PPE when pen turning?

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Painfullyslow

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I have recently come across a few threads where people state that they do not like the smell of CA. I don't smell it at all because I always wear a respirator when working. Am I the only one?

I guess I just got in the habit of wearing one any time I am working with lots of dust or epoxy (I have done a fair amount of work with carbon fiber and fiberglass) or worse yet; epoxy dust. That stuff is bad news for your lungs.
 
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I always wear an RZMask M2 Mesh Mask whenever I do woodturning and other woodworking. I also use it for other dusty work, such as yard cleanup or when I use the air compressor to clean out the coffee grinder. In the past, I wore ordinary 3M N95 disposable masks (no valve), but I prefer the feel and comfort of the M2 mesh mask.
https://rzmask.com/collections/all-m2-masks

I also wear Harbor Freight safety glasses when turning pens, but pens only. For ALL other woodturning, I wear a Uvex Bionic face shield.
https://www.harborfreight.com/safety-glasses-clear-99762.html
https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/pro...-and-face-protection/face-shields/uvex-bionic

I wear cheap Harbor Freight ear muffs for hearing protection. In general, my lathe is quiet, so I rarely wear hearing protection with the lathe. It an exception. I wear hearing protection with nearly all other tools.
https://www.harborfreight.com/ear-muffs-70038.html

Obviously I agree with the others that personal protective equipment (PPE) is important. You should always think about it first, before you get out the power tools.

Edit, added 7 hours later:
P.S. I do woodworking and woodturning outside in the open air. My tools are mobile. I roll them out to use them.
 
Last edited:
penicillin said:
I always wear an RZMask M2 Mesh Mask whenever I do woodturning and other woodworking. I also use it for other dusty work, such as yard cleanup or when I use the air compressor to clean out the coffee grinder. In the past, I wore ordinary 3M N95 disposable masks (no valve), but I prefer the feel and comfort of the M2 mesh mask.
https://rzmask.com/collections/all-m2-masks

I also wear Harbor Freight safety glasses when turning pens, but pens only. For ALL other woodturning, I wear a Uvex Bionic face shield.
https://www.harborfreight.com/safety-glasses-clear-99762.html
https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/pro...-and-face-protection/face-shields/uvex-bionic

I wear cheap Harbor Freight ear muffs for hearing protection. In general, my lathe is quiet, so I rarely wear hearing protection with the lathe. It an exception. I wear hearing protection with nearly all other tools.
https://www.harborfreight.com/ear-muffs-70038.html

Obviously I agree with the others that personal protective equipment (PPE) is important. You should always think about it first, before you get out the power tools.
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I am new to this activity and have made about 15 inlay pens and a few acrylics. I wear a mask and use a full face shield with a Rockler vacuum hose system attached at the lathe. I built many model ships and boats over my lifetime and used a lot of CA. However, I had a very bad alergic reaction with coating the pens. My dermatologist did a great job of clearing the rash which was over my entire face and neck with a proscription cream. We traced the cause back to the accelerant and not the CA. I used accelerants on my models in the past but very sparingly applied with a drip wand applicator with almost no to little air-born irritants. The strong propellant in the accelerator cans permeates the shop even with the vacuum located in another space. I now use other finished and if I do use some CA that I let cure without the accelerator. So far, no issues.
 
I used CA without a respirator for quite a while. I have developed an allergy to it and now I get a runny nose for 4-5 days after exposure. I purchased and use a half mask from 3M with organic vapor filters. I put it on when I go into the shop and I take if off when I come out. I also have a UVEX face shield.
 
I use a respirator myself. I think I have 5 different ones that are at least N99, and I usually buy replacements beyond what would be needed for CA fumes. I too, developed a severe allergy a couple of years after I started making pens. I am serious with respirators, not masks!
 
What you are turning is a big variable in what PPE you should wear. ALWAYS wear eye protection or a face shield when turning pens, faceshield for anything larger. Basic eyepro isn't always good enough by iteslf, the CA fumes still bother my eyes so I don't use it much.

A respirator is always safe to where when using chemicals with harsh fumes, potentially toxic dusts, etc. A respirator and a face mask are N.O.T. the same thing so do not ever bother with these masks the people have been wearing to "protect" themselves from COVID or other viruses. Do some research on resiprators and their rating before choosing.

Know your PPE.
 
