Builders' Forum

RE: Rash? or fiberglass/epoxy reaction???

 » Submitted by Laszlo - Fri, October 30 » 10:02 PM

Larry,

if you're sanding fully cured epoxy & glass, it's probably just irritation, exactly as your coworker said.

Try washing with cold water, the colder the bette. Then stick with your long sleeves. Be sure to launder them separately.

Laszlo 

RE: Rash? or fiberglass/epoxy reaction???

 » Submitted by kayakkev - Fri, October 30 » 11:39 PM

Another trick if you live in hot climates and don't want to wear long sleeves, is to cover the exposed area of your body with Baby Powder or talc.

RE: Rash? or fiberglass/epoxy reaction???

 » Submitted by knitron - Sat, October 31 » 1:18 AM

I haven't built a boat yet, but from my experiance building R/C airplanes I have gotten the same irritation when sanding. Drives me nuts so I always wear long sleeves and gloves when sanding fiberglass and epoxy, then you should still wash your hands and arms with cold soapy water afterwards.

RE: Rash? or fiberglass/epoxy reaction???

 » Submitted by LarryMcInnis - Sat, October 31 » 8:47 AM

Thanks everyone, that's kind of a relief to hear.  Thought I was alergic to something in the yard (which both of my dogs are wrestling with att).

Appreciate the advice/assist,

Larry

RE: Rash? or fiberglass/epoxy reaction???

 » Submitted by Casey Wilkinson - Sat, October 31 » 4:26 PM

What is happening is that when you sand the fiberglass, tiny glass particles are landing on your skin and digging in.  This manifests as being really itchy.  If you wear long sleeves make sure that the wrists are tight otherwise the dust will go right up your sleeves.  This is why you see people that work with fiberglass all the time in those special suits.  

RE: Rash? or fiberglass/epoxy reaction???

 » Submitted by Ricks - Mon, November 2 » 8:13 AM

I have to use head to toe tyvec suit with gloves, hood and respirator when working wet epoxy and sanding dry. Why I go through this to build boats I have no idea. Currently working on my fourth boat and planning on a fifth. I loose allot of water weight in this getup in the summer months in the garage. Oh the things we do for boats. They do make just the tyvec sleeves that would probably work for you. You just toss them out after use instead of all the washing of t-shirts. Laszlo tuned me into the tyvec when I got my reaction. Thanks Laszlo.