Backyard Renegade wrote:

"Meindert Sprang" wrote in message ...
"Backyard Renegade" wrote in message
om...
Matt Langenfeld wrote in message
link.net...
West, Raka. System Three, E-poxy..all these are 2-part epoxies and are
not polyester. Not fumes. There is a smell but no worse than normal
glue.

What has not been addressed here is the difference between
inconvienience and problem... Polyester smells, yes that is an
inconvienience. The fumes emitted from curing epoxy although they may
not smell, are in many cases dangerous and should be addressed as well
as or even more than the smell of polyester curing. I still wear a
full "bugface" mask and gloves when using epoxy, and I do not use it
in attached areas of my home, at least not on a regular basis.

As far as I know, epoxy does not produce dangerous fumes. I remember a story
in this newsgroup about an environmental inspector, visiting a boatyard. The
man was eager to inspect the place and and write a nasty report. He then
learned the yard used epoxy only, and went away immediately, very
dissapointed.

Meindert

I hear lot's of stories... Like them at night before bed. But when it
comes to epoxy hardeners, most are extremely hazardous. Read the
lables, talk to the people who have developed real sensitivities to
the stuff, ask the DEP, ask the shippers, christ, read the F88888'
lable... Epoxy fumes are dangerous and many contain carsenogenics
(spelling not checked)... Do not use epoxy in areas where unprotected
folks will be exposed to the fumes.

Come on Paul Oman, Jaques, et al... You have been here in this group
for years, selling glues, answering carefully targeted questions, and
also sending me emails about your products. Where the hell are you
now, tell these guys what is more dangerous, polyester or epoxy.

Scotty Ingersoll, SmallBoats.com...

I'm here Scotty...... Paul Oman from Progressive Epoxy Polymers
---- a few points/background - note that 'hazmat' (which most, but not all, epoxy curing agents
are, is hazmat for shipping). All the curing agents are strong chemicals (haven't heard much about
the 'evils' of the part a resin) - that some people build up a contact reaction - not good! Most
epoxies are solvent free,
meaning 0% VOC (volatile organic compounds). Breathing doesn't seem to be problem, only direct skin
contact.

On the other hand, polyester (fiberglass) resins have pretty nasty fumes - which I assume, but do
not know, are bad for you. These resins also dissolve foam (unlike epoxies) which strongly suggests
solvents. Problem with solvents (besides their own chemistry) is that they penetrate into the skin,
probably carrying
chemicals from the resins with them too.

Sorry, afraid I'm not quite the expert here as you may think. Still they are nasty chemicals and
should be handled with respect. Now, I suspect that breathing dust from sanding epoxy, polyester,
even wood, might be equally as bad or worse.
Of course, there are those people that think going out on the water in any kind of craft is both
foolish and risky, and judging from the number of deaths via drowning (vs. deaths from boat building)
they are probably right!

================================================== =====
PAUL OMAN ----- Progressive Epoxy Polymers, Inc.
Frog Pond Hollow - 48 Wildwood Dr - Pittsfield NH 03263