Hey Gang.. Been doing some pinstriping for fun, mostly practicing brush strokes and simple designs at the moment and hopefully will get good at it eventually. I understand that this paint is super toxic and I have a few questions about minimizing my risks while using it... #1 Some of my colors, like red say lead free and others don't. Is this strictly something that varies based on colors or are they beginning the process of getting the lead out of their paints and I have some pre-change and some not? #2 What are the specific no-no's with respect to using this paint besides the obvious stuff? What's the safest way to use it? #3 The label has some harsh wording with respect to using it in a household environment. Since I have no plans to practice outside in 30 degree weather... Is there safe way to use it in my house? crack a window maybe? Any tips are much appreciated. Stacey
Don't drink it. Don't smoke it. Don't eat it. They recently removed all the Lead from all their paint, the amounts have been reduced in the last few years. The only thing more harmfull than getting it on your skin, are the solvents you need to get it off. As long as you don't concentrate the fumes on purpose,it won't be a problem. All the super scarrry warnings are required by Federal law. All you need are a couple CCs of 1-Shot enamel and 1 CC of 1-Shot High Temperature Reducer in a couple plastic medicine cups.Keep the lids tight on the cans when not in use. Actually,this***** will kill you. Send me all the paint with the Lead in it,so you won't get hurt.
One shot is currently developing a complete line of lead free paints with the intention of eventually phaseing out the entire line if leaded paints. From what I understand it will take awhile. Just treat it like you would any other paint product IE "don't eat it drink it smoke it." I have a friend named Bob that's been stripping since I was very little. He doesn't do anything special with it and he's still going strong. But he suggests that if you're paranoid to wear rubber gloves. You shouldn't need anything like a resperator cause you aren't spraying it. A little can of oneshot isn't going to put many fumes in the house while you practice. A lot of that houshold use stuff has to do with painting household surfaces and then letting you kids chew on them. It is lead based. So I might avoid pinstripping things like coffee mugs, soupe bowels etc. I said all that to say this, use some common sense and don't sweat it. Above all have fun. If it quits being fun then I strongly suggest that you quit doing it.
Action girl - The warnings are for using it to paint the actual house - like window sills. No lead allowed in house paints any more. Fumes can be vented by open window if they get too strong. Sorry, p&Bnr, I'm slow typing. Dan
I don't know much about this, because I'm no painter. My idea of a paint job (if I'm doing it myself) is to roll the car out in the middle of a field and spray the***** out of it. Who cares if things like bugs or dirt get on it. Nothing a little sanding won't get out. According to them, most of the paints my pinstriping pals use like 1 Shot are all Enamel. Enamel does have a high lead content in it. Lead is easily absorbed into the blood stream by touch. It's also easily absorbed through inhalation. There's been all kinds of studies that say enamel paint has been linked to various forms of cancer. That's why they say it's never good to go sanding on a wall with paint that's been up since the 50s, because all the paint back then had huge amounts of lead in it. Now, will spreading the paint through your brush with you fingers cause you to have cancer? I don't know. I know some guys that wear latex gloves when they do it, and I know some guys that don't. When they get to be 70, are the guys that aren't wearing the gloves more likely to get cnacer? Probably...but who knows? Is the other paint you have the same brand? If so, is it the same type of paint? I know that some brands also make laquer paints along with enamel. Laquer is much safer. It's pretty much what you use on model cars and your finger nails. It's doesn't fair as well as enamel, because it's much harder and it doesn't give as much as enamel. A result is that the paint cracks. I, personally, wouldn't spray paint ANYTHING inside without serious ventilation. Since all your doing is some pinstripping the chances of the paint and the fumes getting all over the place are pretty low. I'd say you'd be OK next to a window, but I'd open it more than just a crack, and I'd place a little fan next to it blowing outside to***** the fumes out. Now, that's what I recall hearing from my pals. I could be totally off here, but that's what they seem to think.
