PCB cutting health concern

[Anachron]

Hello everyone, I know there is tons of info on the dangers of inhaling fiberglass dust. It's a nasty thing. My question is to you, all the experienced hobbyists and pros out there, is there a real danger having cut two small boards without a mask (but with a vacuum cleaner next to the dremel)? Is there something I can do, or should I not be concerned? From now on I think I'll score and snap the boards to avoid dust. Or maybe you have an even better solution to suggest!
Thanks a bunch everybody, and sorry for touching on a much discussed subject, but I couldn't find anyplace the dangers of a once-off exposure.

[sleemanj]

is there a real danger having cut two small boards without a mask

no

[Psi]

Hello everyone, I know there is tons of info on the dangers of inhaling fiberglass dust. It's a nasty thing. My question is to you, all the experienced hobbyists and pros out there, is there a real danger having cut two small boards without a mask (but with a vacuum cleaner next to the dremel)?

na, lots of us have cut/sanded PCBs without a mask on at least one occasion, likely into the double digits for anyone making home pcbs.
The repercussions of you cutting some PCBs without a mask on one occasion will border on non existent.

Obviously you should wear a mask next time.

If there was a real problem with hobbists getting sick from cutting/grinding the occasional pcbs we would have heard about it.

[miceuz]

wow, vacuum cleaner! dude, you've done more to preserve your health than most of this crowd probably 

fiberglass dust is no good for sure, you don't want to breath it, but it's not something like OMG I'VE JUST INHALED FIBERGLASS I'M GONNA DIE.

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Hi,
If I have to sand FR4. I use waterproof paper 'wet & dry'. I use a little water to keep the dust down. It is very effective.

Jay_Diddy_B

[KJDS]

The easy way of cutting it is to score on both sides with a decent knife and then slam it in a draw.

[Macbeth]

The easy way of cutting it is to score on both sides with a decent knife and then slam it in a draw.

I've always had trouble cutting PCBs to size, resorting to a dremel making wonky cuts, or drilling holes and snapping off "postage stamp" style. A proper guillotine is far too expensive. But I guess a traditional wheeled blade glass cutter with a rule, then a tap with a hammer (or slamming a drawer) is a great method 

[SeanB]

Was working with some glass fibre sheet over Christmas. A few glass fibre blisters (Yay) that are healing from where some got trapped under the sleeve of the shirt but nothing really else much other than it was pretty itchy.

[Macbeth]

Was working with some glass fibre sheet over Christmas. A few glass fibre blisters (Yay) that are healing from where some got trapped under the sleeve of the shirt but nothing really else much other than it was pretty itchy.

Yes, going up in my loft (attic) always ends up with the stuff stuck to my face and arms. I now wear a boiler suit and have the bath ready whenever I go up there.
Having said that, the insulation the fibre rolls provide is fantastic!
I don't understand how the fitters put up with the job though, at least in summer. Gak! Humidity, sweat, glass fibres sticking to every pore of your skin...

[PaulAm]

I tried using an old paper cutter and it worked quite well on some PCB material.  This is the kind with the big knife on the side, not a rolling cutter.  Works like a shear and makes clean straight cuts. 

[christos]

go to the nearest hospital and ask someone to give you a mask with filter on the front..i always use that while cutting pcb and etching..my option is with the vacuum cleaner you still get some fiber glass dust on your clothes...it makes you itching

[filip_cro]

go to the nearest hospital and ask someone to give you a mask with filter on the front

LOL. If you can't find mask in stores nearby, you should kill yourself. I'm mean every shop wit tools have them and  they are around 1$ each.

[christos]

go to the nearest hospital and ask someone to give you a mask with filter on the front

LOL. If you can't find mask in stores nearby, you should kill yourself. I'm mean every shop wit tools have them and  they are around 1$ each.

i only found here where im living ,mask for spraying schemicals on fields and the cheapes one was 20 euros..i said that cuz theres a hospital near my house

[lapm]

I have cut PCB with cuts on both sides and bending it, i have cut them with hacksaw. Both these produce guite large particles when cutting fiberglass on PCB. Get any breathing mask from local hardware store if your worried. Should be fine without as long as you dont get visible dust in your nose/face/eyes. And wash your hands after your done doing cutting down the PCB, should remove anyd ust from your hands.

Haven't yet tried one of those gilioting type metal sheet cutters on PCB cutting.

[Anachron]

Awesome guys, thanks so much for all your helpful responses! I feel a lot more relieved now.
Next time, i'll for sure use a mask 

[Sigmoid]

Inhaling non-toxic particulate matter is not an acute, but a compounding, chronic risk.
Ie. unless you take a sniff of fine fiberglass dust right from the desk, you won't experience anything beside minor irritation. What IS a serious health risk, with potential for cancer and other problems, is regularly working or living in an environment with high particulate matter content in the air. That's why miners tend to have lung problems, and that's why in factories you see workers wearing dust masks...

[Sam__]

Inhaling non-toxic particulate matter is not an acute, but a compounding, chronic risk.
Ie. unless you take a sniff of fine fiberglass dust right from the desk, you won't experience anything beside minor irritation. What IS a serious health risk, with potential for cancer and other problems, is regularly working or living in an environment with high particulate matter content in the air. That's why miners tend to have lung problems, and that's why in factories you see workers wearing dust masks...

What this man said right there. You read my mind.

[G7PSK]

The immediate risk when working with fiberglass is abscess in the lungs from the glass particles the resin can accumulate if large quantities are regularly inhaled but minute quantities will be dealt with by the immune system, but it only takes one bit of the actual glass to perforate the lungs and sepsis can occur. When cutting glass fiber board the resin will bind the glass in most cases if you are doing a lot cutting under water might be an idea.     

[electronics man]

It depends how much you are cutting of and if you want to keep the waste but you can use a cheep pair of flush side cutters it can make a bit of a mess it works best whith strip board.

[cellularmitosis]

I've had decent luck using a large pair of hand shears to chop up copper clad boards.

[Anachron]

I've had decent luck using a large pair of hand shears to chop up copper clad boards.

Have you tried etching one of those pcbs? (ie do they get bent when chopped?)
If they stay relatively flat, that might be a very good solution.
Awesome Manhattan-style pcb by the way 

[cellularmitosis]

Unfortunately they do get slightly bent when getting chopped.  This weekend I'm going to try to find shears with an extra inch of blade and see if that helps.  Thanks for the kind words, manhattan style is so much fun!

[Anachron]

Unfortunately they do get slightly bent when getting chopped.  This weekend I'm going to try to find shears with an extra inch of blade and see if that helps.  Thanks for the kind words, manhattan style is so much fun!

Great, let us know how it goes!