Lacquer dangers?

I was using lacquers on my F50 today and it has a really strong smell, as many of you know. Am I in danger of lung damage or anything?

Were you wearing a respirator? I sure hope so, there are numerous harmful things in lacquers, safety and your health should be the number one concern. Buy a respirator if you don't have one, or wear if it if you do.

Were you wearing a respirator? I sure hope so, there are numerous harmful things in lacquers, safety and your health should be the number one concern. Buy a respirator if you don't have one, or wear if it if you do.

I need to get one. Hopefully tomorrow I can. Any reccomendations for respirators? If it means anything, I didn't smell a thing when I was airbrushing it.

i only use laquers, dupli color to be exact. i find there is almost no odor from them.
i normaly paint in my garage and open the door so there lots of ventilation.
i also wear a normal dust mask. and it seems to work good.

i only use laquers, dupli color to be exact. i find there is almost no odor from them.
i normaly paint in my garage and open the door so there lots of ventilation.
i also wear a normal dust mask. and it seems to work good.

I work in my basement with a door opened and a fan running.

I just got that stuff in my eye today...

Supposedly, you need to use a canister-type respirator. Looks like a gas mask. I don't know much about the effects... I just know that the airplane modelists I know who use enamels and lacquers more than acrylics use fancy respirators...

I've us edlaq uers fo rye arsn ow an dha veye tto se ean yba dreact ionsi nmyhe alth. Ife elfi nea so ftoday :screwy:

No seriously, some kind of respirator is a good idea if you don't have a really good ventilation. Normally I put up some plastic over the stove and shoot my laquers over there, hardly any smell in the apartment as the fan sucks almost everything out. One thing to think about if you are going to use this, make sure there is a brushless motor in the fan as sparks can ignite the fumes :nono: Here we have a central fan on the roof so I don't think there is any risk of starting a fire.

Cheers!
Niclas

I just got that stuff in my eye today...
You know, you can order colored eye lens.. it's more expensvie, but so much easier.


Btw for lacquer, I simple paper mask is fine. It's not that harmfull (no need of a respirator) a simple paper mask will keep the small particle out of your nose and do the job for less than a buck

My cans of Dupli-Color acrylic lacquer have this label on the back...

"This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm"

So, if you don't plan to live beyond 50 and don't plan to have any children, don't bother with a respirator.

It's dangerous only in California :D

It's dangerous only in California :D
:iceslolan :iceslolan :iceslolan :iceslolan :iceslolan

It's strange, I have never seen so much thread about "dangerous thing" and "harmfull stuff" in 3 years. And 80% of those thread come from the same 2 or 3 member... They never learn and/or are completly paranoid :disappoin

I'll be spraying automotive paints soon, so I will need a respirator.

I'll be spraying automotive paints soon, so I will need a respirator.
And don't just get a paper " dust mask " like someone above suggested they are for dust not volitale chemicals and vapors. The paint vapors go right through them

Im beggining to spray only acrylics as they are less dangerous...

If anybody is spraying lacquers without a respirator then stop right now! You need a respirator. Go to an Automotive paint shop and ask what kind you need, don't skimp, it is your health, look after it.

I've been painting using lacquers, urethanes, epoxys, etc for a few years now, and I strongly advise you get a nice dual cartridge respirator.

Duplicolor's and other products that you do not get through specialty stores are less dangerous, but still dangerous. Other paints from specialty stores, like HoK, PPG (especially the some of the primers and clears), and other high end paints are definately more dangerous.

To make it short, get a respirator.

I've been painting using lacquers, urethanes, epoxys, etc for a few years now, and I strongly advise you get a nice dual cartridge respirator.

Duplicolor's and other products that you do not get through specialty stores are less dangerous, but still dangerous. Other paints from specialty stores, like HoK, PPG (especially the some of the primers and clears), and other high end paints are definately more dangerous.

To make it short, get a respirator.

Thanks Mike and everyone. Any specific brands or just dual cartridge? Should I go to an automotive store like Pep Boys? Thanks for all the help guys.

Any specific brands or just dual cartridge?

I use a dual cartridge respirator from AOSafety. You can find them via google. 3M make good respirators too I think. A respirator without cartridges should cost you $15 - $20. A pair of cartridges should run around $10 - $14. I brought mine in my local hardware store. Pep Boys ought to have the right stuff.

It's important that you buy the right cartridges. My cartridges say this on them...

For Organic Vapors, Mists of Paints, Lacquers & Enamels, Dusts, Mists, Fumes, Asbestos-Containing Dusts and Mists, Pesticides, Radionuclides and Radon Daughters (yes, they really do say that last item).

They are Combination Cartridges R51HE. ("HE" stands for "High Efficiency"). I brought them when I was removing some really old floor covering and I was scared of asbestos. You probably will not be spraying your models with asbestos so you probably only need ones which catch organic vapors and paint mists. However, if the ones which also catch particulates cost just a few dollars more, it's probably worth it.

Edit...
Hey Pat, I just noticed another thread in which you said you were gonna go to Sears. That's just the ticket! Craftsman model 18574 costs $39.99 including catridges. Replacement catridges cost $14.99. Will protect you against everything including nuclear explosions.:bananasmi

When you go to replace the cartridges, check out some specialty carbon cartridges. I've never used them in my mask, but I've used them in a fellow painters, they are amazing. I believe the were carbon cartridges...I'll double check.