Is resin toxic? How toxic? Which measures to be taken?

[luisito8m]

Hello guys, small question bugging me:

I just ordered a Grey Knight Warhammer 40k Set, and according to some people, they say that those sprues were made with resin and that I should be aware of its toxicity.

The problem is that I do not know how toxic they are, and what precautions I need to take when sanding them down, etc.. There is a dude on youtube that says that resin toxicity has no comparison even with thinners and mineral spirits, glues, etc... so I am now a little concerned about the loved ones at home and myself once I get started on them.

Any ideas guys?

Thanks!
Luis

 

[Quaralane]

The largest danger from the resin is inhaling the dust from sanding it.
And, on something as small as most of Citadel's figures, that shouldn't be too much of a worry

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

Yeah, it is the resin dust you have to worry about.

If you can, sand it outside, and just wear a dust mask...same as you would if you were sanding say a freshly crackfilled wall, getting it ready for paint.

 

[Ziz]

The other option is to wet sand. Keep a small bowl of water and paper towels at your work bench and dip your sandpaper/sanding sticks/files and/or your parts in the water every now and then. The water absorbs the sanding dust AND keeps your sandpaper/tools clean! It also keeps the sanding dust off the part so you can see what you're doing.

 

[Grendels]

The other option is to wet sand. Keep a small bowl of water and paper towels at your work bench and dip your sandpaper/sanding sticks/files and/or your parts in the water every now and then. The water absorbs the sanding dust AND keeps your sandpaper/tools clean! It also keeps the sanding dust off the part so you can see what you're doing.

This is how I deal with it, helps keep the house clean too!

 

[fubar]

I have a full filtered face mask which i also use for those rare occasions when i fire up my airbrush (no space or money for a proper extraction cabinet), i do also wet sand some times.

TTFN

 

[urumomo]

Like everyone says : avoid breathing the dust , but this applies to sanding everything .
Cured synthetic resins are biologically inert but some people can develop contact allergies regardless .
Uncured resin exposure can cause skin reactions or worse . It will of course depend on the person and will normally take repeated contact with uncured resin .
Here's a link to West Epoxy's health info http://www.westsystem.com/ss/health-effects-from-overexposure-to-epoxy/
Casting resins ,' fiberglass ' polyester resin , 'epoxy' etc are in the same family .
I wouldn't worry much ,, common sense will keep you safe . Don't eat the stuff ..