Safe to airbrush Pledge or do I need a resperator?

Better to err on the side of safety.  Even acrylics have nasty stuff you don’t want coating the insides of your lungs.  Besides, if you look at anyone’s airbrush station, there usually is a film of grit from the paint.  You are breathing that stuff!

 When I shot it ( moved on) I used 3m N95 particulate masks which I have on hand anyway.. There are basically no fumes from Pledge. But I also have a spray booth, so I smelled literally nothing. A mask of this grade should take out the particulates that might get air borne if you have a booth and really more.. I use them for acrylics in general and also my wood working, wood turning sanding etc. N95 is rated for mold spores as well fwiw that you can't even see. You need a respirator with charcoal cartridges for solvent paints or if you want to be extra careful with acrylic. Something I learned in 1/1 painting, when spraying,breath through your nose. You have some extra natural filtration up there before particles can hit your lungs.

They tell me my lungs are excellent at going on 70 yo, been spray painting models for 60 years and shot 1/1 on and off for nearly 30. For whatever that's worth to anyone lol. So something must be working right.

It's not safe to airbrush ANYTHING without a mask. All fumes are actually particles and any particles in your lungs can cause damage. Nothing is safe. Can you do it? You can do anything you want. You weigh the risk.

modelmaker66

It's not safe to airbrush ANYTHING without a mask. All fumes are actually particles and any particles in your lungs can cause damage. Nothing is safe. Can you do it? You can do anything you want. You weigh the risk.

 

 

I use a Honeywell r95 respirator.  I spray tamiya acrylic.  Used to thin with their acrylic thinner, i started running low in acrylic thinner then switched to their lacquer thinner. I'm not a lung scientist so I can only assume that's sufficient.  

I believe the package says the filters are good for 8 hours of use.  Who is timing use?  I don't know. I replace them when they look dirty. 

Oh and also wear safety glasses.  I saw an internet video where a guy scratched his forehead with the back of the brush needle when he bent over after dropping something on the floor.  Apparently he had the cover thing off the back of the airbrush and in the holder while cleaning.  Scraped his face on the way down.  

T e d

So this brings up the debate of R95 vs N95. To cut to the chase R95 will filter out oil based substances and N95 will not. Thus why I use N95 for acrylic. You can get these in disposable masks/ repirators or reusable mask/respirator with disposable cartridges. In oil paints ( solvent based) it's just more practical to have a reusable mask and disposable cartridges for the reason Ted brings up. The filtration for oils has a time limit once opened up.

A little off topic but would appreciate any help....I'm going to try Novus 1 & 2 for the top coat / protectant on my 55 Bel-Air. I also would like to try airbrushing a coat of Future as well. My question is...is the Novus #1 and the Future accomplishing the same thing? Would one be a duplication of the other? Maybe just a Novus #2 and then a coat of Future?

canuck

A little off topic but would appreciate any help....I'm going to try Novus 1 & 2 for the top coat / protectant on my 55 Bel-Air. I also would like to try airbrushing a coat of Future as well. My question is...is the Novus #1 and the Future accomplishing the same thing? Would one be a duplication of the other? Maybe just a Novus #2 and then a coat of Future?

 

No not the same at all. The Novus 1 and 2 are two different grits of polishing compound that you then ( generally speaking) follow up with wax. Future is an acrylic clear coat floor care product people use as a clear top coat. Often then they polish that. Depends on the look you want. I could tell you how I go about clear coating cars or not for that matter ( they don't all need clear coating as in vogue as it seems to be). But really this should be in it's own thread if we wander off topic long term. Sounds like a nice build though !

Great thanks for clarifying. This is my first attempt at a really great finish and I would be interested to hear what you have to say. Also my first time in a forum and don't quite understand the mechanics of it so I'll follow your lead if you care to start a new thread.... 

I usually use an N95 mask while airbrushing and sanding but yesterday I forgot to use it. I developed a bad allergic reaction to inhaling Pledge.

canuck

Great thanks for clarifying. This is my first attempt at a really great finish and I would be interested to hear what you have to say. Also my first time in a forum and don't quite understand the mechanics of it so I'll follow your lead if you care to start a new thread.... 

 

Just go back to the main page for this forum and you will see a blue box that says start a new topic. Fill that out about your desires in painting your 55 and post it. Then we all can get in on it . We need to know a few things before we can really launch into our suggestions. Also there is a forum for Autos too that may be helpful. If you post it it's then your thread not mine lol !

Niko

I usually use an N95 mask while airbrushing and sanding but yesterday I forgot to use it. I developed a bad allergic reaction to inhaling Pledge.

 

I'm gathering you won't do that again !

Gotcha will do! Thanks!