- Joined
- Feb 28, 2019
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- 511
So, perhaps I should have considered this early and done more research.
For a hobby shop machinist (ie. a few hours a week, small stuff, basic tools) what are the risks and how serious working with stainless steels?
I've been aware from the start that wielding stainless posses some extreme risks due to the gasses that are produced. I have no welding equipment and do not intend to weld stainless anytime soon, so lets put that one aside for this discussion. (In the event that I get into wielding I will spend a ton of time educating myself on associated risks).
From other reading, there is also a risk of inhalation of dust when grinding. Ok, good to know. I'm assuming that this is related to the the heat and fine dust, just like welding. Hot fine dust is going to change chemically and you don't want to inhale chromium or lead. I don't do a lot of grinding but will be more careful in general about grinding dust.
How about machining stainless? I imagine that small smoking hot chips of stainless are also going to be giving off bad smoke that you don't want to be inhaling all day. In the past I've machined SS at feeds and speeds that produced too much heat - to the point of blue chips and smoke. The simple fact that this is bad for end mills and small machines, I now use coolant system and my tools and myself are much happier milling SS.
So I've managed to mitigate this hazard simply by doing a better job - adding coolant and slowing down if necessary.
What about band-sawing? I use a cutting wax stick for lubrication/cutting - again, the blade lasts much longer. However cutting will still give off smoke but I'm assuming this from the wax/oil and not likely to be (much of?) an SS smoke/dust exposure hazard.
How about powered sanding for finish? Ok - dust is definitely an potential problem but this is done at speeds and pressures that doesn't cause sparks.
Even finer dust and cooler - hand sanding for finish or fit? I've taken to using DNA when doing this as it controls/contains the dust and also helps prevent sand paper from loading. This is typically done on a flat surface plate of some sort, the DNA also helps stick the paper down.
To recap and condense:
- Wielding flat out NO (for me for now, buy the right PPE and learn safety protocol in general if I ever get there)
- Grinding / abrasive cutting operations that produce sparks: Manage dust collection use ventilation.
- Milling / Machining: Don't make smoke to begin with! (coolant)
- Cold work that produces fine dust sanding finishing: Keep the dust down, don't eat it.
- Heat treating (annealing, silver solder etc)? same smoke risks?
Understand that I'm in my 60's and I've done plenty of things that exposed myself to hazards that I shouldn't have. I try not to needlessly add exposure risks and in this case, I'm now doing enough work with SS that I need consider more opportunities for repetitive exposure (but still not 9-5 job in a metal working shop level).
Please try to keep this focused on risks specific to stainless steel (or related?) metals.
Thanks.
For a hobby shop machinist (ie. a few hours a week, small stuff, basic tools) what are the risks and how serious working with stainless steels?
I've been aware from the start that wielding stainless posses some extreme risks due to the gasses that are produced. I have no welding equipment and do not intend to weld stainless anytime soon, so lets put that one aside for this discussion. (In the event that I get into wielding I will spend a ton of time educating myself on associated risks).
From other reading, there is also a risk of inhalation of dust when grinding. Ok, good to know. I'm assuming that this is related to the the heat and fine dust, just like welding. Hot fine dust is going to change chemically and you don't want to inhale chromium or lead. I don't do a lot of grinding but will be more careful in general about grinding dust.
How about machining stainless? I imagine that small smoking hot chips of stainless are also going to be giving off bad smoke that you don't want to be inhaling all day. In the past I've machined SS at feeds and speeds that produced too much heat - to the point of blue chips and smoke. The simple fact that this is bad for end mills and small machines, I now use coolant system and my tools and myself are much happier milling SS.
So I've managed to mitigate this hazard simply by doing a better job - adding coolant and slowing down if necessary.
What about band-sawing? I use a cutting wax stick for lubrication/cutting - again, the blade lasts much longer. However cutting will still give off smoke but I'm assuming this from the wax/oil and not likely to be (much of?) an SS smoke/dust exposure hazard.
How about powered sanding for finish? Ok - dust is definitely an potential problem but this is done at speeds and pressures that doesn't cause sparks.
Even finer dust and cooler - hand sanding for finish or fit? I've taken to using DNA when doing this as it controls/contains the dust and also helps prevent sand paper from loading. This is typically done on a flat surface plate of some sort, the DNA also helps stick the paper down.
To recap and condense:
- Wielding flat out NO (for me for now, buy the right PPE and learn safety protocol in general if I ever get there)
- Grinding / abrasive cutting operations that produce sparks: Manage dust collection use ventilation.
- Milling / Machining: Don't make smoke to begin with! (coolant)
- Cold work that produces fine dust sanding finishing: Keep the dust down, don't eat it.
- Heat treating (annealing, silver solder etc)? same smoke risks?
Understand that I'm in my 60's and I've done plenty of things that exposed myself to hazards that I shouldn't have. I try not to needlessly add exposure risks and in this case, I'm now doing enough work with SS that I need consider more opportunities for repetitive exposure (but still not 9-5 job in a metal working shop level).
Please try to keep this focused on risks specific to stainless steel (or related?) metals.
Thanks.