I have just gotten off the phone with my son. He is a professional fireman and EMT in Apache Junction, AZ. When I mentioned the question of harmful fumes he told me to be extra careful and use a full respirator. He has seen numerous cases of the terrible consequences of the inhalation of VOCs, resins, Toluene, etc. These consequences range from headaches to unconsciousness and even death.

This is a very serious matter.

This is a dust mask:



It does nothing to protect you from harmful fumes.

This is a respirator:



It will protect you from most bad things in the air. it is a high quality U>S> made unit, yet it cost just $29.95 when I bought it at a hardware store several years ago.

Get one. It could save your life.

Good advice. I don't usually use heat to bend plastic ,but for the cheap cost of a respirator, comparied to the consquences, it will be worth to have just in case....VETTE

So, do you need it just for glue and paint?? I wouldn't think so, just making sure. -kevin

The fumes from heating plastic aren't all you need to protect yourself from. Paint is full of all sorts of nasty stuff. PLEAS use a full respirator when painting, no matter the contents of the paint. No paint is 100% safe to breathe.

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinm

So, do you need it just for glue and paint?? I wouldn't think so, just making sure. -kevin

You need it for gluing (you wouldn't believe what glue can do to your brain), painting, and any time you are burning, melting, or otherwise abusing plastic.

Thank you, man. -kevin

Here is the warning on a bottle of Testors liquid cement: "Vapor harmful. Poison. This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm".

That harmful ingredient is Xylene, a deadly poison.

I'm going to get a respirator as soon as I can. Thanks for bringing this up. -kevin

There have been several artists who have worked in resins and developed brain tumors. The most notable being Duane Hansen (who is known for his ultra-realistic human figures). Although a definite link has not been made, I think you can draw your own conclusions.

orange tube from testors has tolene in it yes?

at least we're not jumping off buildings...lol

If you don't heed my warnings, you might as well. I know most of us have been working on models for years without using a respirator, but that doesn't make it right.

Marcus, thank you for validating my remarks to the young man asking about fumes from heating plastic.

I am also an EMT-Licensed Paramedic although I don't mention it much in my posts. I have the full blown respirator that I always use during painting. I also have asthma so it is a learned behavior to protect myself.

Let's not go jumping to conclusions, though. If you work in a well ventilated area (like one with a fan blowing the vapors away from you), you won't need the respirator during the gluing part.

But if you are heating or burning plastic, then you need to wear the respirator. And during painting, it should be a given. Eye protection isn't a bad idea either. Since I keep my compressor in the other side of the garage, I don't need noise supression.

But all of these are very valid issues. We need to look out for our health and for the health of newcomers. Glue sniffing has it's reasons for being a drug of abuse. The problem was it killed brain cel.... what were we talking about, Mommy? I didn't break the lam...zzzzzzzz...

I kid because I care. These are very serious and valid issues and thanks for bringing them up, Marcus.

I should have mentioned the part about gluing. I didn't realize till later that that was a little alarmist. Just be sure and have a window open and you'll be alright.

Wow, Kind of scary becuase I was getting headaches not to long ago....... Man I have to pick one of thoes up then dont I!.

Thanks for the advice!

A well ventilated work area is sufficient 'protection' for most gluing, sanding,... but when spray painting, always wear a mask. Lacquerjack can tell you horror stories of exposure to paint first hand.

As another caveat, the glues known as 'super glue' or Cyanoacrylate (CA) are extremely bad for us. Always use caution and make sure the air is moving around you when using these types of adhesives. They are bad!

Thanks you helipilot for bringing this timely discusion up in the forums. The idea of having a "Safety" catagory in the forums is good.

By the way, you can get a respirator just like the one shown above at your local Ace Hardware Store!