Celly paint fumes

[ksm62]

Hi newbie first post.

I have just started to paint the elevating roof of my VW camper in cellulose after doing much reading. I have set up my compressor and a fixed airline with filtration as per the guide on this site and am following all the safety advice re cellulose. After some successful practice the first coat of primer went on the other day. Weather outside was hot, dry but a little windy. My double length garage has doors front and rear and I left the rear doors open for ventilation. Everything seemed to go well. Yesterday I put on a second coat in the evening. Weather was hot and very still. The smell of paint fumes were awful, not a strong smell but I could almost taste them. I could still smell them a bit in the morning and my mouth and eyes were tingling a bit. One problem I had not dealt with properly was an old extractor fan from a downstairs wc into the garage that I had just stuffed with rags I am very concerned about the effect these fumes may have my neighbours, one elderly lady and a family with young children. Nobody has said anything yet but I feel like giving up if I can't find a workable solution to this problem. What do others do in this situation. Perhaps I should leave front and rear doors open and hope the fumes disperse more quickly. The first day the fumes weren't that bad at all.

 

[norsa]

Welcome to the forum. we are here to help and not as many forums take the rise. Its been years since i sprayed celly as the modern way is 2k, (dont try this at home) but, the fumes and overspray are phenominal from any form of spray gun. Though celly is far less harmfull to health than 2k, it will make your senses react and your neighbours will soon smell more than a rat. A std toilet extractor will never cope with the fumes.
If you are going to be doing more than the occasional job, i would reccomend you get a decent fume extractor. I got one from the bay of e recently for £90. you can then add extractor pipe and buy spray boothe paint filter material and a suitable cartridge mask.
In the old days we used to drink a pint of milk before we sprayed to counteract the celly fumes. It worked but HSE has moved on a tad. Dont be affraid to ask questions even if you think they are stupid.
Nick

 

[Dev]

Hi newbie first post.
The smell of paint fumes were awful, not a strong smell but I could almost taste them.

What sort of mask were you wearing? Perhaps you could post the exact paint you're using so people can be sure they're giving the best advice for that product

 

[ksm62]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I am not using a bathroom extractor. I have a WC with a redundant extractor pipe which backs onto my garage and I had not sealed it up very well, so now I have paint fumes comming back into the house.

I'm using a mask with P2 filtes and keeping it in a sealed back after use. So far about 90mins use. I'll check the paint when I get back home tonight.

But just to be clear you suggest I would be better off with fume extraction and filtration rather than leaving a through draft. My guess is that I probably won't do more than one car every couple of years, but I really dont want to harm my neighbours. I hoping the effects of these fumes wear off eventually with no detrimental effects. Not pleasant

Keith

 

[norsa]

Dev seems to be suggesting its not celly you are spraying if its still lingering mate. I tend to agree.

 

[ksm62]

No deffo celly. It's Body Pro 1K Grey Primer P980. Smell has cleared now but kept me awake all night, but is was a very hot and airless night. Thankfully no complaints from the neighbours. Mask I'm using is a Gerson 8213 with FFA1B1P2R filters. I'll be wearing eye proyection as well next time. I was using nitrile gloves and wearing a short sleved shirt with disposable overalls. Is that enough or can the vapours get through those paper overalls?

Keith

 

[pedrobedro]

Cellulose paint will not harm you if you wear no overalls unless you have sensitive skin or allergies. My neighbour quite likes the smell of cellulose, says it reminds him of peardrops

 

[langy]

The only good thing to breathe is air !!!

 

[norsa]

What Langy said.....Not up to date with the HSE guidelines for celly as previously said dont use the stuff but you seem to be more than protected from it. If its very occasional then probably not worth investing so leave the doors open and hope its not dusty and that you have similar neighbours to Pedro. (unlikely) only takes one of them who happened to read about cyanide in modern paints and you may get shut down.
Nick.

 

[eil]

If you can taste the celly then you probably haven't fitted your mask to your phisog properly, in this hot weather dampen down the garage to keep dust and overspray down, perhaps a damp sheet hung up down wind could help as well.

 

[brightspark]

What Langy said.....Not up to date with the HSE guidelines for celly as previously said dont use the stuff but you seem to be more than protected from it. If its very occasional then probably not worth investing so leave the doors open and hope its not dusty and that you have similar neighbours to Pedro. (unlikely) only takes one of them who happened to read about cyanide in modern paints and you may get shut down.
Nick.

hese using celly not 2k and its a one off . more chance of getting poisoned if the neighbours have a bonfire burning plastic generaly the only bother u ever get is if the overspray gets on the neighbours car or the washing line

 

[the snooper]

only takes one of them who happened to read about cyanide in modern paints and you may get shut down.
Nick.

the paints dont contain cyanide its a myth probably started by people confusing it with isocyanate

 

[norsa]

the paints dont contain cyanide its a myth probably started by people confusing it with isocyanate

There you go. Stupid people getting the wrong end of the stick . I rest my case

 

[the snooper]

There you go. Stupid people getting the wrong end of the stick . I rest my case

and by that you actually mean ?

 

[ajlelectronics]

the paints dont contain cyanide its a myth probably started by people confusing it with isocyanate

Just like superglue. Someone on TV last night was using superglue to fix a loose crown. Dentist told him not to do it because of the Cyanide.

 

[Chickenjohn]

Isocyanate is still pretty bad! Remember the Bhopal disaster and Union Carbide?? That was Methyl Isocyanate. Lots of people died. However, a spill of cellulose thinners on the same scale would only have killed anyone if the fumes had caught fire.

 

[the snooper]

this is true but methyl isocyanate isnt used in paint i think its found in pesticides where as the isocyanate in paint is only a risk to the user if its sprayed and the user inhales airbourne particles

 

[zardoz]

and by that you actually mean ?

I think he was referring to his own post mixing up isocynate with cyanide.