Don't Try This At Home

Working with Barge® Cement

I ignore almost every safety warning. I rarely wear safety glasses, a respirator has never touched my face. Chemical gloves? Hot, sticky; no thanks. But now, we're working wtih Barge cement, and a wonderful solvent called Toluene. Ignoring the obvious reproductive side-effects (if there is a pregnant woman within sniffing range of this product, go somewhere else), if you breathe this stuff you will find yourself with a solvent headache similar to what some people get working around fireworks, called a 'nitro headache'. Aspirin, ibuprofen, acetomeniphine won't dent one of these headaches. Only fresh air and a good night's sleep. You don't want one, and you're about to spend the next several hours working with a really good source. Ventilate, and wear a respirator.

Another reason for air circulation: the vapors from Barge Cement are heavier than air. That means that if they are allowed to collect, they'll sit like a flammable little cloud until something either disperses them, or ignites them. Amazing, huh? Oh, and by extension, just in case you missed the point: don't smoke around the stuff either.

All kidding aside: a reader rightly pointed out to me that if I was working in concentrations high enough to give me a headache I was also exposing myself to all of the dangerous effects that Toluene could produce. Since my shop is in my house, I was also doing the same for my wife and two young children. Ventilation, and a respirator, at a minimum.