I use a face shield for turning with the Rockler dust hood on my lathe and a small fan on the floor in the shop to help disperse any fumes that don't get sucked up by the vacuum. So far I haven't had any problems associated with the CA or Activator. For sawing and sanding however I do wear an N95 mask in addition to the dust collector. - Dave
 
One comment - a dust collector is not going to remove any organic compounds or fumes from things like CA or finishes. It does suck them away from your lathe, but it will blow them right back out again at the other side as most dust collection systems do not do organic filtration of the air passing through them, just dust removal. So unless you are venting your dust collector outside to open air, the compounds are coming back into the shop. You may not smell them, as they have been pretty diluted by the flow of air they mixed with, but if you are allergic or have other problems with the fumes, standard dust collection is not going to help, it may just be masking the problem. You need a good sealing facemask or personal respirator that has carbon filtering elements in it or has some other material in its filtration path that removes the organic contaminants from the air you are breathing.
 
NJturner said:
One comment - a dust collector is not going to remove any organic compounds or fumes from things like CA or finishes. It does suck them away from your lathe, but it will blow them right back out again at the other side as most dust collection systems do not do organic filtration of the air passing through them, just dust removal. So unless you are venting your dust collector outside to open air, the compounds are coming back into the shop. You may not smell them, as they have been pretty diluted by the flow of air they mixed with, but if you are allergic or have other problems with the fumes, standard dust collection is not going to help, it may just be masking the problem. You need a good sealing facemask or personal respirator that has carbon filtering elements in it or has some other material in its filtration path that removes the organic contaminants from the air you are breathing.
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Not having the benefit of the experience of today and of the past 13/14 years, I built a dust collector, started using N99 respirators, used a fan, had a face shield and kept a damp towel under a large plastic sheet to wipe myself down outside the shop after finishing a pen or group of pens. The consequences for me of not being fully protected and or cautious was double vision and severe flu like symptoms for 3 to 4 days, every time. But nil with all the precautions and I still use these precautions.
 
NJturner said:
One comment - a dust collector is not going to remove any organic compounds or fumes from things like CA or finishes. It does suck them away from your lathe, but it will blow them right back out again at the other side as most dust collection systems do not do organic filtration of the air passing through them, just dust removal. So unless you are venting your dust collector outside to open air, the compounds are coming back into the shop. You may not smell them, as they have been pretty diluted by the flow of air they mixed with, but if you are allergic or have other problems with the fumes, standard dust collection is not going to help, it may just be masking the problem. You need a good sealing facemask or personal respirator that has carbon filtering elements in it or has some other material in its filtration path that removes the organic contaminants from the air you are breathing.
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I use my Shop Vac at my lathe when turning and finishing but never notice any fumes coming back from the SV.
 
Certain glues/finishing agents state prolong breathing will cause brain damage ( and lungs). Best to call the manufacturer and ask which filters are best for your use. And if you can smell it with a respirator the respirator is not on properly. Do the "seal check". Good Thread. Safety first each and every time.
 
Painfullyslow said:
I have recently come across a few threads where people state that they do not like the smell of CA. I don't smell it at all because I always wear a respirator when working. Am I the only one?
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i hope not, i use a mask all the time, especially when using ca (goggles also) since the fumes are nasty.
 
Woodchipper said:
I use my Shop Vac at my lathe when turning and finishing but never notice any fumes coming back from the SV.
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Just to start this, I am not an expert in the field of chemistry or air quality, just someone who does a lot of research on what I do and use, so take my comments as an opinion only.

Your shop vac typically cannot filter out anything below 3-5 microns even with a HEPA filter installed. Most dust collection systems in our shops are designed to filter down to 1-3 microns IF you have opted for the high performance filters. If you are still using the bags the DC came with, you are getting much larger particulates into the exhausting air. Doubtful with either system that you notice dust in the exhaust air coming from the DC, but if you run your DC for a while, you will surely notice some fine dust buildup on your shop table tops and equipment. You couldn't see it, but it is obviously there. The only sure way to get rid of the dust is to exhaust it outside. Organic matter (CA fumes, lacquer or paint vapors, etc) is no different. You might not see it, and if its diluted enough, you probably will not smell it, but its still there. How many hours you stay exposed to the contaminates now becomes more of the factor, as well as the quality of filtering and fit of your PPE.

