Personal Protective Equipment - Fiberglass

[ElBichoMalo]

I finally made my first cut...need to re-core the hatches...started with the small "transom seats" to learn on. Anyway, I thought I could tough it out (in hot Florida) with just glasses and a dust mask (and no shirt - idiot). After hosing off and two showers, I am still itchy.

What are you guys doing when sanding glass? I have seen the plastic looking coveralls, but they must be hot, right? Which is worse, being ithcy or heat stroke? Also, do you wash these occasionally? Do you treat them as disposables?

Also, is there a tried and true way to wash glass fibers from your skin once the damage is done?

With all the great glasswork on the site, I am sure you guys will have some answers!

[billythekid]

Grinding fiberglass sucks anyway you do it. you can get the coveralls from home depot for about 10 bucks, they are made of tyvek. they are thin and will keep most of the fiberglass off you. Once you do have fiberglass on you the worst thing you can do is get into a HOT shower it opens your pores up and the fiberglass grabs harder. What I learned over the years from all the fiberglass guys is panty hose rubbed across your skin in a cold shower pulls the majority of fibers off you. It may sound funny but it works. do yourself a favor and invest in one of these if you have a good amount of grinding and cutting of glass

http://cgi.ebay.com/3M-7800S-Full-Fa...QQcmdZViewItem

It keeps your face completely clean and your breathing clean air.
you will never wear anything else after you wear one of these for cutting, grinding, sanding with a DA and shaping of fiberglass and putty. They also are extremely comfortable to wear.

[dcobbett]

You need to think full body condom!
10 miles north of Boston, last July through August, and I still itched like hell!
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[wavelength]

I wear the white suit and cover any exposed parts with lots of baby powder. The powder fills the pores in the skin so the grindings just wash off.

[Ed]

I never liked those Tyvek suits. I would blow through 2 a day because they always rip in the arse or armpits.

I prefer to use a nylon/cotton coverall. When it gets all nasty...drive down to the local laundermat throw it in the jumbo washer and watch your itching problems become someone elses!!

[BigLew]

That reminds me of a boss I had 30 years ago who told me his wife had washed his underwear in their washer after she had washed their fiberglass drapes and didn't run the washer through an empty cyle before doing his underwear!!!

He sid that that the experience was something FAR FAR short of a day at the beach!!!!!!!

[Tashmoo2]

I have same problem with paper suits tearing. Try wearing the original white painters pants by Dickie. The fabric is coated with something that keeps fibers from passing trough it. I haven't found an alternative for the shirt.