This would be a question directed to the Epoxy finish manufacturer... is there anyway you guys could make Epoxy smells better with some perfume or aromatic additives? Messing around with Flexcoat 5 min Epoxy and the smell of it gives me a bad headache. May be some light citrus lemon scent (like those of dishwasher fiuld) would be good.

I suppose if you do that our end product the rod would smell good when we hand them over to the owners.

Hope it is not too much to ask for... thanks.

Making the epoxy smell better would do little more then mask the order of the chemical that is giving you the head ach. Which might cause you to stay in the area working with it longer making your head ach worse.

You are getting a head ach because the chemicals are affecting your brain. You need to do something to ventilate the area before you end up with some type of permanent brain damage

I noticed the flexcoat finish to be fairly strong also. After switching to threadmaster lite, I discovered the smell was much much less noticeable, still it always pays to mix and work in a ventilated area whenever possible.

I agree that masking the smell is not the answer.

You want to be very careful that you aren't developing a sensitivity to epoxy. The stuff is pretty safe, but some can and do develop a terrible sensitivity to it.

Limit your exposure as much as you can. You don't have to quit using it, but keep the room well vented and don't allow the stuff to come into contact with your skin.

100% solids epoxy doesn't give off fumes or outgas anything, but if you hover over it you will find that it has a certain smell.

.............

like Tom said hovering over it is what really messes ya up. place a small fan on low setting near by to create a breeze over the rod so the fumes arent going right up into to your face but being blow sideways and away from you also being replaced with nice fresh air by the breeze.Ventilate the room really well so you arent just blowing fumes around but replacing the bad air with some good.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2008 09:48AM by Henry Engle.

Can you make it smell like Hoppe's #9?

Yes ........ let's making sniffing glue and pleasurable experience .....(smiling smiley face)

If you do it could become the next teenage high ......... not a good idea in my humble opinion .......

Makeing any chemical smell appealing and nice to prevent headaches is a two sided sword, it may smell good during application, but it will also make it smell nice and appealing to our children and grand children. Not to mention if there is any erotic type chemicals that caused any kind of "high" the wrong kids will be selling it on the streets.

That may sound out of the realm of common sense, however, that was the first thing I thougt of when I read the initial post. JMHO

Why leave the sniffing to the kids and grand kids? Adults do it too, and most work in Washington DC!!

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

If you use chemicals YOU are responsible for your personal safety

If you are interested in your personal safety you could benefit by reading these documents

I wish I had read them BEFORE I became sensitized! Really serious business -

Information on sensitization to epoxy system components
[www.dermnetnz.org]

OSHA Solvent Safety
[www.osha.gov]

Good Practical Advice For Handling Epoxy when rodbuilding
[www.epoxysafety.com]

Bill is exactly right. Ask him about his reaction. You get sensitized to these chemicals, the reactions are not pleasant!!! Bill , are you able to work with epoxy yet?

Ed Smith

Thanks to Ralph O'Quinn I discovered one error in my technique and I am now using two part amine systems on a limited basis. Skin contact. I work in a air conditioned room with strong air currents. I mix epoxy using teaspoons and little mixing cups stirred by the butt end a cut off Flexcoat bristle brush. I typically place 1/2 teaspoon of each part in the plastic cup and start stirring. When I hold the cup in one hand and stir the finish a high intensity light will reveal that tiny tiny floaters (air bubbles) will float up out of the mix and off they go in the air current. The bubbles can be easily seen if you are out in the sunshine. They are large enough to allow seeing purple and pink colors sheens. I have a feeling that the release of these bubbles is related to the additives added to assist will bubble release and the method of mixing. I guess it would make sence for me to slow down and use one of the ball mixers for mixing. These bubbles were landing on my skin and causing the sites for sores. Long sleeve shirts did not help and possibly even made it worse. I now apply a prescription skin care coating from the elbows down and slip on surgical gloves and it is helping a lot. At certain times even this will not work and a flare up will occur. Arms I can deal with but when it moves to neck, ankles and belly is is back to Permglos and Swifty for a month or to.

Wow! Bill... tat's tough. Amazing things we do to pursue our passion.