Protective Clothing

[Thompson]

Was just curious what everybody else uses to protect themselves while mixing?

Currently I've been wearing a kitchen apron and nitrile gloves. But I fear they don't quite cut it especially as I plan on ordering some high potency nicotine base.

After reading some documents posted by the CDC on handling nicotine (in I assume worst case scenarios) it really made me realize that spending some cash on good protective gear is worth its weight.

So after some researching and comparisons, I ordered myself a grey DuPont TyChem CPF2 coverall, and I'm now shopping for organic vapor respirators, good chemical resistant gloves and good splash resistant goggles.

I've added the CDC docs for the hell of it.

View attachment Nicotine CDC Document.pdf
View attachment CDC - The Emergency Response Safety and Health Database; Systemic Agent; Nicotine.pdf

I did find this interesting:

 

[markfm]

Everything I make is done in a small tray with sides, which contains spills and helps in rapid cleanup after. Everything for a blend sits on the tray. I tend to do bulk, normally 60 ml batches of eliquid, so I end up using 15ml graduated beakers for measuring (makes life simpler than futzing with syringes and pipettes).

I mainly use 36 mg/ml base now, which is strong enough to make up to 29 mg/ml final eliquid at 20% total flavoring.. The nic base is first thing in any mix I do, with the bottle then capped, wiped if there's any spill on it, and put aside. For that strength I wear nothing protective, just paper towel if I get a little on my hands -- the liquid is not going to leap into my eyes or all over my clothing, short of an earthquake (very uncommon in central NY).

60 or 100 mg/ml I'd use nitrile gloves. 60 for me is still not really a big deal, but it's more of a PITA from a measurement standpoint (I am very .... about precision in DIY, if I make 10 mg/ml that is what it is).

Eye protection is fine, as are aprons or other things, but my nic base is in small, very manageable, glass bottles, all nic handling done over the tray which is nowhere near my eyes or clothing. I certainly see nothing wrong with adding the extra protection elements, but I don't mix my eliquids with power tools so splashing just isn't a concern to me.

Cleanup and disposal of waste I'm careful with, things aren't accessible to children or pets, but I'm not that tense about. Likewise my actual nic base all resides in a storage unit in the basement, unfrequented by guests. If I had young children I'd probably be more concerned about the actual final eliquids, since many of them do smell good and might taste good; in my case bulk mixed stays in bottles in the basement, other than for my current in-use bottle that's on top of a tall dresser out of the way, on my dedicated vaping tray that also holds my battery chargers (which are connected to a timer).

Appropriate gear depends on the potential risk, with different people having different sensitivity. Lab grade nic, approaching 100% purity, is much more dangerous than the 36 mg/ml (3.6%) I DIY with. I know a fair number of people who vape 36 (I did at times early on).

 

[Thompson]

Yeah I'm probably taking it a bit seriously with all this gear, but I did just figure "Hey I'll have a whack Halloween costume at the least."

I've also been doing my mixing on a aluminum baking sheet that has edges so spills will be contained. Kind of want to weight it down or find something heavier.

Like you mention, open the nic bottle, take what is needed, immediately seal.

While I was searching for the effects and efficiency of nicotine skin absorption, I never really found a clear & cut document explaining it out. All of them just mention "Its dangerous, wash it off immediately." But then they go to say (on some sites) that 30-60mg can be lethal to a human.

So I figure if I'm spending $50 on safety gear, its probably worth it.

 

[Renolizzie]

I've been wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants or a skirt that I take off and put in the wash when I am done mixing. I just think it is a good habit. I also wear latex food service gloves. I get those for free.

I have been using 60mg but since I want to put some in the freezer, I think I will get 100mg next time.

I like to wipe the area up with some orange cleaner and paper towels when I am done. I mix on a tray. I also wash the tray and the pipettes in hot soapy water and give them a thorough rinse before taking my gloves off.

I open the nic and measure for all my batches at once. Then I close it up and wipe off the bottle with a paper towel. Then I mix the rest of the ingredients into the smaller bottles.

Last time I made some 28mg, 20mg and 15mg so that all I have to do is add flavoring for the next month or two. with flavoring it will be about 24, 18 and 12 but I am not worried if it is a tad strong or weaker. I don't even bother with gloves once they are to this stage.

 

[markfm]

Nothing wrong with that. I have protective eye stuff, which I wear 100% of the time with my power tools, hardhat for crawling under houses, etc.

On nic contact with skin, it really does vary a lot. Some people will get woozy if they come in contact with even a drop or 2 of higher strength nic base; the nitrile gloves take care of that nicely (Walmart online has good prices on boxes of them, I use lots of them for general happy homeowner projects with liquids or caulking).

The tray I use is from a dollar sore -- plastic, about 10x14, edges come up about 3/4", perfect size and a quick clean.

If I did an apocalypse stash I'd shift back to 100mg/ml for storage, but in my case I'd only do it if I had a dedicated small freezer, since DW and I are kind of sloppy tossing stuff into the food one (nothing harmful in it). My in-use I'd likely downmix back to maybe 40, since it really is simpler to work with the lower concentration base.

 

[ninfreak]

i should be dead with all the 100 mg stuff i get on myself. i just wash my hands and im fine....it isn't touch skin you die type of thing. you have time to rinse it off.

 

[ninfreak]

and yes i think you are going overboard.... some gloves and goggles are all you need, unless you are purposefully throwing it on yourself