resperator?

[Richard Prager]

I am working in a small workshop with a very tiny 3 inch x 12 inch window. I have a fan pointed at it. I have been getting a lot of bloody noses lately and bloody boogers and I think it may be from pouring plastic. I dont want brain damage. Any who I will be looking at a respirator because I just started this hobby a couple weeks ago and have been seeing these changes in my health. Thanks for the suggestions on this forum

The nose bleeds are most likely from the fumes. I know of many people who had the same problem becasue of lack of ventilation. Those fumes are nasty. You're probably getting congestion as well. A respirator will certainly help, but with that size opening you really need to have a proper ventilation system to suck out the fumes. The fumes have nowhere to go and your fan is not sufficient. Take it from someone who can't pour any longer from not taking the proper precautions.

[Vodkaman]

I have been getting a lot of bloody noses lately and bloody boogers and I think it may be from pouring plastic. I dont want brain damage.

Wow! That sounds serious.

Definately stop what you are doing until you get the chemical mask thing sorted.

Different people react differently to these chemicals. I am not just referring to pouring plastics, but all the other stuff that lure builders use, like epoxy, acetone, thinners, resins, wood dust and plaster of Paris. Personally, I have problems with acetone (headaches), wood dust (itchy unmentionables) and plaster of paris (dried skin and itchy lower legs and fingers). Anything that creates dust, I have to shower immediately after use and the work clothing goes straight in the wash. Thinners, resins, plastics and epoxies don't seem to affect me, but they still need treating with respect.

Dave

[wnybassman]

Being new at the plastic pouring hobby, I am just getting this all figured out. My barn is 12' by 20' with a decent size window at one end that I have a window fan sucking the air out. The other end is the entry door that I keep cracked to keep air current going out the window. I literally pour within inches of the window fan to keep fumes to a minimum.

I am a carpenter/drywall guy by trade and my respiratory system is not what it used to be. I can no longer tolerate many dusts/fumes/fibers like I used to. Mainly because I didn't take the precautions I do now. A few years ago I started getting sinus and throat infections all the time, until I realized the problem. Now wearing masks at work I cut those infections way down.

With all that said, I will be getting a decent respirator soon to pour plastics. The smoke that comes out of the Pyex cup definitely irritates the system. Right now I only do an hour at a time or so to cut down on exposure.