Mixing powdered adhesive/grouts

[enduro]

A friend of mine was diagnosed with lung cancer this week, and this has really got me thinking about powdered adhesive and grouts. When mixing theses there is always a bit of dust and i wondered how many people wear a mask when mixing ? Also when dusting tiles off to get them nice and shiny, and we all know this a bit dusty. Silicosis is a form of lung cancer caused by cement dust. I dont wear a mask but im going too now.

 

[hillhead]

hi enduro.i don't use mask but have a good friend(great tiler too) who has started using a mask lately as he also knew a man who died i think from same stuff!! he is adamant that this is the right thing to do.dust is a serious killer.i worked in a dusty atmosphere for 16 years so what hope have i?? i wonder at times.

 

[White Room]

I do try and mix outside outside as much as possible, I must have breathed in so much dust over the last 38 years in the building game.

Sorry to hear about mate enduro.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

iv'e been in dust cement, lime,adisive,artex,plaster, epoxy floor's, and god knows how much more, and now i'd doffo wear a mask when i can!!!look after yourself no one els will

 

[user123]

Wear the mask, they are dirt cheap and I think it actually looks more professional.

 

[doug boardley]

tried wearing a mask, but it gives me a feeling of claustrophobia, really!!, but I stopped smoking nearly a year ago, so that can be my trade off!

 

[doug boardley]

not a mask like this tho'

 

[peckers]

sorry to here about your m8 enduro, I was mixing granfix ultimate flex adhesive the other day and boy is this dusty! i thought then that i should be wearing a mask as not only did i breathe half the bag in but as the wind whipped it up it went in me eyes to and i had to have me eyes washed out as it was all itchy and stinging!
I have since bought those cheap throwaway masks and a good expensive set of safety glasses that are more like wrap around sun glasses that i now keep on me head at all times, they alsoo magnify a bit too which helps with me measureing!
once again sorry to here about your m8!

 

[Sean Kelly]

A true story like yours Enduro is of course sad, but we should learn from your post. I sometimes get a wheezing chest from all the dust that is in the atmosphere at work. I did buy those cheap masks, but I think I paid too little money for them as they were useless. I will deffo invest in a proper mask. Nice point made by Mosaic Girl about the masks making a tiler look more professional. Maybe we should call ourselves ‘Tile Surgeons’! Again, I’m sorry to hear about your friend. Sean

 

[White Room]

The amount of lime mortor ceilings I've pulled down with no mask

 

[Colour Republic]

I hate reading stuff like this as it reminds me of how stupid I've been, I really can't get on with masks because they drive me up the wall and tell myself that any damage has already been done with the amount or rubbish that has entered my lungs, but it has got me thinking for the first time that maybe I should invest in a mask that will suit me, i mean i'm quite happy spending the best part of a grand on some new fancy tool but wouldn't spend over £30 on an all singing all dancing mask that may well save my life. If it cost me £200 it would be money well spent

Sorry to hear about your pal

 

[doug boardley]

I didn't mean to be flippant in my earlier posts Enduro, both myself and my brother have had polyps removed from our throats, mainly due to adding lime to dashing and render in the bad old days. I actually hold my breath whilst I'm mixing anything, and if i need to breathe, I do little intakes through my mouth. But masks really do panic me, but I would deffo recommend them to anybody else

 

[Daz]

It's always upsetting to hear of cases such as your friend Enduro.
I wear glasses and the standard masks just fog my glasses up so I struggled whenever mixing, scoring tiles, removing dodgy latexing, paint from plaster etc. etc.. I have had to invest in an expensive mask for all those dusty tasks, but have to admit that I tend to mix up outside and rarely wear a mask for that.

 

[White Room]

Be fair when was the last time any of you guys had chest x rays

 

[doug boardley]

I had a bupa mot about 4 years ago Mark, at the time I was doing about 20 cigs a day, they didn't believe I smoked! I've since packed up both!