There's certainly inhalation risks if you handle it improperly but I can't find any data suggesting that it's actually hazardous / toxic. I worry more about breathing in the epoxy fumes.
I'm not even sure if it is an inhalation risk. They are nano-scale granules, and silica is almost completely chemically inert, so there is no way for them to physically or chemically damage cells in your lungs that I can think of
Fumed silica created in labs is in amorphous state, which is far less dangerous if breathed (of course try not to). I feel you mistaken it for crystalline silica, that's the horrible horrible death one (silicosis). Also, it's almost impossible for a private to get his hands on crystalline silica in powder.
I've been trying to find good information about this and everything refers to crystalline silica but the Google search results summarize it and it shows up that fumed silica is dangerous. Is there any place to get decent safety information about this?
Check out the easy composites website (my supplier) as they have full safety data sheets which are great. About ten pages. The challenge is they have "occupational exposure limits" which are very easy to exceed. At that point you're in danger territory and exposure your own ersonal liability, not theirs.
Fumed silica does not have razor sharp edges like CRUSHED SILICA (crystalline silica) dust which cuts the lungs. Your a bit confused on this "HORRIBLE DEATH" issue.
So, I wasn't paying close enough attention, but are you not using a two-part epoxy? Might be really helpful to use a two-part epoxy and leave the hardener out and mix the silica with the resin before adding the activating agent. Just a thought to give you a little more time for mixing and not to eat into your setting time
Speaking of not inhaling that stuff, it looks like you need to wear your mask a bit higher. It doesn't look like it's sealing around your nose, though I know there are some sort of interior flaps. Could be wrong. Just lookin' out. :)
There is a waxy layer formed on the top of cured epoxy that might be causing you some extra sanding issues. Amine blush. Also for softer sanding additives look out for micro bubbles/glass balloons.
*Fumed silica does not have razor sharp edges like CRUSHED SILICA (crystalline silica) dust which cuts the lungs. Your a bit confused on this "HORRIBLE DEATH" issue.*
People should always perform sealing checks on their silicone or TPU gas mask. It looks like your mask didn't properly seal next to your nose but can't really say. I hope your mask was on tight.
more info please, the MSDS for Fumed Silica states its non toxic and may cause mild eye, skin and respiratory irritation. Why are you calling it nasty stuff, i'd like to know before I use this on a project. Thanks,
Please.........You need to be super careful with laminating epoxy. It is very toxic, and accumulates in your body until you get to a point where the smell of it will make you feel ill. The human body cannot process or discard epoxy. You must use vinyl gloves and NOT latex gloves - the epoxy molecules will pass through the latex and absorb into your skin. Love the new found skills you have developed :-)
That's interesting - I didn't know epoxy was that toxic. I always buy the vinyl gloves though, because so many applications latex is just not good enough. I hope that by the end I'll be able to call it "skills", thanks!
Just FYI, the particles of fumed silica, usually between 2-20nm, are *way* too small to cause silicosis. It can be an irritant, and can dry out your skin and stuff, but it does not stay in your lungs and cause fibrosis.
Thanks for the info about it drying your skin, I just bought a small jar off Amazon and I opened the envelope expecting it to be sealed, yet there was powder EVERYWHERE. It made my hand feel sticky almost, but I'm glad to know it just superdried it. It wore off as I watched the video lol
Sometimes I’d assume, I have no evidence but an educated guess would be it is in blemish blurring matte facial setting powder. As it is moisture adverse and diffuses light. But this is an estimate.
Wow... I can't believe all the pearl clutching in the comments. Fumed silica is not the same as crystalline silica and is generally considered safe. It's used in food and cosmetics. You should avoid breathing it, especially occupationally, but you'd think we were talking about plutonium reading these comments...
just fumed silica sets WAY to hard for an easy filler, add some micro-ballons to make sanding easier then you only need a small amount of silica to stop sagging.
So it turns out, EasyComposites isn't so easy.... 😁. Nice work! So much work involved in it! You'll have to give a run down on how much you reckon you've spent on this and time wise over buying some made up CF. Obvs the scoop is custom.
I will certainly do that. I expect I'll be way below the cost of buying a carbon scoop, but the time is the major investment. I'll make sure I total it up!
Worked with this shit, emptying big bags of this material into bulk containers, we "felljob workers" were handed safety gear, oxygen mask, fitted with filters for GAS.
@@vPerformance I worked as a forkliftdriver in a logistics company in the port of Antwerp (Stabroek), me and my co-workers were beating this shit out of the Big Bags with sticks (does not run well) into a bulk container. We wore Tyvek overalls and closed air circulation masks fitted with GAS filters (i noticed when cleaning my mask) the dust got in, after this gone to the office and complain (then i was told the filters were for gas). Now asking myself, did smoking give me COPD Gold II or this product?
@@vPerformanceI told this to my lungspecialist and she wrote it down, but never mentioned this being a factor. I did smoke from age 11 to 53. As a temp you useually get the dirty jobs, i worked on daily contracts in this one company for 3 years, until i asked for a real contract, not welcome anymore... Anyway, if i see the specialist in Octobre 2021, i will ask her.
