Official Luthiers Forum!

In light of recent posts...

I started searching for Barrier Creams (cremes?)...

I thought I had found a good one. When I looked further at the MSDS sheet and the active ingredients.....#2 ingredient (behind water) was SILICONE. That might result in a great barrier cream, but it's also going to be a great barrier to ease of applying a finish to a guitar!

So what brands are people using successfully? or not? AND where can you most easily get it?

edit: as long as I'm asking...what should I expect to pay for it?

Hopefully the answers will help us all be a little safer as we inevitably use chemicals around the shop.

Thanks,
Joe

P.S. The one I was looking at was Barrier Cream 222. This is not a slam on the product. It may be a GREAT barrier cream...just not for what I need it to do (or not do) in this instance.

Yep that is an issue when dealing in woodworking and finishing. Most barrier creams contain an oil and or silicon.

So this brings up the premise that one must research not only the potential risk of a product but also the likelihood that the said potential risk would be immanent, when deciding on using the product and the appropriate precautions to take when using it. This is where having a copy of the MDS on hand for any product you have in your shop and reviewing them is imperative!!!!!!!!

As we discussed in a couple previous topics most chemical products pose a risk to a limited percentage of the population that is not endemic of the population as a whole.

If one reads the MDS of a given product, the appropriate precautions to take are given. Use these precautions and you should be fine. That said there is no fool proof way to determine if you will be susceptible to sensitivity reactions a head of time. I wish there was but there is not. And in this craft we have to use compounds that have proven to cause reactions to various percentages of the population. Those facts two are givens.

So you see it is a personal balancing act, to decide to use a product that despite all proper precautions may cause a problem or to employ added precautions that themselves can cause other problems.

Personally if the MDS sheet does not call for the use of a barrier cream, because of the likely issues the barrier cream will knowingly cause in the execution of the craft. I would lean towards not unduly using a barrier cream. Now if the MDS calls for it, then by all means use it, and always pay attention to your reaction to products. If you start having irritation of discoloration seek medical help quickly, no make that immediately.

Unfortunately we just do not know who those few that will have issues with a given product are

Barrier cream by itself isnt the best primary protection against chemical exposure....some of the chemicals will actually dissolve the cream. I always use barrier cream as a secondary protection with gloves as primary defence.

Here in AU I have found a product called ProtectA Guard by Septone, it sells for around $10.00 for 500ml or a bit under a pint and seems to be very good non oily product.

http://www.septone.com.au/detail.asp?item_cat=&item_number=70&page_num=1

These guys supply the auto refinish industry, therefore their product does not contain silicone or other residuals likely to cause problems with finish adhesion. As it states on their web site and the bottle " Protecta Guard is silicone free which is vital in the automotive refinish industry".

There must surely be an equivalent to this in the USA so I would search industrial hand cleaner manufacturing sites, you are sure to find something out there.

Cheers

Kim

Here is a USA protectant cream that is silicone free. It says it also protects from CA glue. they have good multi bottle prices, and free shipping in the US. I know nothing about the product, though, but it looks good.

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Waddy

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