Some of the 1 Shot I've been practicing with has lead in it too Action Girl. I guess the way to go is to wear surgical gloves (you know, the ones that go SNAP when you put them on). Other than that, just crack that window. I wouldn't admit this to anyone other than HAMB'ers, but I really like the smell of denatured alcohol and thinner. Mmmmmm PS- Is it bad that I hold my brush in my mouth sometimes
Thanks Guys... I figured as much. Since I don't have ANY experience using lead-based enamels i wasn't sure how to interpret the scary warnings... Stacey
[ QUOTE ] I wouldn't admit this to anyone other than HAMB'ers, but I really like the smell of denatured alcohol and thinner. Mmmmmm PS- Is it bad that I hold my brush in my mouth sometimes [/ QUOTE ] Which end to you stick in your mouth? 'Cause saliva will really screw up the fuzzy end. On the reducer/cleaner smell, toulene burns the brain cells quicker. Just in case you're in a hurry
I have never much thought about the risks involved, but hey that's just me. Surgical gloves, for me I like to feel the brush on my fingers, I reckon gloves would not allow me that 'feel' of the brush. I hear what your saying about 'risks' action girl. But as a few have said they are more likely minimal. Just get in there and enjoy the moment of your striping, don't let stuff like this play on your mind and you will be a better striper. So much of this striping thing comes from the sub-conscious I believe. As far as practising goes I have been striping for around 13 years and believe that ever piece I do is just practise. You go girl, the world needs more stripers.
FWIW, like all good nolstagics, I stockpiled White and Red One-Shot with lead when I learned it was on the way out.
My inside source at the 1-Shot factory says any paint they have made since April 2003 has no Lead in it. [ QUOTE ] I stockpiled White and Red One-Shot with lead ... [/ QUOTE ] White dries the fastest.Some of the old 1-Shot Lettering White will actually harden in a brand new unused can.
All good tips here Stacey.I would avoid spraying 1-Shot even with a repirator because of not only the lead content but everything else that's in it.About the only thing bad about working in the house with it is it will piss off your other half with the smell.Luckily I have a very tolerant wife I don't paint in the house anymore since I built my shop. I use cotton gloves sometimes if I need to keep fingerprints off the surfaces that are going to be cleared.Used to wash my hands with W&G remover before painting to dissolve the oils in my fingertips but this is a lot safer.Usually just use one on my right hand(I'm left-handed;and NO MICHAEL JACKSON JOKES!). As an aside I have been striping for 47 years now and a couple years ago I was diagnosed with lympathic cancer.My wife asked the doctor if it could be related to the solvents and chemicals I've worked with over the years.He said he doubted it very much and it was caused by me smoking even though I stopped nearly 20 years ago. Anyway just my 2 cents worth. Ray
[ QUOTE ] Used to wash my hands with W&G remover before painting to dissolve the oils in my fingertips but this is a lot safer. [/ QUOTE ] The oils in our skin are there to help keep the chemicals out. If your skin is dry,and cracked,it is much easier for toxins to enter the body. When your hands turn White after being covered in solvent, that is because all the oils have been disolved.
i have a habit of pulling the bristles through my fingers before laying a line...i wonder if that's what killed ed roth....i always have a hand full of thinner,i tryed striping with those gloves on,but hated it
[ QUOTE ] My inside source at the 1-Shot factory says any paint they have made since April 2003 has no Lead in it. Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I stockpiled White and Red One-Shot with lead ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [/ QUOTE ] I know. That's why I bought what was left on the shelf of the old stuff. Looking around at LARGE art stores, I still see some paint that's been on the shelf for more than two years.
oh and one more tip.....if ya have something that you are striping that you want cleared like flames etc.....make sure you use hardner in the one shot ..otherwise it will go horribly wrong and wrinkle up or split when the solvents from the clear get to it .....
[ QUOTE ] Looking around at LARGE art stores, I still see some paint that's been on the shelf for more than two years. [/ QUOTE ] THAT is a good idea. I know what I'm doing Monday.
[ QUOTE ] oh and one more tip.....if ya have something that you are striping that you want cleared like flames etc.....make sure you use hardner in the one shot ..otherwise it will go horribly wrong and wrinkle up or split when the solvents from the clear get to it ..... [/ QUOTE ] That has been the accepted method of clearing over 1-Shot for awhile now but I have found that it isn't really necessary if you are using PPG 2021.I have had quite a few motorcycle parts and various other things cleared without using the catalyst in the paint. The secret is in the application of the clear.After it is mixed,you have approximately a 1 hour pot life.The first coat is "misted"on,that is a very dry coat so the reducers don't attack the 1-Shot.Let it set for about 10 minutes and apply a second mist coat.Allow that to cure about 10 minutes also and then apply the "wet"or gloss coat.As long as this procedure is followed,you will not experience any wrinkling. I'm sure there are other clear coats that will work equally well;I am only familiar with the PPG.You don't want a reducing agent that penetrates too well. Ray
The Jalopy Journal
