Foreign Pen Blanks

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montmill

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Jan 26, 2008
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13528 Old Hwy. G Montfort, Wisconsin
I recently got some cheap pen blanks that were made overseas. I believe they're sold through Penn State. The odor is really strong. Made my eyes stung. I have no idea what was used to make them. I'm familiar with alumalite and Silmar 41 blanks but this was totally different. I'm wondering if they're safe? Have any of you found this to be an issue?
 
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jcm71 said:
It would help to include some pics and the Penn State part number, if in fact they were from PSI.
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www.pennstateind.com

16 Pen Blank Funline Crush Mix

These eclectic crush styles are an affordable way to add a rainbow of color to your pen display. Includes 2 each of 8 different Crush designs - a 16 blank assortment. Size is 5/8 x 5/8 x 5 (un-drilled).
www.pennstateind.com
 
Whatever the material is it probably contains a considerable amount of styrene, the chemical used in many kinds of plastic. The thing is, styrene is readily detected by smell even in very small amounts. Lower quality plastics also tend to have stronger odors because they often contain higher percentages of residual chemicals - more VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) like plasticizers and residual monomers left over from the manufacturing process.

There is even a PHD, Lee Altenberg from Hawaii that has started a campaign to stop the import of chemical emitting, smelly plastic from China. He suggested Googling "made in China smell".

Dave
 
montmill said:
I recently got some cheap pen blanks that were made overseas. I believe they're sold through Penn State. The odor is really strong. Made my eyes stung. I have no idea what was used to make them. I'm familiar with alumalite and Silmar 41 blanks but this was totally different. I'm wondering if they're safe? Have any of you found this to be an issue?
Click to expand...
I recently bought 10 round blanks on sale from Penn State and they had an acrid chemical smell when turning and sanding. I wore my combination fume and face shield while working them. I don't know if the fumes were harmful, but it breathing chemical fumes could be. Fortunately it is warm enough that I can pour my own Aluminite blanks again.
 
Resins typically have bad smells. There are a lot of chemicals involved, and turning produces enough heat that the materials often melt a little bit, which will give off fumes.

I would offer that NONE of the fumes given off by any resins are good to breathe in for any period of time. I have a general rule for myself these days, after suffering a lot of breathing issues: If I am smelling something, I'm either violating PPE Rule #1: WEAR PROTECTION! or the protection I am wearing isn't seated properly. Ideally, you would never smell anything you are turning, and would never be breathing in noxious fumes, particulate, etc.

I know some people hate hearing this, but, I had such a horrible experience in 2020, to near anaphylactic shock and death, that I think it is important enough to say. Wear a respirator, and use filters that absorb organic vapors. If you smell something, you aren't protected. Protect yourself, your nose, your lungs, and you just won't smell anything, even if it STINKS!! ;)
 
Thanks for the input. I'm with you regarding breathing issues. Sometimes even with my Air Stream PARR system on I can smell walnut when I'm sanding. I've wondered if I can smell a wood am I getting particulates also. I've known of people getting into difficulty with smoke from woodburning. I'll probably hold off and turn the plastic mentioned during the summer when I can do it outside.
 
Be sure to keep your respirator cartridges in a sealed bag or container when not in use. This will help them last longer and save you money. Using the dust filter with the cartridge helps as well. Usually cartridges are only good for 8 hours of use. We have to be fit tested and spirometry tested each year at work. We also have to log our cartridge usage for OSHA.
 
montmill said:
Thanks for the input. I'm with you regarding breathing issues. Sometimes even with my Air Stream PARR system on I can smell walnut when I'm sanding. I've wondered if I can smell a wood am I getting particulates also. I've known of people getting into difficulty with smoke from woodburning. I'll probably hold off and turn the plastic mentioned during the summer when I can do it outside.
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Interstingly, smoke seems to be the one thing that NONE of my various respirators will block. Every time I produce smoke, even if its from my sanding disc (if I sand too hard), or from drilling (especially with certain forstners), etc. It does not matter what respirator I am wearing, I always smell the smoke... Never understood why. Very strange.

I would think if you are smelling walnut when producing walnut dust, you are probably getting some of that dust. Any chance you are not getting your respirator fully sealed around your face?
 
jrista said:
Interstingly, smoke seems to be the one thing that NONE of my various respirators will block. Every time I produce smoke, even if its from my sanding disc (if I sand too hard), or from drilling (especially with certain forstners), etc. It does not matter what respirator I am wearing, I always smell the smoke... Never understood why. Very strange.

I would think if you are smelling walnut when producing walnut dust, you are probably getting some of that dust. Any chance you are not getting your respirator fully sealed around your face?
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Yes, I think because I have a beard it's not really sealing the way it's supposed to.
 
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