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im just starting to get into oil painting. my main concern is how dangerous is the oderless mineral spirits. should i put oil washed models outside to dry?

what about just painting with oils and having a bottle cap full of the mineral spirits beside me. how dangerous is it?

It's fine. Don't drink it.

And don't leak the brush

As stated above, don't lick the brush and don't drink the mineral spirits and you'll be fine.

it wont kill you, but its not the best stuff to breathe in. Really shouldnt have an issue unless you are putting it through a spray gun. You dont want the oils and such being vaporized and breathed in...at least for me, that is a recipe for instant sinus infection/chest cold as you try to hack all the crap up out of your lungs.

My primers are enamel based (oils) and I accidentally breathed in a bunch while priming last weekend, I was outside and the wind shifted direction right as i breathed in...I have been sick all week. Painting out of a pot though, no big deal unless you are breathing RIGHT over it.

For sure dont lick the brush...if for no other reason than it will taste like crap...In all honesty though, I prefer enamel paints, they lay down much smoother and can go on so much thinner...the clean up is the only hastle.

Personally... I wear a mask.. as like the gentalman above me stated... you will cof flem stuff up. I paint for long periods of time, so yeah... try painting on a ventilated area, and try and not get to close to the model when painting. Or just wear a resperator. I get headaches and head spines from the stuff aswell :(

As far as blending in the oil paints is a stiff brush the best and then you kind of stab it/stippling it into the surfaces of the model?

trying to brush it around or thin it down doesnt seem to get me anywhere.