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01-29-2007, 04:09 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: White Swan Wa.
Posts: 366
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MEK is the Devil!
[quote=MarkDews]Be very careful the next time you work around these products (over and above what you have done!). Some people develop allergies to these chemicals (epoxies especially). The first exposure is not truly severe. The next and subsequent exposures could be!
QUOTE]
while building my fuel tanks I used MEK to clean up the outside parts of the tank. Even with a mask and gloves on, I've developed an allergic reaction to it. Just opening the can and getting a whif of the stuff will give me a sore throat, cough, pluged nose, headache, congestion... the works, all within 1 hour and takes usually 14 days to get over it.  Unfortunatly it took 2-3 times to figure out it was the MEK and not seasonal allergies.
__________________
Joe Boisselle
2010 RV-4
1941 Luscombe 8C
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01-29-2007, 05:47 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Roanoke, VA
Posts: 306
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Bruce
I would also put a vent in so that the fresh air is sucked into you paint booth. Use some type of filter and that will help the sides of your paint booth from collapsing.
Good Luck,
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I agree. The fact that the plastic on the walls of the booth is bowed inward means that there is negative pressure inside the booth, but it does not necessairly mean that the fan is moving air through the booth. In fact, the opposite may be true. A fan will move less air as the differential pressure across it increases, and if the supply of air is restricted enough, the fan blades will stall, at which point they will move very little air.
The bottom line is that you may not have enough air moving through your booth, and the concentration of volitile organic compounds may be increasing continuoulsy as you spray.
You need to have an unrestricted supply of makeup air to the booth, like several large furnace filters, and you should have enough fan capacity to change the air in the booth several times a minute.
__________________
Dave Cole RV-7 N97DC reserved
dave.cole@cox.net
Started SB April 2004
Hope to fly in 2011
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01-29-2007, 06:28 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Coshocton, Ohio
Posts: 315
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How about checking the source inlet air for the respirator at the other end of the workshop. Anywhere near a combustion source? Headache and nausea are also classic for Carbon Monoxide exposure.
Doesn't take much to cause what you describe!
__________________
Dave Durakovich
CFIG, AGI, COMM SEL, VAF# 133
RV-4, N666PR, Finished (Well, at least flying)!
RV-6 - Adopted an orphan!
Detroit, MI
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."
Henry Ford
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01-29-2007, 07:12 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Estacada, OR
Posts: 787
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One more thing to check is the air flow thru the booth. In using a small booth at the Air Guard (designed for working with hazardous chemicals), I found there was turbulence that swirled the air around the booth before drawing it out. It has one heck of a strong fan sucking on the air but it wasn't engineered to make sure the air went only one way and it sucked in the curtains around the sides, but did not control the flow direction well.
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01-29-2007, 08:51 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 52
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What about the cleanup?
Experience with this stuff tells me it is difficult to absorb in large quantities though just breathing it in. I have watched people take precautions like this and then literally bath in the MEK when cleaning the gun etc.
Your skin will allow you to absorb a lot more of the stuff in a very small time, particularly under your nails etc... it is a virtually direct line to your bloodstream. Your symptoms are almost certainly due to the solvent. The Epoxy (Particularly the Akzo) is dry very quickly and will sink to the floor.
I would suggest there are a couple of posibilities for why you feel this way...
1. You are super alergic (I know painters who have worked with this stuff for 20 years and do not react like this). Have you had a liver infection previously? If so you should definately not be doing this sort of thing.
2. Contaminating your skin with the product (most likely).
3. Your booth is in-effective and allowing the solvent to build up to a level that your respirator is not designed to take. Car painters use forced air for this reason. Do you have a beard? Early in the day could you smell solvent?
The booth is your enemy, consider doing away with it as it will allow the fumes to build up and increase your issue. You will find it very hard to get sick hanging parts on your back fence and spraying from an upwind position. This is not real good for the neighbours though.
4. You didn't drink a lot and got dehydrated... When you paint make sure you drink more than usual. Dehydration will make your symptoms worse.
Be on the lookout for other symptoms over the next few days... swollen or sore liver (abdominal) etc. If you experience anything un-usual see your doctor.
Lastly, I painted my first aeroplane with this stuff. I would not do so again. Most builders I know say the same. My strong advice is to go and find something less toxic and use it. This stuff really will hurt you ... nothing much else in your shop will until you get to the first engine start/first flight.
Take Care
Richard
RV-7A - Finishing
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01-30-2007, 05:08 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bara, Sweden
Posts: 9
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Feeling ok again
Thanks for all the feedback and support. Here?s a summary of all your suggestions which makes up a good checklist:
- Suitable clothes and gloves covering the whole body
- No leaks in respirator equipment
- Prime outside
- Less toxic primer, perhaps water based
- Protect yourself at all times, also when stirring and cleaning
- Don't forget to eat and drink
- Check air flow through booth, big enough inlet
- Make sure the crtridge is appropriate for the chemicals used
- Place the air inlet for the respirator in clean air
After 24 hours I was feeling fine again and I haven't felt anything spending time in the workshop afterwards. Thi eliminates I was experience an allergic reaction I think so I'll make another try. Before that I'll check my gear and procedures according to all your good advice.
Ulf Thurban
RV-7 Empennage
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01-30-2007, 05:51 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Giddings Municipal Airport (KGYB)
Posts: 196
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Full Face Respirator
I started using a Full Face respirator, kinda looks like a gas mask. The solvents can enter your body through your eyes, the soft wet human eye, will soak up solvents like a sponge. It might sound like an old wives tale, but Drink a glass of milk, and a glass of water after you paint, and clean up the mess. I dont know if any scientific research has ever been done about Milk fighting of MEK, but it works for me, i paint something everyday. And i am never sick after wards. Tired maybe, irritated, sometimes, but not sick.
Check your preasure at the paint gun, if you are getting alot of overspray, you are basically marinating yourself in the chemicals. like others have said, your skin will absorb it, and even a small leak in your mask will allow enough in to really make you sick, and or pass out, and or die. Also as others have said, check the rating on the respirator you are using. Home Depot doesnt sell respirators rated for these types of chemicals. Contact your local automotive paint supply shop. Or Aircraft Spruce.
Good luck
PainterJohn
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