The below (and attached) chart provides the micron sizing for a lot of different things, including dust and paint vapor. I think it might give you a better view of what is being caught by your DC and what isn't. If you have a DC that captures 3 microns or larger, use that as the base when you look down the chart - you will be surprised by what makes it through the filter media -

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Kevin
 

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Woodchipper said:
Don't have a DC, no place for it and can't afford one, and, if I did, no way to vent outside. NJt, thanks for the info an chart.
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I had such sudden and horrific reactions that I jumped at the combination of everything I could before I started using CA again. It would be good to start in preparation for the possibility of reaction by getting a good quality N99 respirator that you can buy replacement filters. PLUS get a cheap Walmart or dollar general square floor fan and rig up some way for it to be blowing over the lathe, focused at the area of where you turn and finish the blank. These two are the start and may help if you can't get a DC system.

For what it is worth, I had a 2 1/2 in DC system overseas when my allergies developed. My shop was 6 feet from the people in the house behind ours. They had a baby whose room was just behind my shop. I made an enclosed cabinet and baffle system. The entire inside was lined with stick on carpet. Outside too. While very loud by itself, the vac was very quiet when enclosed, double filtered and baffle for air circulation. I checked the temp on occasion and it was never hotter than 90° coming out (with my AC on about 75°). The point is - even a 2 1/2" vac can be made into a good DC system for pen turning, and filtration can be done.
 
leehljp said:
I had such sudden and horrific reactions that I jumped at the combination of everything I could before I started using CA again. It would be good to start in preparation for the possibility of reaction by getting a good quality N99 respirator that you can buy replacement filters. PLUS get a cheap Walmart or dollar general square floor fan and rig up some way for it to be blowing over the lathe, focused at the area of where you turn and finish the blank. These two are the start and may help if you can't get a DC system.

For what it is worth, I had a 2 1/2 in DC system overseas when my allergies developed. My shop was 6 feet from the people in the house behind ours. They had a baby whose room was just behind my shop. I made an enclosed cabinet and baffle system. The entire inside was lined with stick on carpet. Outside too. While very loud by itself, the vac was very quiet when enclosed, double filtered and baffle for air circulation. I checked the temp on occasion and it was never hotter than 90° coming out (with my AC on about 75°). The point is - even a 2 1/2" vac can be made into a good DC system for pen turning, and filtration can be done.
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I want to second all the recommendations Hank is making here. I, too, had sudden and horrific reactions to CA fumes. For those who have negative reactions to it, they can be very, very severe. They also seem to come out of the blue, even when in the past you have had no issues (I used CA glue throughout a lot of my life for actually gluing things together, did a ton of modeling as a kid and teen, never had reactions...until I did.)

My issues did not get resolved until I did most of the same things. N99 respirator with replaceable filters, floor fan to blow fumes away from me, etc. I actually ended up with a Sundstrom PAPR in the end, which has organic fume filters and dust prefilters, and uses a powered fan to blow air into the full-head shielded respirator. The sunstrom was expensive, but if you plan to spend a lot of time wearing a respirator, you get much better oxygenation with the sundstrom than with a passive respirator (I have a 3M half-face mask with the pink and mustard organic filters...it doesn't take long before its hard to breathe with that...the filters are very strong, so you don't get as much air per breath).

I am still working on a DC. Its the next thing on my list. I've been considering doing something like what Hank described...building a sound-dampening enclosure for it with proper baffling. In my research, the baffling is really critical to deal with the exhaust air pressure. In my case the DC will be handling dust and chip collection for everything in my shop, so I'll probably be going with 6" primary ducting, down to 4" hose in some cases...but I will be doing cutting, sawing, turning and sanding large (sometimes very large segmented) items, etc. If all you are doing is pens, 2.5" might do... In my experience, sanding is what produces the most dust, even with a pen, with a 2.5" hose, a lot of the sanding dust goes strait into the air (even with the intake a couple inches from the pen)...if you are using CA finish, then its the same with CA dust. CA dust is just as bad as the fumes in my experience...in fact, the problem with either is the particulate seems to be a respiratory irritant, as the fumes solidify into particulate the moment they hit the moisture in your lungs. Even with an air filter, a lot of that dust still settles all over everything... So, if you REALLY want to deal with that fine remnant dust...4" might be better.
 
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