How toxic is smoke from Parks 50?

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
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
 
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.

file-64.jpg
 
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I've wondered the same thing. Maybe it's just a characteristic vapor smell that happens, sticks to the clothes. Not so much smoke in my case- 5 gallons and only a blade or two at a time. I kind of like the smell, but I do filter it somewhat by breathing through a lit cigar.

Patrice, did you get an MSDS sheet with your P50? Check that. If you don't have it, Park or Maxim Oil probably have a PDF for you. I'll check mine.
 
John White said:
...exposing overly hot tang or tong metal to the surface of the oil
Click to expand...

Yep, that's it John. Tank is not deep enough and probably not wide enough either. Thanks for putting my priorities back in the right order. A new quench tank it is. And thanks for the additional info sheet.

Salem, MSDS sheets usually read like Chinese to me that's why I asked here. I don't smoke so the cigar trick would probably be worst than the Parks. ;)

Thanks again guys your help is much appreciated.
 
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