Styrene...friend? or terrorist?

[Got Boost???]

I've been modeling for a long time now but and thinking about making my own parts or body kits.

Ive seen alot of people on this forum use styrene. Now I searched on altavista for styrene hoping to come up with websites that sell the material.

However all I got was pages and pages of health warnings about styrene

So my question is....Is the styrene you guys use safe to use? Also where could I find some styrene?

[Sticky Fingers]

Styrene's what our models are made from! Better not be dangerous. I spose if you melt it and pour it into your eyes it could be deemed 'unsafe'.
Peronally, I've only just bought my first pack of styrene in anticipation of using it in the future. I got it from my LHS but I'm afraid I don't know where to get it on-line. The manufacturer is "Evergreen", which I believe is one of the best.
I'm sure there will be others who read this thread that will be able to help you out.

[chyknees]

I hope its not dangerous....but if it is...oh well, i'm gonna die anyways, might as well enjoy it building models. haha. Alot of LHS in my area didn't carry it, they would always tell me to go somewhere else. Until finally, i found the motherload. Just check any local train hobby stores.

[travis712]

The only LHS around here in a reasonable distance has it. Cheap too.

[CarModDave]

Evergreen and Plastruct are the two main manufacturers of styrene sheets and shapes.
As mentioned, Evergreen is more popular.

Here's the Evergreen site to show you what's available in their line:

http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/

Also, Scale Race Cars carries their products and David's service is first-class!

http://www.scaleracecars.com/

HTH

[SteveK2003]

What kind of warnings were they? The only worries I have about Styrene:
- Breathing in the dust from sanding it, cutting it, or grinding it with a rotary tool.
- Breathing in fumes from the cement used to weld the parts together, as well as any potential fumes from heat-welding the parts (If anybody does that).
Both of those can be avoided by properly venitlating a work area, and wearing protecton if need be.

[willimo]

Styrene is about as dangerous as toast.

[D_LaMz]

Originally Posted by willimo

Styrene is about as dangerous as toast.

It could cut you

[redstang423]

styrene is gonna be safe for how you are using it. i do believe, however, the vapors are dangerous, so if you do any heating of it, becareful you dont actually melt it and start burning off some of the liquid.

[willimo]

Originally Posted by D_LaMz

It could cut you

I know. Be careful when you eat toast!

[Got Boost???]

Heres some info I found, again Im not sure if the styrene mentioned in these health warnings is the same styrene our models are made out of.

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/styrene.html

[Organic Zero]

as far y chemistry classes went back on 96, styrene is only dangerous if you inhale the gas produced while it's burning... so so far, if you don't add fire to it, i believe is not dangerous

[2.2 Straight six]

yuh, burning plastics give off cyanide gas, as to my knowledge thats the black somke an inhale too much an somehow it kills you.