@@vPerformance I contacted the felljob office, they will look into it and contact the company. It has been 9 years ago, but some investigate seach in Google learned me, that consequences appear in a later stage, after years.
Masks with gaps wont work properly as our fellows mencioned below. I wonder where all these chemicals leftovers are disposed. Not only yours but from all youtubers..who work with chemicals..We still have to have fun with our hobbies of course..but we must take care of our beloved mother earth....
@@vPerformance might be safer to play with that stuff outside. I would even go as far to say get a paper suit and bin it when done. it is probably all over your clothes.
There's certainly inhalation risks if you handle it improperly but I can't find any data suggesting that it's actually hazardous / toxic. I worry more about breathing in the epoxy fumes.
I'm not even sure if it is an inhalation risk. They are nano-scale granules, and silica is almost completely chemically inert, so there is no way for them to physically or chemically damage cells in your lungs that I can think of
@@trstmeimadctr it can cause Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis... I don't know why the hell I even know that by the way.
@@quijybojanklebits8750 Wow. That's a real word... as you know. Just looked it up.
@@desotopete no, it's made up. Look it up and actually read the definition 🙂👍
@@quijybojanklebits8750 this (real name 'silicosis' btw) is caused by crystalline silica, not the fumed silica that's shown in the video.
Fumed silica created in labs is in amorphous state, which is far less dangerous if breathed (of course try not to). I feel you mistaken it for crystalline silica, that's the horrible horrible death one (silicosis). Also, it's almost impossible for a private to get his hands on crystalline silica in powder.
Well that's a relief! I still went for "safety first" but I'm glad to know I don't have a bucket of poison in my garage.
I've been trying to find good information about this and everything refers to crystalline silica but the Google search results summarize it and it shows up that fumed silica is dangerous.
Is there any place to get decent safety information about this?
Check out the easy composites website (my supplier) as they have full safety data sheets which are great. About ten pages. The challenge is they have "occupational exposure limits" which are very easy to exceed. At that point you're in danger territory and exposure your own ersonal liability, not theirs.
Fumed silica does not have razor sharp edges like CRUSHED SILICA (crystalline silica) dust which cuts the lungs. Your a bit confused on this "HORRIBLE DEATH" issue.
“I must be getting old now that I’m taking safety seriously!” Lol
So, I wasn't paying close enough attention, but are you not using a two-part epoxy? Might be really helpful to use a two-part epoxy and leave the hardener out and mix the silica with the resin before adding the activating agent. Just a thought to give you a little more time for mixing and not to eat into your setting time
It's 2 part epoxy. There are 2 options of hardener speed, but I was using the fast hardener as the ambient temp was low
Speaking of not inhaling that stuff, it looks like you need to wear your mask a bit higher. It doesn't look like it's sealing around your nose, though I know there are some sort of interior flaps. Could be wrong. Just lookin' out. :)
I now see someone else in the comments addressed this. At any rate, this series is awesome!
There is a waxy layer formed on the top of cured epoxy that might be causing you some extra sanding issues. Amine blush. Also for softer sanding additives look out for micro bubbles/glass balloons.
Fumed silica and crystalline silica are not the same thing.
*Fumed silica does not have razor sharp edges like CRUSHED SILICA (crystalline silica) dust which cuts the lungs. Your a bit confused on this "HORRIBLE DEATH" issue.*
Crazy I just watched ACTION LAB playing with it like a TARD with NO respiratory protection
Me too!
Look at me! I'm so special, I gotta capitalise all important words in my sentences. TARD.
fumed silica isn't dangerous.
People should always perform sealing checks on their silicone or TPU gas mask. It looks like your mask didn't properly seal next to your nose but can't really say. I hope your mask was on tight.
We all came from Action Lab video where he was playing with it as if it is safe AF
That stuff is just satanic snow. Works great though!
more info please, the MSDS for Fumed Silica states its non toxic and may cause mild eye, skin and respiratory irritation. Why are you calling it nasty stuff, i'd like to know before I use this on a project. Thanks,
It might be non toxic as a material, but getting it into your lungs causes silicosis which scars the lungs and causes breathing problems
@@vPerformance You are thinking of crystalline silica this is not that and no where near as dangerous.
@@vPerformance incorrect.
fumed silica is extremly hydrophobic, is the surface after sanding hydrophobic?
Only 'treated" fumed silica is hydrophobic. Untreated fumed silica is hydrophilic.
Please.........You need to be super careful with laminating epoxy. It is very toxic, and accumulates in your body until you get to a point where the smell of it will make you feel ill. The human body cannot process or discard epoxy. You must use vinyl gloves and NOT latex gloves - the epoxy molecules will pass through the latex and absorb into your skin. Love the new found skills you have developed :-)
That's interesting - I didn't know epoxy was that toxic. I always buy the vinyl gloves though, because so many applications latex is just not good enough. I hope that by the end I'll be able to call it "skills", thanks!
