Acetone as a skin cleaner is not a good idea. Although acetone itself is not know to be absorbed appreciably through the skin, it does damage the skin. Damaged skin is more prone to allow absorption. Also a solution of partially reacted epoxy resin and hardener is more likely to be absorbed than a thick gel of the same materials. Vinegar works, but it smells. Waterless handcleaner also works and is not as hard on the skin as a straight solvent. Cheap disposable gloves are a very good idea, avoiding skin exposure is better than trying to wash the goo off. As someone noted in this thread epoxy is not fully cured for several days, long past the time it appears to be hard to the touch there are unreacted components present. When you sand epoxy you should wear a particulate and organic vapor respirator. Epoxy resins and the hardeners are sensitizers. Once you are sensitized you may never be able to work with or around the sensitizer again. Personally when I work with epoxies I wear nitrile gloves, a respirator with super cartridges (organic vapor, amine, acid gas, HEPA, + combo). If I am working where I will be generating lots of dust, sanding the bottom of a boat vs. sanding a spot repair on a paddle, I will also wear disposable coveralls. I also suggest you read the vendors Material Safety Data Sheets and safety recommendations on their webpages. When you cut through the sales hyperbole, I think you will find the above is a reasonable summary of their recommendations. It also fits with the information I have found from sources other than the vendors. As for the source of my "authority" I do safety and health for a living and, work with epoxy to fix stuff at home, so I looked the data up for myself. I suppose I need a disclaimer here so, remember boys and girls, my free advice is worth what you paid for it. Dana Dickson *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Jun 01 1999 - 14:08:03 PDT
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