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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 22, 2024 19:04:50 GMT -5
FWIW, here's the mask that I wear just for cabbing. This is probably 6-8 years worth of dust from my machines. Until very recently the inside of the mask was completely white, but now I see that it's actually past time to get a new one. Gotta keep that silica (and other nasty compounds) out of my lungs! Do you really want to inhale this stuff? Another consideration is that a good portion of that silica is white/clear, which by itself would be less visible.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 22, 2024 20:06:56 GMT -5
Thanks, Gary. No amount of talking about it really proves the point like your picture. Thanks for posting this.  |
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
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Post by ThomasT on Jan 22, 2024 20:12:39 GMT -5
No amount of art is worth your health or lung... Be very careful about dust management if you hand polish stones.
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
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Post by ThomasT on Jan 22, 2024 20:33:33 GMT -5
After reading the forum for some time, I am only afraid that those hand-polishing (i.e. cabbing) stones may not appreciate in what dangers some of the minerals' dust may contain.
Not trying to cause undue fear, but there are some serious considerations for running a cabbing machine inside a house with kids as a hobby that may have been under addressed in the rock tumbling hobby forum.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 22, 2024 20:40:12 GMT -5
After reading the forum for some time, I am only afraid that those hand-polishing (i.e. cabbing) stones may not appreciate in what dangers some of the minerals' dust may contain. Not trying to cause undue fear, but there are some serious considerations for running a cabbing machine inside a house with kids as a hobby that may have been under addressed in the rock tumbling hobby forum. Actually, the subject comes up fairly often and there is a sticky in the general rocks board section about safety. Maybe newer people haven't seen the discussions, yet, but they will find them- including this one.
ETA This is still a free country. There are people who know the risks and don't care. That's their business.
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 345
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Post by gunsil on Jan 22, 2024 20:42:08 GMT -5
Are you using a spitter machine? I have a lot of water running over my wheels and my smock doesn't get any white (or other color) spots from the overspray when dried out. I agree in many situations the respirator or at least a mask is a good idea. When I use carving burs I wear a good respirator with the two big filters on either side. A bit heavy and obtrusive but I'm not breathing the residue of carving. By the way, I'm pretty old with COPD from smoking and working in an auto shop for forty some years with all the brake dust and chemicals. I don't fool around with keeping my air intake clean. Organic materials are more dangerous than rocks. I sometimes hand carve elephant and walrus ivory and antler and I always wear the respirator, that stuff's dust causes problems other than silicosis. Abalone is also dangerous, it has toxic levels of arsenic in the shell. Gotta know the properties of the material you work and protect yourself accordingly.
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
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Post by ThomasT on Jan 22, 2024 20:42:17 GMT -5
Yep...I believe you are still free to do as you please on this... rockjunquie Being careful hasn't hurt anyone. Best regards, Thomas |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 22, 2024 20:48:48 GMT -5
Yep...I believe you are still free to do as you please on this... rockjunquie Being careful hasn't hurt anyone. Best regards, Thomas Indeed. And, being informed can't hurt, either. |
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
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Post by ThomasT on Jan 22, 2024 21:01:15 GMT -5
gunsil A black smock will show the splatter after sometime even on our pumped water wheels... remember your smock probably doesn't see 5% of what is being thrown out in your work area. The biggest danger in many cases of shop dust getting air-borne is the cleanup... Don't cab on the dining room table for example... before you feed the family. What do I know? Ask a pulmonologist their opinion. There is usually a safe way do anything. Take care, Best regards, Thomas
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 22, 2024 21:27:06 GMT -5
Here are some links on the subject copied from another thread. |
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
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Post by ThomasT on Jan 22, 2024 21:44:30 GMT -5
When I was young nobody warned anybody about dust... Now we need try to take good care of ourselves.. No need to lose any talented artists before their time...
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 345
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Post by gunsil on Jan 23, 2024 9:58:21 GMT -5
gunsil A black smock will show the splatter after sometime even on our pumped water wheels... remember your smock probably doesn't see 5% of what is being thrown out in your work area. The biggest danger in many cases of shop dust getting air-borne is the cleanup... Don't cab on the dining room table for example... before you feed the family. What do I know? Ask a pulmonologist their opinion. There is usually a safe way do anything. Take care, Best regards Actually Thomas, I wear a dark blue denim smock and it doesn't get rock dust marks on it. I also cab standing up with the machines about waist height. I think those who cab sitting at a machine will be more prone to breathing residue. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 23, 2024 11:00:46 GMT -5
gunsil A black smock will show the splatter after sometime even on our pumped water wheels... remember your smock probably doesn't see 5% of what is being thrown out in your work area. The biggest danger in many cases of shop dust getting air-borne is the cleanup... Don't cab on the dining room table for example... before you feed the family. What do I know? Ask a pulmonologist their opinion. There is usually a safe way do anything. Take care, Best regards Actually Thomas, I wear a dark blue denim smock and it doesn't get rock dust marks on it. I also cab standing up with the machines about waist height. I think those who cab sitting at a machine will be more prone to breathing residue. True. I sit while cabbing. I wear a white, long, terry cloth adult bib. I use it to dry the stone and my hands. So, it gets plenty dirty from that alone. I do get some from the machine, too. |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 23, 2024 11:46:51 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this as a separate post. It is so very important and I while I've always been diligent about wearing mine, I will step it up a notch and wear it always. I have read through several of the posts above (very informative) and also the dangers of lapidary (thanks rockjunquie). It's interesting to see how some perceptions have changed over the 15 years or so since they were posted. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 23, 2024 11:51:04 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this as a separate post. It is so very important and I while I've always been diligent about wearing mine, I will step it up a notch and wear it always. I have read through several of the posts above (very informative) and also the dangers of lapidary (thanks rockjunquie ). It's interesting to see how some perceptions have changed over the 15 years or so since they were posted. Perceptions have changed, you're right. I didn't use to wear a mask- well for certain stones I did, but I do now. |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 23, 2024 12:12:06 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this as a separate post. It is so very important and I while I've always been diligent about wearing mine, I will step it up a notch and wear it always. I have read through several of the posts above (very informative) and also the dangers of lapidary (thanks rockjunquie ). It's interesting to see how some perceptions have changed over the 15 years or so since they were posted. Perceptions have changed, you're right. I didn't use to wear a mask- well for certain stones I did, but I do now. I'm honestly a bit nervous now about the chryosolla with cuprite slab and tiger eye that I got at auction. Will be very cautious and not do any work unless I'm fully PPE'd... |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 23, 2024 12:13:24 GMT -5
Perceptions have changed, you're right. I didn't use to wear a mask- well for certain stones I did, but I do now. I'm honestly a bit nervous now about the chryosolla with cuprite slab and tiger eye that I got at auction. Will be very cautious and not do any work unless I'm fully PPE'd... As long as you take precautions, you'll be fine. |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Jan 28, 2024 10:35:10 GMT -5
Thanks for the reminder. I've not been wearing a mask when grinding. After reading this I realized if I'm getting spots on my glasses I'm inhaling water vapor and more. I put my mask on. I did have to go from a respirator to a disposable. Couldn't get my glasses to not fog with the respirator.
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Post by victor1941 on Jan 30, 2024 22:08:28 GMT -5
I use a flat lap and I use a mask and small fan to blow mist and grit away from the machine. I do the same with the saw to reduce exposure to the mineral oil mist.
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Post by 1dave on Jan 31, 2024 11:25:43 GMT -5
They are available at Amazon, but hard to picture.  Another source is U-Line: (easier to show all.  |
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