Ti/Vanadium worries...

P

paintfool

Joined
Sep 7, 2004
Messages
301
I was using Ti today for the first time, I was cutting it out with a small cut-off disk. I finished cutting the liners and then came up out of the basement (where I do everything) and I got a bit of a headache only the left side it seemed, it wasn't too bad, but kind of a sharp pain for a few minutes.
anyway, I looked at my face and my resp. didn't seal properly (I should have checked.....) I had a black streak going down the side of my nose.
Anyway, I searched for Ti and health problems etc. on this forum and came across a couple of scary threads talking about Vanadium poisoning. This is not something I want to mess with.... the filters I'm using are the p100's from 3m with the grey 3m half mask, are these going to protect me from V?

They are recommended for welding/grinding and are the same ones I use every year working in a local pulp mill shutdown, doing repairs in the boilers.

I'm kind of worried about this, I had no idea that working with Ti had such potential problems! :barf:

Any info would be great. I don't have a dust collection system, I don't have hardly any air flow in my basement for that matter.

I wouldn't even have bothered to check up on the subject if it wasn't for me having that weird headache, but I guess I learned my lesson....

What measures do all of you take against this? Should I take it outside and grind it with my resp. on? I think my basement is slowly turning into a toxic trap with all the things I've been using down there lately.

Steve. :confused:
 
Steve,
YEP be worried!
Need to have a very good vent system ALONG with a toxic vapors rated cartridge mask. Also a good dust collector is a must.
 
are most of these "dangers" really all that serious? large amounts of vandium are, but in the small amounts that would be breathed in during a forging, is that really that dangerous? what about epoxy micarta? thats not that bad as long as you keep the particles out right? what im asking is, small doses of vandium, formalahyde, or other chemicals found in a bladesmiths shop, arent really that dangerous are they? i just know there are alot of rumors and tales of stuff thats supposed to be bad, but truthfully it takes alot more than most people get exposed too to hurt someone.
 
I can tell you from experience to take every precaution you can. It usually seems like its not that bad and a little bit wont hurt but there can be severe consequences. I helped install a rubber track one summer during school and used a two part adhesive that had some fairly nasty stuff (found out afterwards) and didnt use any precautions for about 6 weeks (no one else was either). Well it ended up giving me a blood disease where basically my body quit making blood. Its not very common but the mortality rate is pretty scary. Something to think about....I use to think I was superman but I got a serious reality check.

Ryan

PS I got a risky treatment that basically leaves you with no immune system for about 6 weeks (none: antibiotics are your best friend) but everything is going really well at this point. My red cells are back up to the low end of normal. Only problem is I had to quit my job so thats why I'm giving this knife making thing a shot since I seem to have plenty of time. Just in case anyone was wondering :D:D:D
 
well life time exposure is what most of these standards are made for, tradesman exposed to various toxins over a long period of time end up sick and or dying. But from what I have read so far even small doses can lead to serious problems later in life.
That's just something I'd like to avoid :p

Looks like I'll be attacking it with files until I get a better air/resp setup.
Steve
 
elvenbladesmith07 said:
are most of these "dangers" really all that serious?
Click to expand...
Yes, the dangers are very serious.

I got a small case of vanadium poisoning. Three months of constant headache, spontaneous nose bleeds and coughing up hard white chunks from my lungs was not fun. That was four years ago and I'm still very sensitive to smoke from metals. I'm much more susceptible to getting a lung related sickness that I was before the poisoning.

I used to think I was Superman. After getting sick I realized I was Stupidman.

Don't screw around and take risks with your health. It is not worth it.



BTW paintfool,
I used to live in Lower Sackville. I miss the Maritimes.
 
I am glad to see some good advise to the makers out there.There is no such thing as a little bit pregnant.Things that are bad for you will catch up with you.Some people say,"Oh,it won't kill you." Well,there are worse things than dying.Coughing and being too weak to do anything the rest of your life will be no fun at all.
WEAR THE BEST PROTECTIVE GEAR YOU CAN AFFORD - or don't do this type of work at all.Also,learn what you are working with.Forewarned is forearmed.
Stacy Apelt
 
Chuck, we're getting a bit of a storm right now, don't miss it too much ;)

can anyone tell me if that link I posted above is a valid filter for this type of work or not?

If it's good enough to be crawling around welding, grinding and dye testing a boiler then shouldn't it be ok for most common metals?

Steve
 
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