Entry Dated August 16, 2008 - Safety and Expensive Tools; Well Worth Every Penny

Tools are essential to a model-builder. And I've managed to get a few of them. I'm still short a full set of modeling tools and I dare not touch my resin kits without getting a particulate face mask. Resin dust is carcinogenic and does not leave the body once inhaled, so be very careful when using resin correction kits.

So what should you get. Well, first of all, I would suggest a respirator mask. If you're going to be dealing with airbrushing enamel paint, you need a good solid respirator. Sure the paint fumes might smell nice, but do you really want lung-cancer down the road after years of smelling this stuff?



Get yourself a compressor, it can be one of the small oil-less silent desktop compressors that operate on a single piston. I recommend the Bear-Air Polarbear. The air pressure stays constant between 10-30 psi where you end up doing the majority of your airbrushing. It's got suction cups so that you can lock it down so that it doesn't vibrate. Me, I've got the Husky 3.0 Gallon Air Compressor, but if I need to all of a sudden paint indoors, then I'll probably pick up the Bear-Air so that I won't disturb my neighbors.



As stated the compressor for your workbench or under your workbench should have pressure gauges. The Husky that I have has two. Also, always know where your quick-release valve is and if you're not painting after the end of the session, release the air in the tank. More than likely you're not going to use it so why let it sit there and collect moisture. Also, people mention getting an in-line moisture trap between the main pressure valve and the airbrush to catch the moisture coming up the line. You don't want to have moisture spatter on your paint job.

 

Safety glasses are also essential, Small parts go flying, as does dust and other particulate matter and you don't want that in your eyes. Plus things do have a tendency to catch fire if they're being heated so a good small CO2 extinguisher is a good purchase too. You can get a small CO2 extinguisher at ABC Fire & Safety. Also make sure that you get some decent surgical gloves, some of the solutions that we have to work with, like tire cleaner and thinner are caustic to the hands and thus the hands should be protected.




I've delved a bit into the more expensive tools and safety equipment here. Of all the tools that you get for your modelbuilding, stress the safety issue. There's time to get Dremels, razor saws, etc., but if you don't establish safety rules and use your safety equipment, then you might find yourself having health problems down the road. I'll delve into the other tools in a later post.