Epoxy cleanup

[WindyBeard]

Having built a cedar strip kayak previously and having watched all the videos I can, I feel ready to start a build soon.  I was planning to use acetone as in Alan and Taylor’s build videos, and then I ran across this website:  https://resinresearch.net/acetone-and-epoxy/    Have any of you heard this previously, and what are your thoughts?

 

 On my kayak, I mostly used squeegies and my brushes were disposable.  But a cs20.3 will take a lot of brushes…

[Hirilonde]

It all depends on what you are cleaning up. I use citrus waterless hand soap to clean me up.

[Oyster]

Simple grocery vinegar cleans up uncured epoxy tools and hands. If heaven forbid you get epoxy in your hair, then just dip a comb in a glass of vinegar and run it thru your hair until it completely wet. Then just wash your hair with freshwater. 

[Reacher]

This topic is discussed on various forums. I feel fortunate to not have an epoxy sensitivity problem after 30 years of building boats, including minimal precautions in the early builds, but I completely agree with the article referenced in Post 1. A safety supervisor at a chemical plant told me about the instantaneous effect acetone can have on blood counts you don’t want. 
 

Buy a lot of chip brushes. Don’t think about the cost. Stick them together into a sculpture that grows as you complete the project. 

Buy and use boxes of nitrile gloves.

 

Don’t use acetone as a skin cleanser if you use it at all.

[WindyBeard]

I was mainly reacting to the “don’t even have acetone in your factory” statement and thinking about the cleanup of brushes with the “3 acetone jar” method I’ve seen from a few videos.   I think I’ll stick to disposable brushes as suggested. 

[Hirilonde]

Acetone is very flammable and really dries out your skin, but it is inhert. Breathing the fumes isn't a clever idea, but it really isn't overly harmful. I'm not trying to sell it, there are other options as stated above, but it isn't "evil".

 

[Andy B]

I can't figure out that article.

First, they say that acetone-mixed epoxy delivers the epoxy and acetone right through your skin and into your system.  I don't know that that means and they don't give proof.

 

Second, their proof that acetone is bad is to "google Bob Ross and acetone."  I did, and the only thing that comes up is that Bob Ross never used acetone because it would ruin his good brushes.

 

Further research needed.

[Reacher]

From West Systems safety guidelines for epoxy: “Never use solvents to remove epoxy from your skin.”

 

Hardener is water soluble, cleanup with soapy water. Resin is not water soluble, cleanup with waterless hand cleanser.  
 

People can choose how preventative they want to be about exposure to chemicals. 

[Paul356]

Vinegar works on resin, too.