Will Making Some Knives be Dangerous to my Health

Stark Knives

Stark Knives

Joined
Mar 19, 2010
Messages
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I was thinking about getting into making a few knives, not on a professional scale or anything, just as a side hobby. I just wanted to be sure that it wouldn't cause me any bad health problems in the future as long as I take proper precaution. I just ordered this respirator, will that be okay for keeping out toxic dust?

http://www.amazon.com/MSA-Safety-Works-817663-Multi-Purpose/dp/B00009363G/ref=pd_cp_hi_0

Are there an other tips for keeping the dust at bay and out of my lungs?
 
Looks fine to me. As for other measures, dust collection at your grinder is always a good idea. Also, you can build yourself a decent particulate filter for your shop air out of a box fan, furnace filters, and some tape- search that, there's stuff about it here on the forums.

Wear gloves, nitrile being better than latex, when working with epoxy, and solvents like acetone.

Wear safety glasses, especially when rough grinding.

Hearing protection will be good whenever you find yourself in a noisy environment. The earmuff style, not the foam plugs.

Ground all your equipment, and don't overload your wiring.

Watch out for the buffer. Read about correct technique on these. Same goes for the drill press.

Don't work angry, drunk, or be in a hurry.

Lastly, duck the frying pan when you tell your wife how much you just spent on a TW-90.
 
I think just about any hobby has it's inherent dangers. Knife making probably more so than some others but less than say...bungie jumping, parachuting out of planes or being a part time mercenary. You have to remember you'll be dealing with sharp pieces of steel that have razor sharp edges (hopefully). If that wasn't enough, you'll then be engaged in activities that create a tremendous amounts of hot sparks and using equipment that can reach temperatures of 1500 degrees or more.

If all that wasn't enough, then we have to deal with all kinds of dangerous chemicals that have who knows what kind of side effects years down the road. Not to mention dust from native to exotic woods to synthetic handle material. Even if you take all the excellent precautions that Salem outlines, you're still be exposing yourself some what to these dangers.

In the short time I've been doing this, I've seen some really fine knife makers leave us. I often wonder if perhaps it wasn't their profession that aided in their leaving us.

But like I said in the opening, every hobby has it's dangers. I'm not trying to discourage you from getting into the hobby. On the contrary, most of us are men and I believe there's something in our DNA that calls us to do dangerous things. But if concern for my health was a top priority, I probably wouldn't get into knife making. About the only absolute safe hobby I can think of at this moment is perhaps becoming a bottled water taste tester.
 
If you take precautions, it's much much less dangerous than getting in your car and driving to work every day. The respirator will keep the junk from your lungs. Be sure to use it. Safety glasses on whenever you're in the shop. No work gloves around spinning equipment like saws, drill presses, and lathes. As Salem suggests, respect the buffer. Keep your shop well ventilated. If collecting dust, do not mix wood and metal dust, and prevent sparks from reaching the collector.

--nathan
 
It is much more dangerous to your wallet than your health.

Stan
 
Sorry for the sarcasm.....I am a welder by trade (try to find an old welder).......every day you are alive is one off the total of what you have left....make the best of it by doing what YOU want, apply some basic common sense and safety practices and enjoy, I think that is the point anyway
 
Lots of information here about safety. I use the following Google custom search to search specifc topics on Bladeforums: http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=011197018607028182644:qfobr3dlcra

My non-dominant (left) hand has been through hell. I have drilled clean through the left index finger, punctured the same finger with a paddle bit, which resulted in tendon infection, and split my left thumb with a chisel. Do not use your hand to secure your work. Use a vise or clamp, and keep that hand away from the sharp end of any tool.

Just a couple weeks ago, I was hand sanding a bevel, and did not realize I had created a cutting edge. Lucky my finger only brushed across is lightly.

The naturally occurring chemicals in some woods might surprise you. I recently worked with chechen wood for the first time, and it gave my skin a prickly sensation, like stinging nettles.
 
I would add, wear a heavy leather apron when you grind your knives. I usually do, but the other day I was in a hurry. The belt on my Burr King broke, and hit me in the stomach. It left some red marks. I told my Wife I was coming down with the measles. The belt was a 220 grit. If it had been a 36 grit, it would have been worse.
 
Grinding/sanding outside will not cut down on the amount of dust, there will still be the same amount created. It will, however, not be in an enclosed space so the airborne particles will disperse. I grind outside for the time being, until I can get my shop set up better, and I still use a respirator, face mask, etc. It does cut down on the amount of perceived dust or dust cloud, but there are still shavings.
 
Except for some of the exotic woods, I wouldn't call the dust "toxic" it's the fineness of the particulates that is a problem.

That is probably a good respirator, I'm just not familiar with it.
I find it's all about the fit. I like the soft black silicone half masks.
I see lots of people wearing masks on the top of their head (because it's uncomfortable)

The activated charcoal will help overcome acetone and glue up fumes and such.

Normally you are looking for P100 filters, some cartridges also have a very cheap disposable over filter which extends cartridge life.
It's nice to have the over filters and a spare cartridge too.
You won't know it's time to switch until it gets hard to breathe and you're puffing in and out.

I found the info on that one.
Product Description
From the Manufacturer
Half mask multi purpose respirator. Lightweight with patented nose bridge design that helps the respirator fit better in the challenging nose area. NIOSH approved (P100 class) recommended for
Product Description
The Multi-Purpose Respirator features a soft, comfortable, great fitting face piece for superior comfort and protection, a built-in exhalation valve and low profile replaceable cartridges for better vision. The Respirator comes in recloseable packaging for easy and safe storage. The Muti-pupose Respirator traps over 99.97 of toxic dust including lead, asbestos and Hantavirus. It also meets the latest US government respirator standards (P100 Class), OSHA and NIOSH requirements. The Multi-Purpose Respirator also provides protection from paint fumes, (except urethane paints), pesticides, lead fumes, ammonia, asbestos and toxic dusts
. For replacement use MSA number 817667 replacement cartridges.
Click to expand...


Have a look at this post, there is respirator info at the bottom.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ng-and-forge-question?p=11839735#post11839735
 
It depends on whether or not you consider an "addiction" is bad for your health. It gets that way.... ...Teddy
 
I agree 100% with what Stan said

"It is much more dangerous to your wallet than your health.

Stan"

Everytime I buy something to use making knives with my wife says, "It would be cheaper to just have someone make them for you............." Coming from someone who has a full set of Tim Wright's kitchen knives this doesn't fly very well with me. But I agree that knifemaking is HIGHLY hazardous to MY wallet. I'm really glad I have most of the tools I need to use already.

I do think that some materials/chemicals i.e/e.g., G10, carbon fiber, pearl/abalone, "exotic" hardwoods, epoxies, lubricants, chemical cleaners can be troublesome. Good dust collection and a GREAT respirator are musts.

Did I mention eye protection?

Syn
 
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