Thank you for your posting! I will be careful.
Struggling to breath just watching you mix it
Oh wait that's my corona kicking in
I think I'd rather have that!
Just FYI, the particles of fumed silica, usually between 2-20nm, are *way* too small to cause silicosis. It can be an irritant, and can dry out your skin and stuff, but it does not stay in your lungs and cause fibrosis.
Thanks for the info about it drying your skin, I just bought a small jar off Amazon and I opened the envelope expecting it to be sealed, yet there was powder EVERYWHERE. It made my hand feel sticky almost, but I'm glad to know it just superdried it. It wore off as I watched the video lol
If you need a smooth surface, try some peel ply, it leaves a textile textured surface that is easy to sand or fair with microballoons.
What's a microballoon? Save me a Google 🙄
@@vPerformance www.christinedemerchant.com/filler-micro-balloons.html
Can you not get epoxy fairing compound over there? Much easier for filling and block sanding
I'll have a look for it!
Is this the powder they used on cosmetics ?? Specially on lipsticks
Sometimes I’d assume, I have no evidence but an educated guess would be it is in blemish blurring matte facial setting powder. As it is moisture adverse and diffuses light. But this is an estimate.
If you coat the foam with west systems you can use body putty on it without melting the foam.
Good advice on the drinking,however,every time i see that slab of guiness in your garage it makes me thirsty
It's not even open yet I promise!
Wow... I can't believe all the pearl clutching in the comments. Fumed silica is not the same as crystalline silica and is generally considered safe. It's used in food and cosmetics. You should avoid breathing it, especially occupationally, but you'd think we were talking about plutonium reading these comments...
You are 100% correct
just fumed silica sets WAY to hard for an easy filler, add some micro-ballons to make sanding easier then you only need a small amount of silica to stop sagging.
Welcome back.
This stuff acts like a fluid it's amazing if you spill some it just flows and will go EVERYWHERE
Work with literally tonnes of the fumes silica every day, nasty stuff. get enough of it on you and you feel VERY ill.
Not to mention its so drying even on 2l water a day you feel dehydrated
Should one make a simple plastic drop room to work with it? Or just be well ventilated? Seems like residue can create a problem
Bro, I'm worried for you because you're mask has gaps below your eyes right on your nose. Don't do anymore till you fix the my man👀👀👃👃👀👀👀
Yeah I reset it right before I start work cos of those gaps. It's a nightmare trying to talk with the mask on!
So it turns out, EasyComposites isn't so easy.... 😁. Nice work! So much work involved in it! You'll have to give a run down on how much you reckon you've spent on this and time wise over buying some made up CF. Obvs the scoop is custom.
I will certainly do that. I expect I'll be way below the cost of buying a carbon scoop, but the time is the major investment. I'll make sure I total it up!
Awesome 👏
Worked with this shit, emptying big bags of this material into bulk containers, we "felljob workers" were handed safety gear, oxygen mask, fitted with filters for GAS.
Crikey that's some serious risk. What did the company do? Was it a chemical company?
@@vPerformance I worked as a forkliftdriver in a logistics company in the port of Antwerp (Stabroek), me and my co-workers were beating this shit out of the Big Bags with sticks (does not run well) into a bulk container. We wore Tyvek overalls and closed air circulation masks fitted with GAS filters (i noticed when cleaning my mask) the dust got in, after this gone to the office and complain (then i was told the filters were for gas). Now asking myself, did smoking give me COPD Gold II or this product?
I'm going to guess it wasn't the smoking!
@@vPerformanceI told this to my lungspecialist and she wrote it down, but never mentioned this being a factor. I did smoke from age 11 to 53. As a temp you useually get the dirty jobs, i worked on daily contracts in this one company for 3 years, until i asked for a real contract, not welcome anymore... Anyway, if i see the specialist in Octobre 2021, i will ask her.
@@vPerformance I contacted the felljob office, they will look into it and contact the company. It has been 9 years ago, but some investigate seach in Google learned me, that consequences appear in a later stage, after years.
Seems it would coat the lungs and such
First time I ever got fumed silica it arrived in a chinese food container. As in the plastic type with the tight snap lids. *Fffllooofff*
Silicosis is real kids.
Is that the name for the horrible horrible death?
We use fumed silica in a couple of our products. It's crystalline silica that will scar your lungs and cause terrible issues
Finally someone who knows what they're talking about!
@@vPerformance incorrect.
incorrect. Fumed silica is not the same as crystalline silica.
Masks with gaps wont work properly as our fellows mencioned below. I wonder where all these chemicals leftovers are disposed. Not only yours but from all youtubers..who work with chemicals..We still have to have fun with our hobbies of course..but we must take care of our beloved mother earth....
I'm fortunate to have a recycling centre nearby which specialises in such things.
ahh a tub of asbestos-lite
You know what I was thinking just that when I was editing. Its like asbestos poison stuffa
@@vPerformance might be safer to play with that stuff outside. I would even go as far to say get a paper suit and bin it when done. it is probably all over your clothes.