The Dangers of Detailing!

Eliran said:
That is a really good info Derrick.
Now you made me really scared about the dusting since I did a job 3 weeks ago and using M105 which dust really bad and I remember I tried not to breath it and tried to breath only from the nose slowly so I wont breath the dust but if I knew it then I would wear a respirator. Is there a chance I did already some damage to my lungs? I do remember that my eyes was burning couple of days later which indicate the strong impact it can do.
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Eliran,
First get a respirator and goggles then get an oximeter to measure your blood's oxygen saturation level. Remember to change the respirator's filter often.

Derrick
 
OGauge4Me said:
Thank you. Now to figure our what size I need, Betting on large.
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OGauge4Me,
I use a medium sized respirator which fits nice and tight from 3M. There are no leaks. Mine is the 7182. The 7183, the large size, was too loose and would let air in. I couldn't use that one.

Derrick
 
Derrick said:
OGauge4Me,
I use a medium sized respirator which fits nice and tight from 3M. There are no leaks. Mine is the 7182. The 7183, the large size, was too loose and would let air in. I couldn't use that one.

Derrick
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Thank you Iwill pick one up.
 
Im like a kid in Sexual Education class when they find out that its possible to contract a sexually transmitted disease from their girlfriend. Im going out and buying masks and ear plugs today! Heck it might even make me look more professional while i detail!
 
Smoking does cause permanent damage. My father quit in 1990....had lung reduction surgery in 1998 to remove the scar tissue....and died in 2005. It was all do to smoking.
 
Interesting theory, but there is no supporting evidence to back up this claim.

The way I first test any product before using it is by spraying or applying some on my hand. If my hand doesn't like it, then I'm not going to use it on my vehicle. Simple as that.
 
ANDYS87 said:
Smoking does cause permanent damage. My father quit in 1990....had lung reduction surgery in 1998 to remove the scar tissue....and died in 2005. It was all do to smoking.
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I should have made my point clearer. Smoking does cause lung damage but if you stop smoking, your health can and in most cases does improve. Not totally, but some. You can smoke for a decade, then stop and live a very long and productive life, whereas you can use the wrong polishing compounds without the correct safety equipment and destroy your lungs within a year or two.

3M makes some of the best paint correction products on the planet AND they also make the best respirators. It's not an accident they produce BOTH lines of products.

Now all we have to do as detailers is use both the products and protection. Remember some of these products were designed for industrial use, on the assembly lines, in automotive plants. Big companies will protect their employees by getting them the proper safety equipment, while the weekend detailer will use these products, cough and have a hurting chest for a day or two, and use the same products again the next weekend.

We must use the proper protection.

Hope I explained my point,
Derrick
 
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Emile said:
Interesting theory, but there is no supporting evidence to back up this claim.

The way I first test any product before using it is by spraying or applying some on my hand. If my hand doesn't like it, then I'm not going to use it on my vehicle. Simple as that.
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Emile,
Please explain what is an interesting theory? I'm confused by your statement. Do you agree or disagree with what I posted?

Derrick
 
If you bought a respirator after reading this thread please let me know.

Derrick
 
Derrick said:
If you bought a respirator after reading this thread please let me know.

Derrick
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I already have, and use one. I even use it with water based supplies. Use nitrile or latex gloves. They're available from Costco--about $5 a box of 150.

Other uses of a respirator and gloves: Working with pesticides, fertilizers.
Working/Cutting/Handling pressure treated wood.
 
KLRPilot said:
I already have, and use one. I even use it with water based supplies. Use nitrile or latex gloves. They're available from Costco--about $5 a box of 150.

Other uses of a respirator and gloves: Working with pesticides, fertilizers.
Working/Cutting/Handling pressure treated wood.
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KLRPilot,
I am glad you are using it! The sad thing about detailing is that too many detailers don't think about the stuff that's in the products they use. Some high end polishes have abrasives that are used to polish glass to a super clean, precise gloss. If those polishes can polish glass just imagine what it can do to your lungs.

