melting resin - very bad for you?

[Agent Orange]

I suppose I can guess the answer to this is "don't do it" - but do you suppose melting resin with a soldering iron gives of very bad fumes?

I tried it on a whim to make holes for LED's - works but a lot of thin white smoke pours off it as I do it.

I sometimes use an old soldering iron to make holes or carve out sections of plastic that do not allow a dremel to get in there - what with occasional brittle resin, this method seems ideal.

I guess I should get a mask and a spray booth.

Mike

[Digger1]

If you're concerned and have to do it, invest in one of those face masks from the hardware store rated for smoke, fine particulates and/or chemical fumes. However much one costs is a lot cheaper than developing mesothelimoa or someother funky stuff in the future just the was cabbies say, "cab fare is always less expensive than a DUI". Besides, you'd look cool and scare off the kiddies!

[onezero]

I suppose I can guess the answer to this is "don't do it" - but do you suppose melting resin with a soldering iron gives of very bad fumes?

Yes.

And it doesn't melt like plastic does - so drill it if you want to make holes.

(same with plastic, actually)

[SGluedMyFingers]

I've been melting plastic with a hot knife for 20 years. No pro- <HACK HACK HACK sputter> -blems.

No really, I do like to use a hot knife for certain projects, but I started wearing a respirator and doing it in the spray booth. Twenty years of cigarettes - now I worry about stuff like that.

Never tried melting resin. I did recently try to melt dried Aves putty - it also does not melt like plastic. Really doesn't melt at all - it kinda just burns. Maybe char is a better term.