So just how toxic is G-10 dust?

Mark J said:
Looks goofy, but it's actually a pretty cool idea. Aside from having a beard, I particularly like the aspect that it won't fog up glasses. Dan, do you use one of these? If so, does it work well?

- Mark
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I use it almost constantly in the shop. Lightweight, comfortable. Particulate only, but I don't do a lot where fumes are an issue (e.g. hardly ever use micarta). It is plastic and will wear out but it's cheap enough to replace.

Like you, it not including or interfering with eye protection is a plus for me. I also wear prescription safety glasses with side and top shields.
 
If you will be grinding or working in a dusty shop more than 10 hours a month, invest in a positive pressure air system. That way you don't have to worry about beards, sweat, or rashes. The Air cap II, Trend Air shield, and other similar systems are well worth the investment.
 
I just finished grinding for a couple hours in the shop. I was grinding some blades and some bone handle material. I wore my respirator and safety glasses and all the normal shop gear.

The whole time I was grinding I didn't smell a thing. When I finished and took off the respirator the smell was terrible from the bone grinding, but my nose was clean.

So I went in the house while all the dust settled and I decided to go do some clean up...without the respirator! I swept a little, blew some dust around with my air compressor wiped a few things down.

When I came in a blew my nose, pure black grunge!

I guess the point here is, the respirator was working until I made the choice to take it off. I always wear it when I work, now I'll be wearing it when I clean up as well.
 
I dropped some cash into a 3M Breathe Easy system, and it was one of the best shop purchases I've made. It's positive pressure, comfortable, and VERY effective.

--nathan
 
I watched my uncle whom I was very close to die of lung cancer over a period of 6 months. He was only 68, didn't smoke and had worked driving a truck in the coal mines for years. When you see someone you love gasping for air as if they are drowning it makes a real impact on you.
I didn't use to wear a dust mask ever. Now I wear a resperator. I found the good respirators (around$40) are way more comfortable than the flimsy disposable dust masks. The respirators dont get hot and steamy from exhaling like dust masks. Buy one and hang in front of your grinder where you hit your head on it if you don't put it on.

Also, buy a shopvac, put a micro filter on it and tape the hose to the bottom of your grinder. If the dust floats all over your shop then you are just going to breath it in later when you are sweeping up.
 
bladsmth said:
If you will be grinding or working in a dusty shop more than 10 hours a month, invest in a positive pressure air system. That way you don't have to worry about beards, sweat, or rashes. The Air cap II, Trend Air shield, and other similar systems are well worth the investment.
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I had one of those. The old Racal that 3M now owns and sells. I switched to the resp-o-rator because it is so much lighter and more comfortable that I use it much, much more.
 
The Trend Air Shield is a bit heavy and somewhat like wearing a space helmet, but not too hard to get used to.
The Air cap II is not much more than wearing ball cap with a face shield on it. I drop the battery pack in my back pocket. I vacuum and blow the filters clean after a long session.
For normal sanding and grinding they are more than efficient enough.
For more serious contaminants, I have a full face power respirator with double cartridges.
Finally, although I don't use it ( because the other respirators are so much more convenient), I have an outside air full hood system with umbilical hose. Haven't used it since I took down the meth lab.:D
Actually, I used to wear one when working with cyanide.

Having worked as a research chemist, and coming from a family of medical professionals ,you can see that I don't take lung protecting lightly.
 
I saw on that other forum a decent cheap air filtration system that Tracy explained if anyone is interested. What you do is get a box fan or 2 and some furnace filters that cover the back of the fan. Fit them over the back of the fan and duct tape the edges of the filter to the fan. Hang the fan(s) up and turn them on (be a bit strategic on that don't just toss them up like fly paper). The idea is as the fan is drawing the air into it the furnace filters will collect all the fine particles. He said he runs 2 (I think)in his shop and thinks they work better the the filtration system he has. Naturally you have to repl;ace the filters every so often. But for the cost of a box fan and a furnace filter you have an economical air filter system.
 
I know G10 sure stinks to high heaven when you cut it with a dremel. Not a good sign. Caused all manner of yelling when my shop was in the basement.

Great ideas here gentlemen, thank you all. I happen to have a box fan and extra furnace filters layin' around, I'll try that as well as the shop-vac thing. Yup I wear a respirator.

As a side note, lets remember our peepers too. I wear a full face shield... if you had a face as handsome as mine, you'd protect it too! :D
 
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