Dan Morton
A Fixture
"Ok, great, then You must know the right answer 
I was told that fumes from resin are not by far as dangerous as resin dust (from sanding or sawing).
Allegedly dust sticks to Your lungs and can cause cancer.
If that is true, it is more important to wear the mask when you saw Your resin pieces than when You pour in resin into the mold ???"
I think your question has several parts and you intend it to apply to both air-drying and heat-setting putties. I'm going to try to answer your questions broadly and for the benefit of any reader.
1. "...fumes are not by far as dangerous as resin dust".
A minor correction - air-drying & heat-setting putties produce vapors in air, not fumes. Fumes are more related to metal working and welding operations. But I understand what you mean. I would say the relative risk of dusts and vapors depends on the specific situation and that exposures to both need to be controlled.
2.. "...can cause cancer." Your implied question is (I think) - Do air-drying or heat-setting putties contain carcinogenic materials?
I could find none listed on the material safety data sheets for Rezolin A+B, Apoxie Sculpt, Magic-Sculpt, Milliput, Kneadatite, Sculpey or Fimo. These safety data sheets were produced using a Google word search and they were the most current I could find. What substances are carcinogenic? The CDC/NIOSH, OSHA, National Toxicology Program, ATSDR, IARC and others study and identify carcinogenic materials. Broadly, manufacturers are responsible to identify whether or not their products contain the listed substances.
3. "...more important to wear the mask..." Your implied question (I think) - Is a respirator required when sawing, drilling, grinding or sanding cured putties?
If you are a hobbyist doing these things dry, yes I recommend a respirator, but wet methods are a better choice than a respirator. Yes, I know - wet methods are messy and take longer and you have to re-learn the way you do things and the outcomes on the surfaces can look a little different. If you believe you can't possibly use wet methods, drop me a PM and let's talk. I haven't found a situation using hobby putties where wet methods couldn't be used safely. Obviously if you are using an electric drill, grinder or sander, it should be properly grounded and you should exercise care to keep the water out of it and off the electrical cords.
I'm attaching an updated version of a one-page health and safety precautions write-up on 2 part air-drying putties for reference. The same precautions can be applied to heat-setting putties.
Again, Drenth, I apologize for hijacking your thread. I also apologize for the length of the post. The post and the attached document are my opinions and recommendations based on review of the literature and my work experience as an industrial hygienist. If you don't like my opinions and recommendations [and I can see why some might disagree], you're entitled to your opinions, but let's agree to keep any online discussion civil and science-based, OK?
All the best,
Dan
I was told that fumes from resin are not by far as dangerous as resin dust (from sanding or sawing).Allegedly dust sticks to Your lungs and can cause cancer.
If that is true, it is more important to wear the mask when you saw Your resin pieces than when You pour in resin into the mold ???"
I think your question has several parts and you intend it to apply to both air-drying and heat-setting putties. I'm going to try to answer your questions broadly and for the benefit of any reader.
1. "...fumes are not by far as dangerous as resin dust".
A minor correction - air-drying & heat-setting putties produce vapors in air, not fumes. Fumes are more related to metal working and welding operations. But I understand what you mean. I would say the relative risk of dusts and vapors depends on the specific situation and that exposures to both need to be controlled.
2.. "...can cause cancer." Your implied question is (I think) - Do air-drying or heat-setting putties contain carcinogenic materials?
I could find none listed on the material safety data sheets for Rezolin A+B, Apoxie Sculpt, Magic-Sculpt, Milliput, Kneadatite, Sculpey or Fimo. These safety data sheets were produced using a Google word search and they were the most current I could find. What substances are carcinogenic? The CDC/NIOSH, OSHA, National Toxicology Program, ATSDR, IARC and others study and identify carcinogenic materials. Broadly, manufacturers are responsible to identify whether or not their products contain the listed substances.
3. "...more important to wear the mask..." Your implied question (I think) - Is a respirator required when sawing, drilling, grinding or sanding cured putties?
If you are a hobbyist doing these things dry, yes I recommend a respirator, but wet methods are a better choice than a respirator. Yes, I know - wet methods are messy and take longer and you have to re-learn the way you do things and the outcomes on the surfaces can look a little different. If you believe you can't possibly use wet methods, drop me a PM and let's talk. I haven't found a situation using hobby putties where wet methods couldn't be used safely. Obviously if you are using an electric drill, grinder or sander, it should be properly grounded and you should exercise care to keep the water out of it and off the electrical cords.
Why wet sand vs. a respirator? Respirators are only effective if they fit properly and have clean and correct filters or cartridges and are properly maintained. They have to be cleaned frequently and replaced when parts are too worn for use. More bad news - you have to shave every day you wear a respirator. Respirators depend on tight skin contact to protect you. Gaps in the seal between the respirator and your skin mean air contaminants can enter the mask and the mask won't protect you.
For anybody using these products frequently if not daily [professional or commercial sculptors for example], I recommend learning wet methods as well as getting properly medically approved for, fitted with, trained in and wearing a respirator and then maintaining it daily. I'm attaching an updated version of a one-page health and safety precautions write-up on 2 part air-drying putties for reference. The same precautions can be applied to heat-setting putties.
Again, Drenth, I apologize for hijacking your thread. I also apologize for the length of the post. The post and the attached document are my opinions and recommendations based on review of the literature and my work experience as an industrial hygienist. If you don't like my opinions and recommendations [and I can see why some might disagree], you're entitled to your opinions, but let's agree to keep any online discussion civil and science-based, OK?
All the best,
Dan
