dear god that stuff is awful. smelled a bit of it while mixing it up for a spalsh scene now i have a headache thats been going on the last hour. i even did this outside with a respirator. this may be my last time doing this unless there is a better way cause i dont want to go near that stuff. it has hardened but still smells how long does it take to cure-24hrs? let me know what you all think.
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No smell. No fumes.
No Smell.. DANGEROUS fumes. Urethanes are full of isocyanates... doesn't anyone read the archives? LOL!
If you are getting headaches from using the sutff outside with a respirator, then yer respirator isnt fitting right. Are you sure you have a respirator with Organic Vapour Cartridges like I and others so often recommend, or are you using one of those white dust masks which do nothing for fumes?
The resin cures most of the way within a couple hours, full strength and stability within 24 hours, but the smell you are noticing is styrene and can linger for up to a week or so.
Urethanes are odour free for the most part, but their use can cause upper respiratory sensitization from the isocyanantes in them. Note the root of that word.. cyanide... If you use this stuff, wear a proper fitting respirator with VOC cartridges.
ive been using the respirator w/ cartrigdes and it works well i think it was when i took it off that i immediately smelled the fumes in full strength. all it took was one whiff of that stuff. head is still killing me. how toxic are some of these paints and chemicals used for taxidermy? how much exposure is needed to harm your body?
Styrene in the quantities you would be exposed to would be more of a 'nuisance' than any real danger. I work in a shop where visitors can smell us a block away, and even in THAT environment, the air quality testing always comes in at a parts per million far below what is deemed dangerous. I don't even notice the smell anymore, but others say the same as you where they get headaches etc.
Chronic long term exposure at lower levels MAY have carcinogenic effects, I keep getting conflicting info on this depending on the source cited.
If you use it only on and off, the headaches are the largest problem you will likely have to deal with. Isocyanates are a larger concern. These are also foudn in 2 part foams btw - so if you do any foaming for habitat bases or cast your own forms, be aware of that and wear a respirator then too despite it's lack of odours.
Hope that answers your questions =)
Take in consideration its keeping things from eating your dead crap ..Hummmmmmm thats why I use latex and a mask