Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I've been hearing and reading rumors that the resin used is dangerous. Is this true? Has anyone really started to cough blood from working with it?

It is dangerous. The resin dust can cause irritation. I've never heard of anyone coughing blood. It's easily sorted, just get a bowl of warm water and wash the pieces so that you're sure there's no dust left over then you'll be ok

Prolonged exposure to the dust will also cause lung cancer.

Will a facemask be necessary?
Also, this may sound silly, but do I wash the model before or after filing it?

Years ago, GW removed the lead from their metal figures in part due to fear of 'lead poisoning' lawsuits or bans - GW products are classed as toys in many countries, despite the 'not suitable for under 12yo' warnings. I'm sure they took a very long hard look at the FC resin's safety too.

Sure, snorting resin dust up your nose is potentially dangerous, but so is snorting just about anything.

You'll be alright.

Just avoid inhaling resin dust.
It is that simple.

Anything else is classical American-lawsuit-prevention-bullgak (sorry Americans, but you do sue for the oddest things )

I did a mega ton of sawing and filing with the thunderhawk the dust got pretty bad but didn't make me cough or anything. Made sure the cats weren't about though

Finecast stole my car! The fiend!

as long as you don't collect the dust, sort into lines and snort through a hollowed out piece of sprue then you'll be fine.

it's only if you work long-term with it i.e. It is part of your job/career where you need to worry.

Matrim wrote:as long as you don't collect the dust, sort into lines and snort through a hollowed out piece of sprue then you'll be fine.

it's only if you work long-term with it i.e. It is part of your job/career where you need to worry.

^^^^

Assume your hobby is long, long, long, long term, so wear a mask. Its better to get the practice of wearing safety gear.

I also wear safety glasses now. I've had 3 blades snap on me, with the part arrowing toward my occular area, and when I was trying to pry stuff apart, things have snapped and flown towards my eyes then too.....

Just wash 'em first before doing anything. Which your going to want to do before priming anyway.

Resin is that dangerous?

Should I wash my maxmini bits as well?

I think you'll be good, as long as you work in a well ventilated area. I think it can cause problems, if too much dust gathers and you breathe it in for a prolonged time. But you'd have to work on a buttload of resin models for this amount to build up, so I'd say, that most of us hobbyists are in the clear, if we stick to basic safety precautions.

Washing the model after filing seems like a good idea - if only to get rid of the mold release agent.

Cheers,


IK-Painter

Finecaste and all of its bubbly goodness is just as safe as their normal plastics due to it being an alien product sent to be our savior or something.

CthuluIsSpy wrote:Has anyone really started to cough blood from working with it?

Like a coal miner, if you breathe the stuff daily for 30 years this is a possibility.

Finecast is safe, Forgeworld resin less so. But you don't want to be breathing anything that produces fine abrasive particles. Wet the resin, have good ventilation and avoid producing excessive amounts of dust.

Aye, when working with resin, if doing anything that produces a lot of dust (sawing / sanding), wear a filter mask.

Sanding wet cuts a lot of the dust from being thrown into the air.

Knife work generally doesn't produce a lot of dust.

Finecast is safe unless you sniff it, for like 20 years, then it might be dangerous.

Well most standard plastics and resins are carcinogenic in dust/heated forms, but the risk is minuscule. When GW start making products out of fibre-glass and asbestos, maybe invest in a mask, but otherwise you'll be fine.