Problems needing attention when using glass fiber

Working with fiberglass-especially grinding the stuff-generates zillions of near-microscopic shards of glass. And those shards itch like hell when they work their way into your skin's pores. The stories of itchy armpits and crotches make good bench racing. Only there's nothing funny about those shards making their way into your lungs, which underscores the importance of quality protective gear. In that case, those shards can lacerate the sacs in your lungs causing an irreversible condition called Pulmonary Fibrosis. It reduces lung capacity and generally makes for a miserable and crippled life. Something as simple as a dust mask can go a long way to preserve quality of life. Better yet, use a painter's respirator. Resin and acetone fumes might lend a stoney feeling to the day, but prolonged exposure can make you long-term dumb. Oh yeah, make sure your work area gets good ventilation. No respirator, no matter how powerful, will protect you in a fume-saturated workspace.

Resins and solvents also wick through skin like fruit punch through a paper towel and melt kidneys and livers as they leave the building. Latex gloves work great, and considering that constant contact with chemicals is inevitable you're going to whip through gloves the way a jilted teenager goes through tissues.

Not even an eyeball hardly stands a chance. A chunk of fiberglass kicked up by a grinding wheel cuts like a flying razor blade. A single drop of the potent oxidizer used to catalyze resin splashed in the eye can permanently blind. Goggles are a good starting point, but don't underestimate the comfort and peace of mind a full face shield offers. Prescription eyeglass wearers take special note.