Thread: CA Sensitivity

Taken directly from Wikipedia:

The fumes from CA are a vaporized form of the cyanoacrylate monomer that irritate sensitive membranes in the eyes, nose and throat. They are immediately polymerized by the moisture in the membranes and become inert. These risks can be minimized by using CA in well ventilated areas. About 5% of the population can become sensitized to CA fumes after repeated exposure, resulting in flu-like symptoms.[5] It may also act as a skin irritant and may cause an allergic skin reaction.

Guess who falls into that 5%.

What is CA?

Superglue, lots of the guys that make scales (myself included, at least until this weekend) use to seal wooden scales.

LOL Have you ever noticed all those CA sealed scales I do???

Ummmmm yeah, me neither

Me and CA do not get along....

I'm going to go out on a limb here (I've been back and forth with some a little bit about this), but I have also experienced flu like symptoms after sanding certain types of woods.

To be clear, this was not a respiratory thing, I got flu-sick after working with a piece of spalted maple using just a painters mask... I thought I was just getting sick, so after I got better I sanded some more and immediately got sick again in the same way. I got a respirator and the problem went away.

I would suggest using a respirator for everything from sanding to finishing... My 2 cents

So Glen...

What do you seal all your scales with? Are you an epoxy kind of guy, or just oil and call it good?

Drew

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

So Glen...

What do you seal all your scales with? Are you an epoxy kind of guy, or just oil and call it good?

Drew

Just about everything else, I really like wipe on finishes and tend to head there first....

Also FWIW I put on a respirator and goggles as soon as I walk in the shop, good ones,,, but CA still bugs me, more in the eyes than anything else....I would probably need a full face mask to use it...

Same here. My nose really doesn't like it, but my eyes really really don't like it. I will have to look into some wipe on finishes next time I head to the hardware store. It's about time to pick up some more wood anyway.