Keep taking care of yourself and your customers and you'll go well beyond you dreams.

Derrick
 
Thank you for this thread Derrick. I have never even thought about this before. I am going to go buy necessary protection before I start doing paint correction.
 
Eye protection is key too. I only saw it mentioned briefly, but take it from someone who had their cornea scratched by a dust particle. The pain and discomfort you have to go through can easily be prevented by throwing a pair of chemical goggles on.

The kind that cover your eyes completely. Yeah you'll look like a science geek but better that than lose your eyesight.
 
AudiTTman said:
Im like a kid in Sexual Education class when they find out that its possible to contract a sexually transmitted disease from their girlfriend. Im going out and buying masks and ear plugs today! Heck it might even make me look more professional while i detail!
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LOL! That a good way to look at it. I missed that one so I had to respond. Some STD's you can get a shot and it'll be gone, but unfortunately this is like being with a person with HIV. It will make your life very uncomfortable and short.

Derrick

P.S. No disrespect to the persons with HIV. I know of an innocent little girl who was born with it because her mother was a drug addict.
 
Hi Derrick, you have posted very good info here. Thanks.

Now I would like to play the devil's advocate for a moment; would you happen to have an article or link to a study that links detailing (inhaling compounding dust, etc.) to premature lung failure?

Kronos
 
I've thought about this before but figured since I don't do it often I'd be ok. If I was a pro doing this all the time there would be no question you MUST get a respirator. Better safe than sorry. It's simple logic that these particles are certainly and with no doubt going to cause damage. Best case scenario is your body can release a small amount of these particles. But where do you think these particles are going to go? They will land in your lungs and you can be sure there are some very nasty things in these particles. They don't have to list all the ingredients...
Anyway, thanks for this post Derrick! Allthough I rarely do work with small particles I will be getting the 3x 7182 from amazon for when I do. I removed my carpet in my house a few weeks ago. Underneath it was glued to the terrazo with some adhesive from like the 1970's. I had to scrape it up turning it into a fine dust... We can only imagine.... Scary! THe whole time I was thinking I should be wearing a respirator! Next time I will have one handy. Thanks for the extra nudge. You have done a lot of good to those who have taken your advice.
 
kronos said:
Hi Derrick, you have posted very good info here. Thanks.

Now I would like to play the devil's advocate for a moment; would you happen to have an article or link to a study that links detailing (inhaling compounding dust, etc.) to premature lung failure?

Kronos
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Just google the cutting agent in the polish you are using. One of the most popular is aluminum oxide.

Here's an article on aluminum oxide. http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/2891.pdf

There are many more just do some research.

Derrick
 
I wore a full face mask the other day (3M brand) for something else and to be honest, it wasn't uncomfortable at all. It was very easy to breath and kinda fun to watch the mask doing its job...

One thing I've always wondered though is I noticed the 3M cartridges say "NIOSH approved against certain organic vapors." How do I know which organic vapors? How do I know which cartridge to buy?
 
HealthyCivic said:
I wore a full face mask the other day (3M brand) for something else and to be honest, it wasn't uncomfortable at all. It was very easy to breath and kinda fun to watch the mask doing its job...

One thing I've always wondered though is I noticed the 3M cartridges say "NIOSH approved against certain organic vapors." How do I know which organic vapors? How do I know which cartridge to buy?
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When polishing paint you need a mask that stops particles.

Organic masks are used to stop certain chemical vapors that are emitted from acidic and alkaline based products. They may not effectively protect you from particles.

I wrote about the masked I used earlier in this thread. Just read the entire thread and you will see it.

Derrick
 
Man I must be lucky. Over 30 of detailing, no mask, no gloves, used acid, HF, I remember using 3M compound and feeling the grit in my teeth.

So far I am healthy.
 
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