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Health concerns regarding polyester resin handling

 

Hi,

I'm an artist and want to do a large piece with transparent polyester resin. First of all I want to know how safe is it to work with this resin. Does breathing the vapor of the resin have serious health hazards?

Thanks,

Andres Matute Echeverri
- Bogota, Colombia

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Polyester resin, as well as the hardener are noxious chemicals. If you have to use them, do it in a well ventilated area, wear eye and hand protection and adequate clothing. If possible, use epoxy or acrylic resins instead of polyester.

Alfonso Hernandez
- Aurora, CO, U.S.A.

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Andres,

What Alfonso said is essentially correct.

From what I've seen of largish FRP manufacturing operations, ventilation is fairly important, sometimes people use rubber glovesRubber Gloves [affil link] , sometimes eye protection, most often they don't.

And an art piece would be far easier for you to do using Polyester which, anyhow, costs less than epoxy. Get some acetone Acetone [affil link], too, as that will help you to clean up things!

When you say 'large piece' do you really mean it? Why? Because if you get a whole drum of resin you'd need catalyst and maybe promotor .. in which case NEVER mix the two together and store separately.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).