Additional Shop safety notice

D

Doc Hollywood

Joined
Jan 24, 2003
Messages
341
Mete pointed out in an earlier safety thread that Jim "Paw Paw" Wilson recently passed of pneumonia caused by zinc poisoning.

I contacted Jock Dempsey at Anvilfire to confirm this, as it was hard to believe (no discredit to Mete), but unfortunately true. Paw Paw died about 5 days ago from pneumonia caused by zinc gas poinsoning from burning off the galvanize on some pipe in his forge. Jock said he knew better, and over time I have seen all of the older guys at anvilfire warn against playing with galvanized anything in a fire, but paw Paw did it, and got sick.

As Jock informed me (for those that don't go to anvilfire), he became ill after the forge incident, and recovered. He thought he was fine. A sudden case of double pnuemonia hit him and a few days later he was dead. Very unfortunate in that a very giving soul was lost to something as simple as not following ones own advice.

I don't know if anything has been posted here on this, as I have not run a search. Sorry if this post is repetition.

Doc
 
I know from experiance as a welder that zinc is bad stuff, just never knew it was that bad. At one time we had zinc bars we'd melt over welds with the torch, no telling how much of that crap got into our lungs, but I always felt like crap aftorward, even with good ventilation.

It never hurts to be reminded of the dangers, even or especialy when you already know them.
 
I did the same thing one day and fortunately stayed far from the forge until the air was clear of all smoke. That is scary, and I'm sad we've lost a good man. Let's pray no one else gets poisoned this way. Our vocation is rewarding but it sure has its dangers. Be careful!
 
yes bad stuff
that green smoke is no good. milk will clear up the sick feeling
but the lungs are not the place for it..if you have lung problems anyway
pneumonia would be a great posablity and in older folk it's a killer. .
 
I've tried to stay out of the arguments over safety,lately.Too many of the makers say,"I do XXXXXX all the time ,and it ain't killed me yet." Well,here is the proof.It is statements like Dave's,"I stayed far enough away until the smoke cleared" that often leads new makers to think that it is OK if you don't see it.The poison in Zinc,Cadmium,Vanadium,etc. is not visible.Any amount in the air at the forge is in all air around the forge.Yes it dissipates with volume and distance,but so does buckshot.I still wouldn't let anyone shoot at me just because they are farther away. Throwing a galvanized pipe in the forge to burn off the zinc and leaving the shop until the air clears is not safe.Using black iron pipe with no zinc coating is.The attempt to save money by using a cheaper,more available item killed Jim Wilson,and the same lack of knowledge about what is going on in the shop can kill any one of us.This is why I stress learning all about the process of knife making and basic metallurgy BEFORE you pick up your first piece of steel.Starting as a stock removal maker will not save your lungs. LEARN ABOUT THE MATERIALS YOU ARE USING, AND FOLLOW ALL THE SAFETY PROCEDURES.Dave, I am not picking on you,I am only using your post as an example because it is right above this post.We all need to slow down and think.Unless you have a degree in materials safety - READ all you can about what you are doing and the materials you are working with.Also,remember that everything you read on the Internet (including this site) is not necessarily the best advise.
Stacy Apelt
 
Man! Very sad to think a little precaution could have saved his life. Lets learn from this and apreciate the next time someone says "I wouldnt do that".
Very sad.
 
Whew! that's scary stuff. It's always sad to hear of a loss in the world of knives.
Scott
 
Razorback - Knives said:
Whew! that's scary stuff. It's always sad to hear of a loss in the world of knives.
Scott
Click to expand...

Well man, I don't know how much knifemaking he did, but he was one helluva blacksmith by reputation, and had a big soft spot for kids. I loved reading some of the stuff he posted about doing an expo for a bunch of kids someplace, and the book he posted in 3 parts on anvilfire.....good stuff.

Neither here nor there above, but we play with stuff doing this (blacksmithing/bladesmithing/stock removal) that most have no appreciation of the dangers surrounding. Sometimes the makers themselves have no idea what they are playing withthat may be dangerous till they find out the hard way. I don't want to hear about any of you finding out hte hard way!

If in doubt don't play with it! If you think it might be dangerous it most likely is! READ THE MSDS that comes with everything you work with. It is there to keep your head about you,, and you standing upright. It is not just an OSHA thing. It may very well save you or someone in your families life for the 5 to 10 minutes it takes to read it.

You guys turn out some beautiful work, and the world would be robbed of some true artisans in your passing. Don't rush the freaking passing! Stick around and have a beer.....

Doc
 
bladsmth said:
The poison in Zinc,Cadmium,Vanadium,etc. is not visible.Any amount in the air at the forge is in all air around the forge.Yes it dissipates with volume and distance,but so does buckshot.
Stacy Apelt
Click to expand...
Stacy I know it's not funny but that made me laugh. Your point is well taken.
 
I've been learning to forge on rebar (hey... I'm poor alright :p ) and there's always a green flame when I put a bar in there and it's getting to critical... I didn't notice this with 0-1 but then again I did very little with 0-1. the flame is usually blue if theres nothing in there. Is this normal??
 
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