Just a few observations.......

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

…From a relative newbie to composites…

So, there you are, you’ve just put on your rubber gloves, got your resin mixed and are getting stuck in, messy, good job you’ve got those gloves on eh? What is the first thing that happens?

Yep, your nose starts to itch, it’s guaranteed!

And then the second thing?

The phone rings, oh yes, every time. And where is it? In my pocket beneath my zipped up overalls. No time to take off the stuck up gloves it could be important - some work! Down with the zip and pluck out the phone with my finger tips. It’s 5:30 and it’s the GF: “I’m on my way home”
“You always come home at this time”
“Yeah I know, I just thought I’d ring…”

I give my poor 'phone a withered look, it’s blathered up with resin and strands of glass, oh boy, it’s a good job they make these Nokias Acetone resistant…:rolleyes:

#2

And another one:

Does anyone elses face feel a bit burnt after using Polyester resing for an hour or two? Any preventative measures for this? Some sort of cream or a visor maybe?

#3

Safety first. Or else you won’t be around long to work with composites.
I stress that every day of training. I’ll walk around a manufacturing plant with my students and point out to them how many safety issues are seen all the time. Cover your eyes, nose/mouth, and hands if not all your skin.
My shop only smells of resin when standing next to a freshly mixed pot of resin for an infusion. Fumes are quickly extracted through ceiling ducts. Spray booth draws air away from work area, and same thing for trimming/drilling area. The prepreg work doesn’t smell at all. Only smell is of cured parts in bags when the autoclaves are opened.

And I’m guessing you have these complaints due to open molding methods. Go with prepreg or infusion, wear safety gear, and have proper ventilation. Don’t stand directly over the work area also.

#4

3M company makes a very nice full face respirator so it keeps most of your face covered. The areas that are not covered i suppose you could rub on some liquid skin barrier cream available from some composite suppliers. About the cell phone, yep something always comes up when we are in the middle of applying fresh resin. Suggestion there is, wear latex or nitrile gloves, that way you can peel them off quickly if you have to grab the phone or something.

Also if you have to trot thru your house cover the floors with paper or plastic so you don’t track resin and f/g on the floor.

If you would like to keep your clothes clean there are Tyvec suits available for around $7 each. or invest in coveralls and don’t wash them in your own washing machine LOL.

#5

About the cell phone thing:
YOU ARE WORKING!
Call back when you are done. If people in my shop or companies I consult for were answering their phone at work, they wouldn’t last long.
I recently had one supervisor answer his cell phone standing about 20 feet away, and he had a long conversation with his daughter about doing house chores! I later brought it up, and surprise, no more talking on the phone.