CA Safety warning!

[pfduffy]

Here's a Murphy's Law thing that happened to me the other day and I pass it on so others may benefit. Put some thin CA into a crack in a chunk of cherry, waited about 20 seconds, shot it all with accelerator, stepped aside and turned on my PM. Zingo! A shot in the left eye, under the glasses I was wearing! A bit of shock and dismay, to say the least. Appartently, the crack was deep enough that the CA was able to avoid being hardened and came shooting out when the lathe was turned on. So, yesterday, I bought a pair of wrap-around bifocals to wear while turning. I don't think anything is going to skip thru or under that pair of glasses. And, if I remember to do so, I will turn down the speed next time before re-starting the lathe! Phil

 

[MichaelMouse]

Stuff can be fun, no doubt. Protect yourself whichever way you can. I use a switch at the tail end of my lathe as my primary defense. Keeps me out of the way entirely.

Suggestion; cherry being the acid wood it is, spritz the crack then add CA. It'll still wick in well, which is why a through-and-through benefits from a bit of masking tape on the outside to limit the flow and possible throw. Additional benefit comes from more rapid cure and less penetration on the surface. Less sanding.

And we all love to sand!

 

[Gretch Flo]

ca

I don't trust the accelerator in cracks. After waiting a minutes or so, I stand aside and let the blank spin awhile before getting on the "firing line". Gretch

 

[hockenbery]

I wear a full face shield most all the time. In addition to protecting the eyes and other parts. It is a lot cheaper to buy a replacement sheild than new lenses for my prescription Safety glasses. If you use CA a lot it will hit you sometime.

Also I always stand to the side when I start the lathe. and try to avoid being out of the line of fire as much as I can.

Another Caution with using CA as you described is quite often the accelerator hardening the surface leaving liquid CA inside the crack. a little bit of turning cuts away the dried CA and the rest flies out.

I encourage every turner to wear a facesheild.

Happy Turning,
Al

 

[KEW]

Thanks for the warning - I wouldn't have foreseen that one!

 

[MichaelMouse]

Another Caution with using CA as you described is quite often the accelerator hardening the surface leaving liquid CA inside the crack. a little bit of turning cuts away the dried CA and the rest flies out.

Yup. Thus the pH modifier in advance and tape as required on the crack.


I often double-pop the cracks, putting in the thin to run by capillary action, then the thicker for gap-filling. Scrubbing the mushed bark or dust across the crack once the CA is in there gives it less to absorb, and keeps my finishing options open. No "dead fish" eye look like you can get if you add the glue to the dust.

 

[waltben]

CA Safety the old fashioned way

If I've got to glue up cracks, I let the piece sit for at least an hour to be certain it's dry all the way - and let it sit overnight if I've used thick CA. Never fails!

 

[woodwish]

Regardless of whatever CA safety tricks you use- wear a full face shield all the time. Once you get used to it the shield will become second nature. If I am just turning, especially green wood, I will always wear a face shield. If it is dry wood or I am sanding I always wear my fan powered filtered face shield. It's cheap compared to visiting the ER trying to get CA out of eye or stitches for a cut from that loose chuck of wood.

 

[Joe Greiner]

I second the motion on ventilation, especially if you're using about a half cc of CA. In the face shield best, but at least a floor fan nearby. CA isn't friendly to your innards either.

Joe

 

[Gretch Flo]

face shield protection

Another hint to avoid the sap/CA on the face shield is to take Saran (plastic)wrap and cover the front of the shield, wrapping over the edges to hold. Gretch