppm, still below the recommended standard of 50ppm. (The 2oz. is an average of what a poll of ~28 modelers said they use to airbrush an entire kit 1/48-1/35, including prime, top coat, and gloss/dull coat. Same is true for room size.)
Having said all that, does that mean that precautions should not be taken to minimize exposures to any solvent? Of course not. Good ventilation, using minimal amounts, keeping the caps on when not in use, wearing gloves to minimize skin contact, etc., is just good practice. Do you need a respirator while applying putty? The short answer is “no”, but if it makes you feel more secure, have at it. (Please notice I said puttying, not painting: totally different animal.)
Hope this helps a little.
Gip Winecoff
Mr. Winecoff, I like your use of ‘worse case’ math in your response. A really smart person told me a long time ago " Mike, everything has a number! and numbers don’t lie! and I mean everything!!". Mathamatics.[8D]
Well here is the material safety data sheet required by OSHA if you used the stuff in the workplace.
http://www.flare.ca/tolulene.pdf
and here is one for Bondo glazing and spot putty which is similar to Squadron putty (and I find it easier to use as well as cheaper)
Aaronw wrote:
"Well here is the material safety data sheet required by OSHA if you used the stuff in the workplace.
http://www.flare.ca/tolulene.pdf
and here is one for Bondo glazing and spot putty which is similar to Squadron putty (and I find it easier to use as well as cheaper)
http://www.wd-wpp.com/msds2/000000f2.pdf"
MSDS are a good, but BASIC, source of information. To be useful, they must be interpreted, evaluated, and applied to specific task-based situations. Exposures to toluene while applying a half-gallon kit of Bondo to a 1973 GM rust-bucket over the course of 4 hours is totally different than applying 5 grams to the seams of your kits for a whole 5 minutes. Like the tube of Squadron putty, or any hazardous material for that matter, much of the information provided-while useful-is still information provided in such a way as to reduce a manufacturer’s liability for that product. A good common sense approach to the safe use of any hazardous material is still authorized.
Gip Winecoff
Thanks for the info guys. So I don’t need a hazmat suit when I use the schtuff, but I shouldn’t breathe much of it in. I wonder what happens if I eat it…
Testors orange tube glue - the old days…
It was tough building models inside those paper bags!
…oh wait, I still use it. [:P]
We use Toluene at work, and are required towear nitrile gloves when we handle it on open rages (cleaning, removing adhesive etc). Years ago I was stripping carpet adhesive out of the back cabin of a Bell Jetranger, and after about twenty minutes of being in the cabin with it (doors off, indoors) I was getting loopy…
The small amount we use on a hobby basis, as long as you are not down snorting and and allow it to flash off and get some fresh air blowing through your workspace is far less likely to be dangerous *(everynoe is different and reacts differently to differnt chemicals) that what you will need to wear a Level “A” suit for. Personally I find Testors liquid glue in the glass bottle (MEK base) far more aggrivating (iti s banned from our company).
David
In that TNT is tri-nitro toluene, if you mix tolouene and nitro-glycerine, do you get a bang ? [;)]
As to the danger of toluene, remembre it’s a major componenent of many finger nail polish removers the ladies and goth kids in your lives use to remove the shiny stuff from their finger nails. Warning labels also address worst case scenarios by candidates for the Darwin award as seen here,
eg: “Do not attempt to stop the blade with your hand.” – In the manual for a Swedish chainsaw (Is this a problem in Sweden?)
“Warning: May contain nuts.” – On a package of peanuts. (One could only hope!)
“For indoor or outdoor use only.” – On a string of Christmas lights. (and the alternative is…?)