Dangers of working with Carbon Fiber?

Spark

Spark

HPIC - Hatas gonna Hate
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What would you consider necessary for safety when working with Carbon Fiber? Respirators, proper safety equipment, etc? Grinding hoods?

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Spark _ I use a Resperator and bandana over my hair ( whats left ) and Ruber gloves and long sleeves when I sand it . It is like fiberglass and makes my skin itch. And I also use the dust collector when I shape it with the beltsander .I try to cut it as close with the bandsaw as possible so there is very little to remove with the sander .
S45
 
Spark,
I wear a respirator with organic vapor cartriges. 90% of the dust goes into the dust collector. I do just about all my finish shaping on the belt grinder and the rest I wet sand by hand. I also have the dust collector hooked up to my wood bandsaw. Here in FL I work in Gym shorts most of the time and when I get covered in dust from the shop, I just hit our outdoor shower by the pool! This is the best way to prevent the carbon fiber and G10 itchies and non of the dust is brought into the house
smile.gif

Neil

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New Hawkbill Pics!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html

 
I was told by Tom Anderson to wear rubber gloves (the kind for washing dishes). When he first started using carbon fiber, He got one of those needles in his finger and it got badly infected that same day (ouch).

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Barry
Jones Knives

Do you hear that?
That is the sound of inevitability.
 
I wear a respirator and use a 5 gallon bucket filled with water to catch most of the dust. I too try to cut close to not have to sand much. I do not wear gloves because they would get in the way, are bulky and hard to work with. I have made only a few dozen knives in Carbon Fiber so far but have yet to get any slivers or infections and do alot of hand sanding during final finishing.
 
Spark,
A respirator or paper dust mask is the minumum.Safety glasses,long sleeves and pants and gloves.CJ,gloves are important.I`ve seen people who have worked with carbon fiber for years suddenly break out with some major dermatitis.It is possible to become sensitized to the dust.Have you tried using surgical gloves? Dust collection is a good thing especially if you`re working indoors.Sanding carbon fiber kicks up some very fine dust and it tends to get everywhere if it`s not sucked up.I`ve heard stories about carbon fiber dust shorting out electrical equipment,but having seen drill presses,band saws and even computer equipment covered in the stuff,I have my doubts.I hope this helps.

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Gordon
Imagine what we could do if we thought we could not fail
 
Hello,


WOW sounds like nasty stuff,
i think i will stick with the micartas..

makes me itch just thinkin about it...

Allen
 
just my 2cents: I do a LOT of grinding with carbon fiber. I use a cheapo-respirator and a dust collector on the grinder and that seems to eliminate the "black-in-the-nose" problem after a grinding session. It does leave a fine residue over everything (as does the G-10, Kydex, etc. )but I have had no problems mechanicially due to the dust hurting any equiptment.......

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Nonmetalic G-10&CarbonFiber Knives:http://www.geocities.com/bladewiz/bladewiz.html
 
Allen,
It`s not that bad to work with.Just be aware of the hazards and take the appropriate precautions and you`ll be fine.

Neil,
What type blade do you use in your bandsaw?

[This message has been edited by Carver (edited 01-14-2000).]
 
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