I was using a scouring pad to get the copper exposed on a stripboard and didn't use a mask while doing it. Is the dust that came off bad for me?

 

Fiberglass dust is really awful, but you're supposed to be using water while scrubbing.
I use a green scrubbing pad.
Finish with a hair dryer.

 

I was using a scouring pad to get the copper exposed on a stripboard and didn't use a mask while doing it. Is the dust that came off bad for me?

I'm surprised you had the strength to type that post. You should be with friends and family in these last minutes, not wasting your time on the Internet.

 

I'm surprised you had the strength to type that post. You should be with friends and family in these last minutes, not wasting your time on the Internet.

that was a joke right?

 

Joke - but not a good one since you're not laughing.

 

Fiberglass dust is really awful, but you're supposed to be using water while scrubbing.
I use a green scrubbing pad.
Finish with a hair dryer.

i see. so i saw that fiber glass dust is as bad a asbestos, if so, am i gonna die of cancer when i'm 40 or something like that? (i'm 13)

 

i see. so i saw that fiber glass dust is as bad a asbestos, if so, am i gonna die of cancer when i'm 40 or something like that? (i'm 13)

No, just wet the surface to contain the dust and wear a dust mask (properly fitted) to make sure you're fine in the future. People who've had issues with asbestos generally have years of exposure.

 

No, just wet the surface to contain the dust and wear a dust mask (properly fitted) to make sure you're fine in the future. People who've had issues with asbestos generally have years of exposure.

good to know ill be sure to take the proper percaction when doing that

 

that was a joke right?

that was a joke right? I hope, I hope!

 

Fiberglass dust is regulated as a nuisance dust: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0288.html

It is not dangerous as asbestos dust is. Incidentally, carbon fiber dust is also regulated as a nuisance dust.

Why where you scrubbing the fiberglass instead of the copper ?

John

 

Ok lets examine the situation....

You said stripboard, therefore I am not sure why you are sanding it down to reveal copper. If you are sanding stripboard then these are usually made of a material called FR-2 (otherwise known as SRBP - Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper). This stuff is not going to kill you outright but long term exposure to dust is something to be avoided. Note the word long term. If you do it a few times you have nothing to worry about.

If you meant a PCB then scratching the PCB to reveal copper has two possibilities:

1. Soldermask. What you scratched off was an epoxy resin that protects the copper tracks. I have no clue about this and thus recommend to avoid the dust
2. PCB material. PCBs are typically made of FR4 (also known as Epoxy Resin Fiberglass) and this stuff, believe it or not, is not as bad as people may think. Fiberglass was the alternative to asbestos as it does not cause the same long term effects (cancer etc).

Regards,
Robin

 

Asbestos dust is carcinogenic, i.e. it causes cancer, the dust from fibreglass is classified as a nuisance but is not carcinogenic. Generally the effects of these things are related to the volume and length of time of exposure, I doubt there would be any effect from a small one-off activity but do it every day for 20 years and you may have ill-effects.

 

i see. so i saw that fiber glass dust is as bad a asbestos, if so, am i gonna die of cancer when i'm 40 or something like that? (i'm 13)

When you go, you never know.

 

When you go, you never know.

I went yesterday and didn't know.

 

I was thinking about a nearby boat building place where they attack fiberglass boats with an 8 inch grinder. A week of that without a dust mask and your lungs can be loaded up so badly that you can't breathe. Then, there have been times when I just buffed 4 edges with the grinder in the shed and realized that was a stupid thing to do because I could already feel the dust in my nose.

A little hand buffing didn't hurt you, but minor insults to your body accumulate, so don't do that without using water.
I can testify that I cleaned many a board (in a factory job) with water and returned them to pristine condition with a hair dryer.
I'm talking 500 megs minimum resistance for "all traces to ground" to pass Quality Control.
So, there is no danger to the board in using water, soap and water, and/or several industrial solvents.

 

and/or several industrial solvents.

Just be careful with acetone, that can bleach and dissolve old plastic parts and fittings

 

At least you've got another 27 years to look forward to!

 

Just be careful with acetone, that can bleach and dissolve old plastic parts and fittings

and it takes the printing off capacitors almost instantly.

 

and it takes the printing off capacitors almost instantly.

Ah, I did not know that!

 

Ah, I did not know that!

It will also remove that ugly red color from your mother's fingernails.