Respirator for 2K

congo181 · Jun 23, 2021

I’ve just bought the paint for my restoration and was cajoled into buying professional 2K isocyanate stuff by the paint shop.
Having got home and done some research im now scared of the stuff because of the cost of a proper respirator.
Can anyone suggest a suitable respirator for this paint that isn’t going to break the bank and is going to save my lungs?
I also wear glasses so it looks like a full face won’t work.
Cheers all

My Old Landy · Jun 23, 2021

To be honest, if you value your lungs, don't use it. I am not normally one for H&S but isocyanate sensitivity once acquired will ruin your life. Many will tell you to use a half mask if you don't have facial hair and you will be fine.
It is all down to your personal level of risk. I am on another forum where there is a professional chap from the HSE and he answers this question a lot. 2K is sold as professional and should be left to them!

congo181 · Jun 23, 2021

My Old Landy said:
To be honest, if you value your lungs, don't use it. I am not normally one for H&S but isocyanate sensitivity once acquired will ruin your life. Many will tell you to use a half mask if you don't have facial hair and you will be fine.
It is all down to your personal level of risk. I am on another forum where there is a professional chap from the HSE and he answers this question a lot. 2K is sold as professional and should be left to them!

Thanks for that. I’m a bit (quite a bit) ****ed off with the paint company for selling it to me. I told them I was an amateur and they persuaded me to buy it over cellulose which is what I asked for.
If I choose to bin it, it’s almost £300 down the pan. :-(

nick the gin · Jun 23, 2021

congo181 said:
I’ve just bought the paint for my restoration and was cajoled into buying professional 2K isocyanate stuff by the paint shop.
Having got home and done some research im now scared of the stuff because of the cost of a proper respirator.
Can anyone suggest a suitable respirator for this paint that isn’t going to break the bank and is going to save my lungs?
I also wear glasses so it looks like a full face won’t work.
Cheers all

i used 2k for 10 years without a mask no problems at all , thats base and clear and sikens primer

Colthebrummie · Jun 23, 2021

I used to be involved in chemical emergencies, sometimes involving isocyanates. I wouldnt go near the stuff without full, self contained breathing apparatus unless it was a small incident, outside in the fresh air that only involved a few minutes of exposure. There are some isocyanates that can penetrate a full gas tight suit in about 30 minutes. If your spraying in an enc!osed space, you need good extraction as well as an air fed mask.

Col

congo181 · Jun 23, 2021

I’ve now got access to an air fed mask thankfully.
I will do the spraying outside.

Colthebrummie · Jun 23, 2021

Check the wind direction, you dont want the fumes blowing into the air intake of the mask fi!tration unit

Col

Europa486 · Jun 23, 2021

congo181 said:
I’ve now got access to an air fed mask thankfully.
I will do the spraying outside.

+1 it was cheaper to buy than the disposable masks you can buy, only downside is you need a decent capacity
Compressor to keep up,
I personally wouldn’t spray without a proper mask, but your lungs your choice

Flossie · Jun 23, 2021

Air fed mask run off an oil free cheap compressor parked away from the spray area. Another compressor running the spray gun only.
Disposable overalls and gloves.

v8250 · Jun 23, 2021

Right, isocyanate / 2k is highly dangerous and must not be used without the correct lung/skin/eye protection. There's only one non-extract isocyanate 2k mask to use, this is the Gerson 2k mask system. It can be used for 36hrs max', personally I use mine for 8hrs only. Plus your body must be totally covered :. disposable paint overalls and good quality safety goggles that cover as much of the skin as possible.

If you have a garage, set up the garage with sheeting as if a spray booth and rig up +Ve air flow ventilation, i.e. greater extract than input with constant fresh air flow. It's very easy to do this with a couple of heaters, set to cold, one in...one or two out.

If planning to spray outside be sure to notify the neighbours of when you're going to spray - they need to close windows, keep children in doors etc,. Isocyanate/2k vapours travel a good distance on the wind and most folk have no idea if they are susceptible/have sensitivity to 2k vapour.

There are plenty of folk who state, "2k's no issue, have used it for years...never had a problem" Do not listen to them. 1. there's a very high chance they will experience some illness directly attributable to iso' 2k, and 2. no-one knows their level of sensitivity :. max' protection at all times.

