That model work is a "SERIOUS" health hazard? It has occurred to me ever since I started to work with watercolor paint with lead mixed pigment, and other types of media with products with the tagline "This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm".

I believe I have breathed in enough toxic chemicals from painting for the rest of the year and more….

I don’t know… I didn’t know a lot of art and hobby work I’ve been doing has a lot of health hazard effects… first, I was paranoid about using paints with lead and stuff, then I had no choice…. I either had the choice of using cheap paint that didn’t work well, or using paint that had pigment-containing lead, cobalt or cadmium I needed for my artwork… so it was a tradeoff, depending on what type of color I needed.

Anyway, when I was walking by in my tech class back in May of 2005 I found a newspaper clipping on the wall, with a big article about “How art kills”, and showing what various activities contain what chemical and how it can kill you.

So, has the health hazard of doing model work ever stopped you from working with your favorite model or what? I know it has made me a stop a couple of times; thinking of whatever is in the Tamiya paints that is slowly killing me. And do you guys think that painting your models rather than air brushing is more taxing on your health, as I know for a fact that painting your model with a paintbrush, you have to be closer to the model for detail, and it takes much more time, as you have to recoat the area(s) at least twice, and in the process, breathing in the paint fumes. On the other hand, while using a airbrush it is probably faster to paint I believe? I don't know, I bought a mask with a filter, but didn't think it would be useful to wear while handbrushing my model, while it would be much more effect when painting with a airbrush. Anyways that’s just my 2 cents, please reply and share what you think?

Thanks.

Everything causes cancer and birth defects in the state of California.

I never worry about it. I don’t think its enough to do real damage to you as long as you don’t sit and sniff the stuff.

And I’ve been around so many things that are bad for you that the stuff in modeling paint would never be what kills me.

I think brushing and spraying are about the same. Brushing may take longer but when spraying it puts all those fumes in the air.


there just safety warnings to help keep the company from being sued.

Its like the combination ruler I once got that said to always use safety glasses when using.
It could happed but as long as you don’t do anything stupid it probably wont.

In the emerging world of 'lets see who I can sue today..' every company will add disclaimers untill the cows come home. This started years ago with the quite frankly redicioulous caption " serving suggestion" on the packaging of food, to avoid dissapointment for those buyers stupid enough to expect a fully cooked meal, on a laid table with a bottle of wine from a 450 gr. jar.. . The best one today in my opinion has to be the " allergy advice : may contain traces of nuts " disclaimer on packets of peanuts or jars of peanut butter....I mean, how stupid are some people?? :-) :-) :-) .

Any chemical is bad for you, sniffing glue is not advisable, but as long as you open a window, you'll be o.k.

Cheers
Henk

Yep.... "everything is known to the State of CA to cause harm"

So I wear a respirator any way (for resin as well) ..... and use a spraybooth too.....

Hell we need to wear big rubber suits & breating App. just to live anyway...LOL


Death is inevitable........

:-) :-) :-)
I couldn't have said it better. Don't put the stuff in your mouth either!

You are right... it is dangerous.

and it is possible, even advisable, to limit the risks by working in a good ventilated room, even use forced air ventilation (some old kitchen hood might do it)...

On the other hand, in the US, you are living in a country that doens't care about the devastating effects of global warming, which is the world leader in polution, be it air, land or sea, where eating habits are so bad that an enormous percentage of the population is overweighted, where cattle is raised on artificial hormones, where vegetables are genetically modified, where deadly arms are for sale like candy...

I don't know against this background if you should really be concerned about the hassards of modelling...

Is this from experience or...

On the subject, don't glue it to your eye (you know who you are )

Jeff

I worked 35 years in the paint business. I have snorted every solvent and additive you can name. Either in lab work, testing products on site or working on paint lines to work out application efficiency. I probably inhaled more chemicals in one week than you will modelling in your lifetime. Good ventilation and a good spray mask are the keys to avoid most of the emmisions either from brushing or spraying. I would not be overly concerned about incidental inhalation of hobby chemicals. Use common sense and you should be OK.

ouch! :-) On the subject of putting toxic/carcenogic things in one's mouth I think warning labels go too far - they interfere with the process of natural selection. Now watch me electrocute myself tonight. :-)

I seem to have a very low tolerance to some chemicals. Anything too strong gives me a headache pretty quickly. Because of this I've switched to using acrylics, non-toxic glue, etc. I try to always have a well ventilated room, but even then I still get headaches. I just leave the room for a while if that happens. Tamiya paints smell terrible, but don't seem to affect me in a harmful way. Since I always airbrush outdoors I inhale far more fumes from brush painting.

