Dora
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2012
Posts: 252
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Post by Dora on Oct 13, 2012 17:54:49 GMT -5
Hi all, I have some safety related questions about the best gear to use while working with rocks and grit while tumbling or grinding. I always use the regular type of dust mask available everywhere. I use them when I’m grinding and shaping rocks but I have never used them while handling grit. I’m not tumbling and grinding constantly, I do this on and off as a hobby. My question is are these masks good enough for light use or should I get a better type of dust mask? About safety gloves, I don't really enjoy using gloves unless it’s absolutely necessary, because they hamper my dexterity. I'll be tumbling and working with obsidian (for the first time) and will be taking out pieces from the barrels to check them out. I bought a pair of gloves that are described as Medium Duty, made to be used for cleaning and maintenance, plumbing, chemical handling, general construction, household chores, and do-it yourself projects. So my question about this pair of gloves is, will they be able to protect me from sharp pieces of OB that I could encounter in the tumbled barrels, or if I attempt to grind some of them in order to fix/shape them? If the gloves I got are not good for the task, which gloves are the best ones to use? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The gloves I bought and the type of Mask I've been using:
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Oct 13, 2012 19:02:23 GMT -5
The mask is up to you. For tumbling I don't deal with much aerosolized material, the slurry is a heavy liquid. I do try to deal with the polish in a well ventilated area and I am careful not to stir it up into a dust in the air.
I never wear gloves. I don't even know how they would be helpful. I just get my hands in there and rinse off well outside or in the garage (into a bucket) before I come inside and clean my arms and hands in the deep sink.
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Dora
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2012
Posts: 252
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Post by Dora on Oct 13, 2012 20:19:49 GMT -5
Thanks John, I always use a mask while grinding because even when the rocks are wet there's still some dust that comes out, but I never used gloves before for rocks. I got the gloves because I'm going to be working with OBs, I have no experience with them yet and I'm trying to play it safe.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2012 20:43:00 GMT -5
Greetings "Dora", firstly may i welcome you to RTH from the other side of the pond! I use latex rubber gloves & latex rubber oversleeves when grinding rock on wet-grinding wheels & flat-laps & never use a mask, i use latex rubber gloves when checking or reloading my barrels (tumbling). The type of gloves you have you should never use them while grinding on wheels, because if they catch you may loose your hand, latex, nitrile, pollythene gloves, tend to rip or tear when they catch on wet-grinding wheels & flat-laps! -- I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from this monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes!
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Dora
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2012
Posts: 252
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Post by Dora on Oct 13, 2012 21:41:17 GMT -5
Greetings “Andrew” and THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY HAND! Ouch!' I don’t even want to think about that… I’m really glad that I wrote this thread and I’m really glad that you saw it and responded to it. I’m sure there are many people out there that don't know about this yet, and your post will probably save them from harm. I will get some latex gloves and just be extra careful with the things I do. Thanks again, you can be sure that I will always remember this!
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