Do i need safety gear to re fiberglass my car fender?

Question

im using matting resin hardner sandpaper, do i need a paper mask? i cut some matting with scissors and there were tiny sparkles as the light hit just right. i must have breathed some in already but i feel fine,

Answer 1

Absolute minimum: Rubber gloves, a breathing respirator (looks like a large paper mask with 2 charcoal cartridges), and safety glasses.

Best: Full body Tyvek suit with hood, face shield, rubber gloves, respirator.

I used to work for a place that manufactured faux cast stone from fiberglass. Those guys were required to wear a full body suit, face shield, rubber gloves, and a breathing apparatus similar to scuba gear.

At any rate be very careful. The fiberglassing process can be extremely dangerous due to exposure to the chemicals.

Answer 2

yes because fiber class can get into your arm and make you itch a lot plus it can cut you, and get germs inside you and you could get an infection.

Answer 3

How tough a guy are you?

...you should definitely wear a paper mask if not a respirator when you grind on fiberglass, whether to prepare the surface for bonding or finishing it out.

The mat can be dangerous too, but not like the ground glass. A paper mask would be ok so long as your not cutting mat for hours.

To me, ...the safety precautions I took, I took out of annoyance. Fibers would float up into the air and into my nose. Super tickle.

...and the ground glass makes your mouth taste yucky.

I worked with it for years. My brother has worked with it for decades. Both of us spent years without safety equipment. It wasn't around as much and it wasn't as normal as it is these days. Neither of us have had any ill effects. My brother is a Super Tough Guy. I've seen him disconnect a pressurized catalyst hose from a chopper gun and get a pure high pressure *methyl-ethyl-keytone-peroxide eyewash. It freaked me out. I didn't know whether to laugh or call the emergency squad. He has worked in confining under ground holding tanks for so long at a time, ...until he got sick from the fumes. That was WITH a respirator with brand new cartridges. He is still very healthy and in his sixties. ...hard ***.

You'll be ok.

*Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) is an organic peroxide, a high explosive similar to acetone peroxide. MEKP is a colorless, oily liquid whereas acetone peroxide is a white powder at STP; MEKP is slightly less sensitive to shock and temperature, and more stable in storage.

Answer 4

Yes, any time you create fine particles in the air you should use a mask of some sort

Answer 5

you should have a face mask. that stuff can get into your lugs and kill you or you will have breathing problems.

Answer 6

yes the toxins in fibreglass are really dangerous and can really damage ur lungs, better to be safe than sorry!!

Answer 7

Use proper eye wear, good set of gloves, and ear protection when grinding/powersanding down.  Also do this in a well ventillated area, the smell is rather stinky.

Answer 8

  Take advise from one with screwed up lungs, any time you work on any brake system on any make car, work with wood and wood dust, or any other commercial dust system, by all means wear a mask, even a simple paper mask is better than nothing, and yes, fiberglass can be dangerous like asbestos.

Once a persons lungs are damaged, they cannot be repaired.