One hobby item I've yet to find that doesn't really mess me up is putty. I've tried both Model Master and Tamiya, and they give me such a headache I can't stand them. I've started playing around with two part epoxy putty and it's not too bad, but it still gives me a bit of a headache. If anybody has any suggestions about a good putty that doesn't have real toxic fumes I'd be interested.

I wear a filtered mask sanding and painting.
On the bright side however Iam glad I live were I do,have a steak when I want, i can have unlimited amounts of coffee at a reasonable price at a resturante, by my choosing...GBTUSA

I am surprised at this topic ........amused........confused ........(and probably )abused......... .......you see I have been exposed to the "hori-endous" polutants given off by ..styrene glue ..cryo. glue .....resins..(too various to list)...fumes from melting plastics...paint fumes......"dopes"(flying model days )......infections (minor)from razor blades /scalpels...not to mention --"CS" gas---and others(military)....coal fumes---car exhausts.... for the last 63 years (55 as a model maker)....so all it remains to say is---------Keep on modelling because ------YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE ..so by all means take care ........and stop worrying about it.....worry about the finnish on the model :-) :-) :-) :-)
aye
BARV

Well, I'm really lucky I don't live in California then..... I'd never live in a place where "everything" causes cancer.
Oh, I'm so lucky I live is the state known as "cancer alley....."
We don't need any stinkin' warning labels..... breathing, eating, driving through, flying over, swimming, fishing, and hell thinking in New Jersey causes cancer, and we already know it, and have known it since birth. But knowing it hasn't stopped any of us from breathing, eating, drinking, driving, flying, swimming, fishing, or even thinking. Hell even sex causes cancer in New Jersey, and I haven't seen a warning label on it ..... YET!!!!

What ever happened to trying to use some "Common Sense" when using the hobby supplies..... Oh that's right "common sense died!" It's no longer taught by mommy or daddy. It now comes printed on "Warning Labels"

It's a good thing I don't have the job of writting warning labels.

"Warning---- Blade is extremely sharp.... user is rather dull and dimwitted, and may get the point as he severs a vein, and bleeds to death"
"Warning use with proper ventalation------ THAT MEANS OPEN the window... NOT closing it nitwit!!!!"
"Warning prolong exposer to skin, may cause a rash, and rot your flesh off........ YO... moron it's not suntan lotion!!!"
"Warning food will be hot when removed from over----- remove carefully to avoid being burned------- eat you food raw, cold or frozen.... you deserve it, you brain dead blivet!!!"

I bought a .99 cent extention cord the other day, it came with 6 different "warning labels" in 3 languages, and two sets of instructions for proper use, in three languages. It's good to see that stupidity and the death of common sense has progressed to at least three languages. I'm looking forward to stupity and lack of common sense becoming universal.


Yep, it's a good thing I don't write warning labels......

As I sit here with my boiling hot container of coffee between my legs, wondering why it's so hot, and if it spills and burns me, as I'm talking on my cell phone, fixing my make up, going 50 MPH, through the school zone, drifting into on coming traffic, wondering who I can sue for my own stupidity!!!!!

You do only live once you might as well enjoy it.

Sure - take precautions, open a window, don't snort the glue, or drink the paint. Use common sence and you'll probably be OK.

Go build Enjoy.

Actually guys, Arizona is know as the cancer state. Not because we inhale dangerous chemicals, but because we live on the 30 degrees lattitude.

I just use a simple mask when painting or cutting resin myself. For eye protection, I have my glasses which have a tendency to get the resin bits all over them.

exactly.... if your looking for a paint mask with a cartridge filter, go to home depot

I went to the doctors the other day he gave me some pills WARNING DO NOT USE WITH GREEN LEAF VEGETABLES MAY CAUSE IMPOTENCY so I questions him on it "yeah ignore it that only applies if you eat a field of them". I really think this applies to most of the chemicals we come in contact with just dont snort or eat it and open the window. I live in London and Im sure some of our friends from L.A. will tell you just taking a deep breath in either of those cities is enough to turn you into the Hulk :-)