Wear a mask w/Rattle can paints!

[ChrisSarnowski]

I've been painting my P-40B for Brodak's with Rustoleum rattle can paint.

I was spraying it outdoors so I figured skip the mask.

Later I go inside and blow my nose. Ewww, Rustolem Army Green!!

Glad I can't see in my lungs.

-Chris

[Brian Massey]

As far as I know no mask is required when spray painting . . . unless you want to breath later in life.    I've never used a mask, but what little spraying I've done has been outdoors. If I smell any spray, I change my direction with the wind to keep the overspray away. Not as good as a mask I know. I've purchased some and will use them in the future.

Brian

[don Burke]

I used to think, mask? Just for sissies.  Now even when outside I wear one since uncontrollable sneezing starts if I don't.

[john e. holliday]

Masks are required now for me even after spraying outdoors with a fan blowing the stuff away from me.  Don't know how many colors the hair in my nostrals has been.

[Jim Kraft]

I used to spray dope in my basement all the time with a fan in the window blowing out. Then, I started spraying K&B Superpoxy in the basement also. The epoxy did not smell as bad as the dope, but the effects were way worse. Now, I brush dope in the basement and don't seem to have a problem. I do wear a respirator type mask if I am doing large areas. Been doing it for years without effect, but then, maybe only do this once a year. I remember going into body shops years ago when they sprayed cars without a spray booth. The whole place would be filled with over spray. These guys did this every day, and I know some who have lived into there 90's. Maybe the old lacquer's and enamels were not so bad.

[don Burke]

The two part catalyzed paints are killers!  And the effect is cumulative, never leaves your system, just builds and builds.  Not worth taking the chance!  Some of the "normal" stuff will get you too.

I have a friend, long time modeler, painter by trade.  He almost got killed last year after painting the inside of a bathroom.  He used paint stripper that actually burned his lungs.  Docs originally thought it was emphysema.  Spit up blood, on a respirator, all the bad stuff.  He has somewhat recovered but not fully.

[50+AirYears]

Spraying water based paints still puts a considerable amount of particulate matter into the air you're breathing, and quite probably into your lungs unless you're using a good spray booth.

As far as solvent based paints, or two part catalyzed paints, apparently best bet is a filtered booth and a canister type face mask, rated for solvents and organics.  A paper mask may not be all that good except for water based paints, although probably better than nothing.

As far as catalyzed 2-part paints, one of the best things I ever read was in an old Model Builder.  After hearing how good a certain brand of 2-part polyurethane was, columnist purchased some, and being intelligent, read the label, including health warnings with advise to only apply using a positive pressure breathing mask and full body disposable Tyveck suit.  Columnist then called the manufacturer about how serious the warnings were.  He reported he was told as far as they were concerned, if while applying the paint, if you smell paint, it might be a good idea to contact your favorite mortuary to make arrangements.  The vapors released by the (Probably the catalyst) paint actively attack the pericardium.  This is far worse than a general opinion that the only problem is getting paint particles in the lungs.

A couple years later, my company was looking at using a similar product in one of our electronic products assembled in our Canadian plant.   The plant engineer refused to allow it in the plant.  He cited first the restrictions the Canadian government imposed on the use, and second, having worked at a location where a similar product resulted in several deaths, because of a failure to follow proper safety precautions.