Advice on sanding fibreglass

I have had way too many hobbies, including boatbuilding. I have
sanded plenty of fiberglass, mostly without a mask, and now that I'm
older and maybe a little wiser I expect that those several pounds of
dust that have made their way through my lungs to cause some trouble
later on. Dust can get into your eyes, too, even with goggles, and
cause eye irritations that make you look like you've been on a big
drunk. And it didn't seem to matter how much clothing I wore; it got
into everything and made me itch. A cold shower gets most of it off,
while a warm shower can open the pores and let it in so it can bug you
for a few more days.
I have sanded it wet a few times (with air sanders!) and there's
no dust at all, but you have to make really sure things are absolutely
dry before any further layup. Any moisture that gets into the matrix
could cause structural problems. A lot less big a deal in boats than in
airplanes, since most boats are way overbuilt.

Dan

wrote

I have
sanded plenty of fiberglass,
; it got
into everything and made me itch. A cold shower gets most of it off,
while a warm shower can open the pores and let it in so it can bug you
for a few more days.

Another good clue for all you plastic airplane guys, is to spray your skin
with hairspray before, and after you sand. When you get in the cool shower,
it will wash off much better. It clogs the pores, so it does not go down
into the pores, then the after spray clumps the fibers together, so they
stay together, and wash off without going into your pores. Spray deodorant
works, too.

Try it! It really works!
--
Jim in NC

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 22:44:27 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:


wrote

I have
sanded plenty of fiberglass,
; it got
into everything and made me itch. A cold shower gets most of it off,
while a warm shower can open the pores and let it in so it can bug you
for a few more days.

Another good clue for all you plastic airplane guys, is to spray your skin
with hairspray before, and after you sand. When you get in the cool shower,
it will wash off much better. It clogs the pores, so it does not go down
into the pores, then the after spray clumps the fibers together, so they
stay together, and wash off without going into your pores. Spray deodorant
works, too.

Now that sounds really, really dangerous.
I load up on deoderant, a shot of hair spray and holler, "Dear, I'm
going out to the shop for a couple of hours"... "BANG!"

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Try it! It really works!

"Roger" wrote

Now that sounds really, really dangerous.
I load up on deoderant, a shot of hair spray and holler, "Dear, I'm
going out to the shop for a couple of hours"... "BANG!"

So you use open flame for sanding, or is there something else you want to
tell us?
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
"Roger" wrote

Now that sounds really, really dangerous.
I load up on deoderant, a shot of hair spray and holler, "Dear, I'm
going out to the shop for a couple of hours"... "BANG!"

Reminds me of the time my 10 year old son came up to me and whispered
"Dad...gotta warn you...Mom found the receipt to when you went to Hooters."

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 06:34:52 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:


"Roger" wrote

Now that sounds really, really dangerous.
I load up on deoderant, a shot of hair spray and holler, "Dear, I'm
going out to the shop for a couple of hours"... "BANG!"

So you use open flame for sanding, or is there something else you want to
tell us?

Gee... I thought it was self explanatory.

That's like, He: "My place or your place" She: "If you are going to
argue about it, just forget the whole thing."


Roger

"Roger" wrote

Gee... I thought it was self explanatory.
That's like, He: "My place or your place" She: "If you are going to
argue about it, just forget the whole thing."


Duh! I was fixated on the flammability aspect, and ignored the obvious.

I'll try to get my mind in the gutter, quicker, next time! g
--
Jim in NC