Table(less) Cloth

Step 3 Epoxy

I'm using some US Composites 2 part slow epoxy, it's rather old resin and starting to yellow, fresh would be better but I need the fresh for projects I care about...

When working with epoxy, follow certain common sense procedures, gloves, respirator and for the love of god do not clean your hands with acetone!!!!!

Anyways, mix up about $20 worth of epoxy and saturate the cloth with the epoxy..

Comments

[Housedog]

 What's your problem with acetone as a hand cleaner? ;)

[nerocon]

I had the same question and did some reasearch, the theroy goes that the Acetone will strip away the oil's on your skin allowing bad chemicals from the hardener to pass into your system easier. It has been known for some to become extremely sensitive to epoxy after such exposure.

Some also think acetone is a carcinogen, but heh what is not these days? I have also heard the carcinogen claims started to help curb the amphetamine problem as it is a key chem in the preparation of methamphetamine.

I personally have never used gloves, or a mask to use epoxy or acetone.. Just use common sense and don't stir it with your fingers or something. Also if you get some on you, wipe it off sooner rather then later then clean up with a just a tiny amount of solvent, don't pour it over your skin. If your going to be exposed for an extended period of time to the epoxy or whatever, yeah then its a good idea to get a respirator, and gloves, and probably even a tyvek suit, but for quick small jobs meh, just be careful.

[LittleWolf]

So methamphetamines are acceptable, but not if carcinogenics are involved; you wouldn't want to put your health at risk!

[nerocon]

lol, guess I should of elaborated on that a bit.. What I meant was the carcinogen claims started about acetone so it was easier to get it pulled from many store shelves. Since it is not regulated like a drug it is hard to control the sale, but if you get enough to think it causes cancer stores wont sell it on their own accord. Personally, I figure whatever works.. I am happy to deal with a lack of a few specific chemicals if it helps slow down the creation of meth, it is an awful drug. The little town I grew up in has been ravaged pretty bad.. It was hard to watch so many of my friends go down that path.

[nerocon]

I should also note, this is all rumor and hearsay as I do not think there are any real studies into if acetone is a carcinogen. But the meth problem is very real, so like I said.. whatever works.

[LittleWolf]

When I lived in Portland, OR, we had this problem with "Meth Vans" basically making neighborhood rounds more often than the ice cream car ever did.

Here in Wisconsin is more or less obscene amounts drunk driving and really really boring anecdotes about the Green Bay Packers than just makes you want to shoot yourself in the head.

[nerocon]

oh yeah, and ventilation! always, always, always properly ventilate your workspace for epoxy or any other harsh substance and the cleanup process. Those fumes are definitely something to really worry about.

[xenobiologista]

That's what I was wondering too, it's the main component in most nail polish removers.

[veeisme]

I'm guessing that epoxy resin and acetone have some kind of horrible chemical reaction that either makes toxic fumes or heat, both of which would be VERY BAD to have happening on your hands.

[mrwolfe]

No, acetone is just a solvent. It doesn't react with epoxy to give of horrible fumes.

Exposure to acetone, as with most things, is a matter of degree. Nail polish remover only contains a small amount of acetone - from memory it's about 30% - and you don't usually put it all over your hands.

Apart from its use as an industrial solvent, acetone is commonly used to kill fungus in house timbers.  It's also highly flammable, so enclosed spaces, acetone and naked flames are not a good mix.

Acetone vapour is not at all good to breathe in for extended lengths of time either and apart from intoxication, extended exposure can result in emphysema.  We are talking about breathing the stuff for hours each day over years here, though.  As for being a carcinogen, I'm not sure.  Everything it seems is carcinogenic in the right concentrations.

That all said, using a rag dipped in acetone to clean your hands won't hurt you if you do it rarely, and in the open.  Not at all a good thing to do on a daily basis however.

Apart from that, I hate having sticky hands, so gloves are the go I think.