Since I’ ve returned to the hobby after a 30+ year absent I 've noticed some changes I never had to worry about before.
It seems that the dust from sanding styrene or resin clogs my sinuses to the point that I absolutely cannot breathe. The fumes from Zap-A-Gap seam filling super glue are a particular hazard, a couple of minutes of its fumes and my nose is clogged for days, then a day or two of really bad nasal drip before everything returns to normal.
Decaling with MicroSol or using Future doesnt cause any problem. Ive taken to wearing a very good quality 3M painters face mask, the kind with the replaceable filters.
I admit to feeling a bit silly sitting at the kitchen table wearing it while modeling but it seems to keep me from being affected by the fumes that seem to be so irritating.
When I airbrush I always wear the mask and use very good ventilation since I havent been able to make a paint booth yet. It makes sense to me that a mask while airbrushing would be a necessity, but I wouldnt think it would be needed while doing other modeling chores like sanding or using glue.
Are the materials used today so different from what was around when I was modeling years ago that this isnt as unusual as I think it is? Does anyone else wears any kind of mask while they do any kind of modeling activity? Do I just have some sort of allergy to the dust and glue fumes that I didnt have 30+ years ago?
It is indeed quite possible for someone to develop an allergy to something later in life even though they had no adverse affects when younger. We had a 15 year member of the Air Force develop a terrible reaction to one of the chemicals we used on a daily basis. One day, the reaction hit and that was it.
As for myself, I’ve been lucky thus far. I’m not allergic to anything (that I’m aware) and I do not use masks with the only exception being when doing large amounts of resin sanding (touch up sanding, I don’t bother). This includes not wearing a mask while airbrushing and I too have no paint booth. Nothing makes me sick except my terrible lack of progress at times!
You might want to get a referal to an allergist, just to check things out. The reactions you’re getting seem pretty significant and seem to go beyond the normal irratants we deal with.
I have the same problems. As soon as I deal with Mr. Surfacer, Super glue, Liquid cement or the airbrush, I have sinuses problem. The airbrush problem is now solved since I have a spraybooth and I will probably buy a good respirator for when I work at the bench. Add the pollen allergy symptoms on top of that and you get a feel of how I felt lately.
Those don’t affect me, but I do have that same reaction to beer…sad but true.
Oh my! That’s just terrible Mike [XX] Imagine, not being able to enjoy a nice cold one in those 100 F temps you get over there [BH] I know I’m enjoying one now[#toast]
I have no reaction to anything in my hobby room. I do wear a very good two stage respirator when painting and sanding with resin. The ones that are designed for paint fumes and particles.
I would like to offer a few comments and tips
- Sanding styrene and resin: Although polystyrene is considered a low-toxicity material, there is some indication that it can cause some inflammatory activity in the lung dependent on the surface area of the particulate. Resin dust is simply a nuisance particulate, that, like any dust, can irritate the respiratory system–dependent on its concentration in air, frequency and duration of exposure, and any personal susceptibilities (ie, asthma).
Tip: The best thing you can do is to wet sand these products. Keeping your plastic and resin wet can reduce or almost eliminate any airborne particulates generated during sanding.
- Super glues: Cyanoacrylates have been known to cause allergic reactions (chemical asthma) in some individuals after repeated exposures. MicroSol and Future don’t evaporate very fast, so it takes more time to get much (if any) airborne vapor concentrations.
Tip: Keep your nose out of the jar. I have a terrible habit of getting very close to my work, and sometimes I think I inhale as much as goes on the part to be worked. Put a small fan slightly behind you and to the side, blowing toward your work. The airflow will dilute vapor concentrations, and carry them out of your breathing zone. In addition, try to back away when applying or working with solvents. Use a magnifier of some sort to help keep your distance. Keeping an open window will also help by allowing an exhchange of fresh air. Furthermore, keep the lid on your containers, and move them away from your immediate work area when not in use. Lastly, keep your room and work area(s) clean and free of dust. And don’t sit with a trash can between your legs that’s full of solvent-contaminated paper towels, etc.
- The materials that you and I used 30 years ago are still around, but many have been reformulated to make them more “environmentally friendly”. Notice I didn’t say safer. Big difference, although having said that, many solvents have been substituted with other, “safer” solvents that require a higher dose over similar exposure times to produce the same effect. What that means is that your hobby glue now contains MEK, and it takes almost 4 times the amount to get you as “high” as toluene did, and without the reproductive health effects. Enamel and lacquer paints are not the only kids on the block anymore. Many modelers now choose to paint with acrylic enamels, which are “relatively” safer (alcohols and glycol ethers can still cause problems).
Tip: Use only the amount to get the job done. Go with liquid instead of the thick tube glue. Instead of using the brush that comes with liquid glue, use a No. 1 round paint brush (or smaller). See no. 2 above.
If following a few of these guidelines doesn’t help eliminate the need for a respirator while you are building (as opposed to painting), then I would echo Mr. Lafleche’s directives: Make an appointment to see your doctor, and go over your symptoms with him. Be sure to include the types of materials you are using, the amounts you use, and how often you use them. Our bodies change over time (how well I know!), and things that didn’t affect us years ago, do now.
Let us know how things go, and all the best to you.
Gip Winecoff
Yep, it sure sux, Drew. Wasn’t always like that, though. It seemed to come on suddenly about 10-12 years ago and has been that way ever since. Wine coolers are OK though, so the hot days don’t bother me too much!
Cheers, my friend! [#toast]
Whew! Glad to hear that, at least - I didn’t realize they still made those, but glad for you that they do! I haven’t seen a Bartles & Jaymes commercial for decades now.
Heaven help me, we were at the supermarket a couple of weeks ago and they had one of those life size carboard stand-ups of the two Bartles and Jaymes guys with a motion sensor that triggered a recording of “Thanks for your Support” everytime someone walked by. Talk about your basic blast from the past.
No I can’t say that modeling makes me sick.But since I changed over to Tamiya acrylic paint and use Pacer Zap-A-Gap for assembly smell is not an issue.As for working with resin,I solve the irritation problem by using a shallow pan filled with water to sand the resin parts.Keeps the resin particles in suspension and prevents irritation from resin dust.