I have an extra rudder to my international 470 that is a bit beaten up. It has obvious repairs (epoxy?) and is painted white. My concern is, given the age of the boat (~30 years) that the paint may be lead, and thus dangerous to sand. Perhaps a subsequent painting was with lead? Also, how dangerous is sanding patches to the rudder, I'm not sure with what material they were done. The masks I have are not for lead paint (they specifically say that on the package). Should I be concerned? Should I be using a respirator?? Thanks! I'm fixing up this rudder just to get some practice before I work on my boat. I am completely new to repairs like this. Thanks!
Sanding Safety
- Thread starter sam20916
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Just my .02
wearing any good particulate mask properly while sanding dried paint is not going to cause you any bodily harm. Though, have you heard of wetsanding? You keep the surface wet, and all the dust ends up in a slurry that you can wash off. it was more than likely the lawyers that said that needs to be on the package, not the engineers. They'll also tell ou that, if it is lead paint, you need to throw it away and buy a new one. BTW, the USB cord for my keyboard has a warning label on it. This keyboard contains lead, a substance known to cause birth defects in the state of california. Use gloves when handling.
wearing any good particulate mask properly while sanding dried paint is not going to cause you any bodily harm. Though, have you heard of wetsanding? You keep the surface wet, and all the dust ends up in a slurry that you can wash off. it was more than likely the lawyers that said that needs to be on the package, not the engineers. They'll also tell ou that, if it is lead paint, you need to throw it away and buy a new one. BTW, the USB cord for my keyboard has a warning label on it. This keyboard contains lead, a substance known to cause birth defects in the state of california. Use gloves when handling.
Wet sanding will always reduce dust
wash your hands, don't chew your finger nails, use some of that increasingly rare commodity called common sense. Have you read any good ladders lately? I am afraid to climb one since I read one. If you can smell the stuff you are sanding then the filter is not right.
wash your hands, don't chew your finger nails, use some of that increasingly rare commodity called common sense. Have you read any good ladders lately? I am afraid to climb one since I read one. If you can smell the stuff you are sanding then the filter is not right.
Orbital Sander
You can use an orbital sander that has it'd own vacuum suction built in or connect a shop vac to one ($40 from Rigid Tools or Sears, etc.),AND wear a tyvec paint suit and a particulate filter type paint mask. As a worse case scenario, you are moct likely sanding off bottom paint and epoxies; none of which should enter your lungs. You could start with a dry paint scraper to take off most of the loose chips or surface material , then use the orbital sander. I still wet sand my entire boat bottom every year befor adding new vinyl based bottom paint just to keep the build up down and to have a smooth racing bottom, if I care to wet sand the final coat. I can't imagine the paints you are saiding off are at all lead based, but he bottom paints aren't much better for you and/or the environment. Many new paint applications also require using a filter type mask; just follow the manufacturer's instructions.
You can use an orbital sander that has it'd own vacuum suction built in or connect a shop vac to one ($40 from Rigid Tools or Sears, etc.),AND wear a tyvec paint suit and a particulate filter type paint mask. As a worse case scenario, you are moct likely sanding off bottom paint and epoxies; none of which should enter your lungs. You could start with a dry paint scraper to take off most of the loose chips or surface material , then use the orbital sander. I still wet sand my entire boat bottom every year befor adding new vinyl based bottom paint just to keep the build up down and to have a smooth racing bottom, if I care to wet sand the final coat. I can't imagine the paints you are saiding off are at all lead based, but he bottom paints aren't much better for you and/or the environment. Many new paint applications also require using a filter type mask; just follow the manufacturer's instructions.
If its 'white' ....
its probably titanium dioxide used as the pigment or vinyl filled with TiO2. So, you should use a respirator or 'fine' rated dust mask, ...... just like you need to do with ALL bottom paints. Dont get carried away and run out to the woods to hug a tree, just be 'prudent'. Saliva only causes cancer in Kalifornia.
its probably titanium dioxide used as the pigment or vinyl filled with TiO2. So, you should use a respirator or 'fine' rated dust mask, ...... just like you need to do with ALL bottom paints. Dont get carried away and run out to the woods to hug a tree, just be 'prudent'. Saliva only causes cancer in Kalifornia.
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