cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 881
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Post by cardiobill on Apr 24, 2012 20:46:19 GMT -5
I am just a tumbler at this point but am thinking of buying a cheap tile saw. I realize that these are wet saws to keep the dust down. Just wondering if people still wear masks when wet cutting and grinding. I am a physician and some of the worst lung disease I have seen is from certain occupational exposures. I don't think I have actually seen silicosis (rock dust exposure lung disease) but I have seen a lot of IPF (basically the same thing only we are unsure of the underlying cause). Thanks in advance for your responses.
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Post by Pat on Apr 24, 2012 20:51:12 GMT -5
I always wear a mask when carving stone, and carve wet (98% of time time). Would you advise that we use a mask when cutting with a wet tile saw?
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 881
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Post by cardiobill on Apr 24, 2012 21:07:54 GMT -5
Pat,
I don't know the answer. Having never actually used a wet tile or lap saw I don't know how much dust is produced if any. I do really like my lungs and don't see any downside to a mask other than comfort. Really just curious what others with years of experience do. I'm sure many members have decades of experience and contacts. Wonder if they have ever heard of or know someone with documented silicosis.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Apr 24, 2012 21:55:05 GMT -5
I don't have years of experience, but I have a tile saw. I have worn out a set of brushes though - that's a lot of rock. I use it outdoors. Not in the garage with the door open, I mean out in the yard. I do not use a mask. I don't ever remember having dirty snot after cutting a bunch or rock. That seems like a pretty good indicator to me. I get dirty snot out in the country when it's dry and windy. Sweep out the garage -- talk about dirty snot!
I don't cut rock more than 2 or 3 times a month, 3 or 4 hours a crack either. A life time of that is still not even close to the occupational exposure to dry dust.
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Post by Rockhobbit on Apr 24, 2012 22:14:29 GMT -5
I don't use a mask and never have. I also cut outdoors.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 24, 2012 22:20:32 GMT -5
A couple of years ago I started wearing a dust mask when using the trim saw, and when grinding cabs. While wet sawing and wet grinding helps keep the dust down, that mist produced still has the same mineral particles in it as dry grinding would. Also I figured Aluminum and Cerium Oxides probably aren't that healthy to breath either.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 24, 2012 22:35:57 GMT -5
At my age, I don't worry about it. But no. I've never used a mask for lapidary work, and I'm still kicking.
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Post by Roller on Apr 24, 2012 22:59:54 GMT -5
I do most of the time .. or atleast try to .. Iam not too cool to not wear a mask .. they do itch you and stuff and annoy you but science is science and shards in the lungs dont do well ..
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Apr 25, 2012 0:22:23 GMT -5
jacksrocks your funny....'Still kicking" I sure hope you are and will be for a long time
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Post by Woodyrock on Apr 25, 2012 0:31:43 GMT -5
Doc:
Whilst cutting or grinding wet little 'dust' is produced. There is however a mineral laden mist generated by both, most of which seems to fall to the floor. I used my full face MSA respirator with HEPA filter during a long day of cutting, and examined the filter media the next day with magnification to see how much material had been captured. Not very quantitative, but visually there was very little to be seen. The mist falling to the floor does produce quite a bit of dust that gets tracked into the house. (the lapidary shop is in the basement)
Woody
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Post by helens on Apr 25, 2012 0:35:19 GMT -5
He's only 70, he'll be kicking til he's 90, whatever he says:).
I always plan to wear a mask... then I never remember to. What's even worse, I have been hand sanding at my computer desk the last 2 days, and every time I go take pix, there's bits of dust/lint that falls on pieces almost immediately, meaning SOMETHING is floating around my desk!!! LOL! Ok, I'm nuts, I need to stop doing that.
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ulstergeki
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 111
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Post by ulstergeki on Apr 25, 2012 0:39:40 GMT -5
Nope, I dont use a mask either, or eyeprotection, im usually in my pajamas, so no protection at all haha.
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Post by frane on Apr 25, 2012 4:42:38 GMT -5
I rarely miss having a mask on when cutting or cabbing. The fine particulates may not be great in number but it is the very fine ones that cause your lungs the problems. if you have ever had pneumonia or bronchitis, you can relate to the feeling that people with true lung problems have, never knowing when they will take their last breath. It may seem unimportant to be safe in this one but if you can blow your nose and there is dirt there after cutting, you are also getting the very fine particulates in your lungs. Eye protection is always a plus as well. I have ended up with a chip of obsidian right in the center of my safety glasses. You just can't blink fast enough to prevent an eye injury.
Fran
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riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Apr 25, 2012 7:44:53 GMT -5
i allways wear mine with eye and ear protection.
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cccbock
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2011
Posts: 503
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Post by cccbock on Apr 25, 2012 7:59:33 GMT -5
I don't wear a mask but wished I had a gass mask the other day when I overheated my dop wax the other day.! Wow that was stinky !......But all you guys got me worried now.....maybe I need one of those lead lined glass boxes with the thick rubber gloves reaching into the side to put my cabber in !!!.....I am getting a ten inch tile saw too and a deep see diving suit with a diving helmet to wear when I cut rocks !!...I would go so far as to seclude myself in an oxygen tent while I use my trim saw but those dag gone agates tend to spark now and then.....might be hard to explain to my insuance company why the garage burned down !!.....
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cccbock
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2011
Posts: 503
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Post by cccbock on Apr 25, 2012 8:00:10 GMT -5
I don't wear a mask but wished I had a gass mask the other day when I overheated my dop wax the other day.! Wow that was stinky !......But all you guys got me worried now.....maybe I need one of those lead lined glass boxes with the thick rubber gloves reaching into the side to put my cabber in !!!.....I am getting a ten inch tile saw too and a deep see diving suit with a diving helmet to wear when I cut rocks !!...I would go so far as to seclude myself in an oxygen tent while I use my trim saw but those dag gone agates tend to spark now and then.....might be hard to explain to my insuance company why the garage burned down !!.....
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Post by Bikerrandy on Apr 25, 2012 15:45:07 GMT -5
I only use a mask when working with malachite, chrysocolla or any other minerals that contain copper. Wearing a mask for cutting cinnabar (mercury agate) would be important too.
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 881
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Post by cardiobill on Apr 25, 2012 15:54:46 GMT -5
Thank you all for your replies. Interesting to see what others do and see that there is no real consensus among members. I think I will use a mask but I'm a bit conservative when it comes to my health (don't smoke and have been running for years). I'm sure it's all a calculated tiny risk. We should all wear seatbelts, helmets etc. but it really comes down to individual decisions. Thanks for your thoughts.
bill
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 25, 2012 16:03:37 GMT -5
Add any type of Serpentine to Randy's list. It contains asbestos, although the local PA geologist says it is not the bad kind, I would still play it safe.
I think wearing a mask is the smart thing to do. I try to wear a mask when I cut and cab. When I don't, I seem to have a mild allergic reaction the next day or so.
Jo
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Post by frane on Apr 26, 2012 16:11:47 GMT -5
I agree with Jo. I end up having a little cough or dry throat so now I always use a mask. Lets face it, if you blow your nose after cabbing or cutting and there are traces of dirt there, some has made it past your nasal passages. just a thought.
Fran
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