How toxic is smoke from Parks 50?

[Patrice Lemée]

I know smoke is not good but how big of a deal is it? I have the garage door open and both dust extractors running but I still breath in a little smoke until it clears.
I need a bigger quench tank for large blades, that would help with the smoking.
But until I do build one, should I add a fan and mask too or would it be overkill? I only quench maybe half a dozen blades a year.

Thanks

Sorry, posted this in the wrong forum.

 

[brownshoe]

There may be some nasty chemicals in the smoke, but I am not sure what Parks 50 is made of or what its combustion products would be. Smoke is mostly small particulates, which are never good to inhale. Any small particle will cause lung damage, some worse than others. That is why coal miners get black lung, asbestos workers get white lung and mushroom workers get brown lung. The particles are not "toxic" in an immediate manner, but in the long term systematic exposure. If you have a respierator and a fan, maybe the question is why NOT use them?

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks brownshoe, good point. I don't have the fan (easy to buy) but I do have a respirator.
As John White pointed out, the size of my tank is the first thing I should look at cause it should not smoke that much.
But I will also take your advice and use every precaution possible. Why not as you say.

 

[AVigil]

With all the knifemakers using Parks 50 I bet someone could put up the MSDS info here

 

[Boggs]

I'm not to sure ....this guy not only was sniffing the stuff but also took a bath in it....

 

[John White]

Before this one goes completely berserk---- Patrice posted this question over in Shop Talk--here's my reply there--check here for more

Patrice,

If you're getting enough smoke to worry about when quenching into Parks 50, either you don't have enough volume, you're heating the blade way too hot, interrupting the quench too quickly, or exposing overly hot tang or tong metal to the surface of the oil, (back to not enough volume.)

Correct the initial problem. Excess smoke is a clue that something is wrong which will cause other problems with heat-treatment or oil degradation, in addition to a health concern.

John

FYI, here's a bit more info on P-50:

note that the working temperature range for Parks 50 is 50-120 F; do not pre-heat P-50 except to bring it up to the low end of that range in cold weather.

John

 

[gthouse]

Good answer John. This should end discussion. Couldnt have said it better
Gary

 

[Patrice Lemée]

I will close this thread as there is a similar one in Shoptalk and as Gary said, with John's answer, it's pretty clear what I need to do.

Thanks