Another Thread On Respiratory Safety

A

Arkham Drifter

Joined
Sep 29, 1999
Messages
195
According to 3M when exposed to a workplace containing formaldehyde fumes not only should one use a respiratory filter that guards against it but they warn that one should wear gas proof goggles as well.
I have never ground a speck of Micarta in my life but doesn't that stuff release formaldehyde fumes when heated (i.e exposed to high friction.)? Again, I don't know from experience so I am just asking if gas proof goggles are in fact something that anyone wears when working with micarta regularly?
 
I quit working with micarta after I found out that Bob Loveless dog died. I may chance it if I could ever find the old ivory micarta. I have worked for a insulation company that used the now outlawed fermaldahyde foam. I never wore goggles or resperator and except for a newly grown third nipple I havent suffered any ill affects.
 
Got this from some EPA website.
Other pressed wood products, such as softwood plywood and flake or oriented strandboard, are produced for exterior construction use and contain the dark, or red/black-colored phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin. Although formaldehyde is present in both types of resins, pressed woods that contain PF resin generally emit formaldehyde at considerably lower rates than those containing UF resin.
Click to expand...

Isn't micarta a phenol resin of some sort? Wouldn't surprise me if it was phenol-formaldehyde.
 
AD, just got an e-mail from MJH and he said Micarta as well as Dymondwood and phenol resin bonded belts can release formaldehyde. Makes sense with the Dymondwood, since it is a dyed sort of pressed plywood and the EPA said that pressed plywoods will release formaldehyde. Wear your two stage respirator (organic vapor/formaldehyde and particulate).
 
Chang,
Thanks for the heads-up. Man, this is a hazardous hobby!:(
I just bought some ceramic belts, wonder if they are phenoyl bonded?
 
AD,
Not sure, I think its mostly Si Carbide and Al Oxide that are phenol resin bonded though.

Anyone know?
 
Chang,
Turns out I have some 400 and 600 grit Al Carbide belts as well. I havn't started grinding anything yet, thankfully. I am thinking of calling the manufacturer to get answers to these questions. I'll keep you posted.
 
AD, I don't think the belts can put off enough formaldehyde gas to make it a gas hazard. I'd be more worried about particulate hazards. Probably should go ahead and call them if you want though.
 
Bruce: I believe that Bob Loveless was grinding some high ticket wood when the fumes - dust killed his dog. It has been years since I read the story so could be wrong.

I Sheffield knife supply have some of the micarta you are looking for, the ivory lookng stuff. At least they had some in Atlanta.
 
Ed. Thanks for the reply. I thought it was micarta but Ive been wrong before.

The old micarta that yellows with age is what Ive been looking for. I havent called sheffields but I will if you think they have it. Ive used the butterscotch but dont care for the color.

Merry Christmas, :) Bruce
 
Hell Bob Loveless has been smoking cancer stix, and sucking up Micarta dust years before I was even born... Not to say we dont need to protect ourselves, but $hit your gonna breathe some nasty stuff in this game thats just the nature of the beast... You cant avoid it ALL no matter what you do..I use the 3 V's VENTILATE, VENTILATE, etc... AND a mask... Hell who wants to live to be that old anyway:-) Just kiddin...

Take Care
Trace Rinaldi
www.thrblades.com
 
Everytime I see a person on oxygen while shopping at the mall I think about micarta and G-10. I would like to put wheels on the burr-king and go outside when I grind those two.
 
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