The above may appear onerous but isocyanate 2k must be handled with care. Once pre'p and set up the spraying process is remarkably easy and doesn't take long. Just make sure it's 100% safety first...and if you're uncertain give the job to a professional body paint company.

v8250 · Jun 23, 2021

congo181 said:
I’ve now got access to an air fed mask thankfully. I will do the spraying outside.

Make sure the vapour charcoals and filters are new/unused :. starting with a thoroughly clean/new/properly sealed system. I cannot stress how dangerous isocyanate is... + unless in a non built up/non-residential area you should not be using 2k outdoors. Far better to spray in a properly indoor environment.

congo181 · Jun 23, 2021

v8250 said:
Make sure the vapour charcoals and filters are new/unused :. starting with a thoroughly clean/new/properly sealed system. I cannot stress how dangerous isocyanate is... + unless in a non built up/non-residential area you should not be using 2k outdoors. Far better to spray in a properly indoor environment.

I live on a ex farm with 4 acres so that’s not a problem. I’ll also choose a day with little air movement. How long does the stuff stay dangerous for? Does it flash off or lose its danger once dry or how does it happen?
I guess it must h s some kind of danger time limit.

Many thanks for everyone’s interest and advice.

v8250 · Jun 23, 2021

congo181 said:
I live on a ex farm with 4 acres so that’s not a problem. I’ll also choose a day with little air movement. How long does the stuff stay dangerous for? Does it flash off or lose its danger once dry or how does it happen?
I guess it must h s some kind of danger time limit.

Many thanks for everyone’s interest and advice.

A good few days, you can both smell and taste isocyanate in the air. Like all paints it naturally flashes off, better if you've got some sort of bake heat at 60degsC, ala infra-red heaters. If on an ex-farm do you have a barn/out building you could use? Then you'd not have to move the old bus post spraying. And/or, buy [borrow] a low cost car tent...or even rig up a shelter to let paint dry off? A quick wooden frame covered with white tarpaulin, sheet doors front and rear would be great... + this would keep dust/pollen off fresh paint

Colthebrummie · Jun 23, 2021

congo181 said:
I live on a ex farm with 4 acres so that’s not a problem. I’ll also choose a day with little air movement. How long does the stuff stay dangerous for? Does it flash off or lose its danger once dry or how does it happen?
I guess it must h s some kind of danger time limit.

Many thanks for everyone’s interest and advice.

Isocyanates react with water to create harmless urea. So once in the atmosphere it will slowly react with the natural moister in the air. How quickley depends on the general humidity. When we had to deal with spillages, we would mix water with ammonia and a liquid detergent which would react much quicker than water alone but still took several hours depending on the spillage size. We would mix the treated spill with sharp sand so that it could be shovelled up and put into sealable drums. When it reacted fully, it would turn into solid urea that dried like concrete.

Col

congo181 · Jun 23, 2021

v8250 said:
A good few days, you can both smell and taste isocyanate in the air. Like all paints it naturally flashes off, better if you've got some sort of bake heat at 60degsC, ala infra-red heaters. If on an ex-farm do you have a barn/out building you could use? Then you'd not have to move the old bus post spraying. And/or, buy [borrow] a low cost car tent...or even rig up a shelter to let paint dry off? A quick wooden frame covered with white tarpaulin, sheet doors front and rear would be great... + this would keep dust/pollen off fresh paint

I’ve got an event shelter with sides that I could use, or alternatively a largeish woodshed but I couldn’t get the whole vehicle in.
I do have a barn but not sure it’ll fit through the doors. And the motor is on the floor right now

v8250 · Jun 23, 2021

congo181 said:
And the motor is on the floor right now

But you're not spraying the motor/engine...?

congo181 · Jun 23, 2021

v8250 said:
But you're not spraying the motor/engine...?

Noooooo

Respirator for 2K

congo181

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My Old Landy

Keep breathin'

congo181

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nick the gin

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Colthebrummie

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congo181

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Colthebrummie

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Europa486

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Flossie

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v8250

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v8250

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congo181

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v8250

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Colthebrummie

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congo181

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v8250

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congo181

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