UPSB v3

Pen Modifications / Toxic Fumes?

  1. RoastBeef
    Date: Mon, Jun 15 2009 22:16:57

    I was cutting a few rsvp barrels when i noticed that after my 2nd barrel, my room smelled REALLY REALLY bad, then i snifffed the cut part of the barrel and knew it was coming from there.
    So do u get smelly smells when u cut ur pens??? and is it bad???

  2. Xantu
    Date: Mon, Jun 15 2009 22:20:09

    Lol this is really weird... What do you use to cut your barrels with, a dremel?

    I don't think plastic is toxic at all...

  3. iamk34n3
    Date: Mon, Jun 15 2009 22:22:33

    Those are the chemicals that are used to make the pen itself. You are probably heating some sort of knife and then using it to cut the barrel. Don't inhale the fumes. They are bad for you.

  4. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 00:12:08

    i use dollar-store scissors =]
    but i dont think it matters what i use.

  5. Loanshark
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 00:14:51

    its probably the plastic particles in the air from cutting the rsvp body dunno.gif

  6. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 00:22:03

    oh noes, is it bad???

  7. k-ryder
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 02:04:18

    yeah, i had that once
    it starts smelling really bad after a while
    i used the saw blade on my swiss army (yes, i have a whole swiss army)

    i think i only had the experience with rsvp barrels
    or else the other barrels that i've cut dont do that as much (hgg, g2, profile)

  8. buhryan
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 02:08:29

    QUOTE (k-ryder @ Jun 15 2009, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    yeah, i had that once
    it starts smelling really bad after a while
    i used the saw blade on my swiss army (yes, i have a whole swiss army)

    i think i only had the experience with rsvp barrels
    or else the other barrels that i've cut dont do that as much (hgg, g2, profile)

    ya me too. especially wen u shave them. RSVPs must have some bad plastic or something

  9. Shimo
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 02:19:57

    never happened to me... are you using a heated object to cut teh barrels? ohmy.gif

  10. k-ryder
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 02:23:41

    i think its just the friction causing the heat
    and with a saw, its not a smoothe cut either
    it just hacks out small chunks of it out
    that might increase the toxic-fume-giving-offy effect

  11. xLAMx
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 06:16:25

    / knows that if u burn plastic, toxic comes out.

  12. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 15:16:17

    no, my scissors are not heated.

    is there a utensil im suppose to use that wont cause the fumes???

  13. iMatt
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 15:33:09

    Any hard barrel contains toxic items in raw form, but it's simply in a malleable form, which is how you got the plastic in the first place.

    When you add friction or heat to this hardened form the particles will begin releasing.

    The heat is what is what acts as a catalyst to the smell.

    Example: When eggs go bad and tossed away on a hot-day, the smell will seems as if it's absolutely putrid.

    Handy Tips ->
    If you want to rid the smell, dunk the barrel into cold-water after making the cuts or filing

  14. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 15:44:47

    after? but the instant my scissors touches the barrel, it smells like chewbacca without showering for a year

  15. Toshihiko
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 15:50:03

    well,i think u should Hold Your breath and on the fan at full speed to ensure your safety:)

  16. iMatt
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 15:52:05

    QUOTE (RoastBeef @ Jun 16 2009, 10:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    after? but the instant my scissors touches the barrel, it smells like chewbacca without showering for a year


    Then don't use scissors. They make really bad cuts anyways.

    Just go grab a hacksaw, cut your barrel, file it smooth and then dip it in cold water. Problem solved.

  17. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 15:52:29

    might work, but then the whole house will stink?

  18. NoobishPenspinner
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 16:37:58

    QUOTE (RoastBeef @ Jun 16 2009, 08:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    might work, but then the whole house will stink?

    I don't think so. I had your problem awhile back (when I didn't have a hacksaw and used a razor for cutting)
    It stunk for a couple hours, but it went away then next day.

    I don't know why it has the smell though.

  19. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 16:53:49

    i dont have a hacksaw, the best i probably have is a x-acto knfie

  20. Glamouraz
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 17:30:50

    Never had the whole house stink before. At most it was only my room for about 30-60seconds before it diffused away.

    Mine usually comes from a heated blade. The strongest fumes come from G3s and Bic round stic grips. The part where you cut for the ZT mod.

    Never cut an RSVP barrel before i so i don't know. G2s are clean. Sometimes they stink though.

    And dont breathe them. in. Hold your breath for awhile or face your head away.

  21. microman_32245
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 17:37:45

    the only time i have gotten that smell is from cutting rsvp barrels. when i go to cut the part of it the grip is on, i use needle nose plyers and it creates a lot of friction with causes it to smell

  22. RoastBeef
    Date: Tue, Jun 16 2009 18:34:10

    QUOTE (microman_32245 @ Jun 16 2009, 09:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    the only time i have gotten that smell is from cutting rsvp barrels. when i go to cut the part of it the grip is on, i use needle nose plyers and it creates a lot of friction with causes it to smell

    same here, but when i cut bic sticks, i cant smell anything

  23. timoke6
    Date: Mon, Nov 9 2009 22:21:57

    you're cutting the barrel with a heated object, there can be dangerous fumes.
    I had that too , and it smelled really really bad

  24. Raine
    Date: Sun, Nov 15 2009 02:23:56

    Yeah, the plastic dust from RSVP barrels smell terrible.
    So do the fumes.

  25. RoastBeef
    Date: Sun, Nov 15 2009 03:46:14

    QUOTE (timoke6 @ Nov 9 2009, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    you're cutting the barrel with a heated object, there can be dangerous fumes.
    I had that too , and it smelled really really bad

    the object wasnt heated, in fact it was a pretty cold morning
    i recently cut a g2 and there were no fumes, so it was just the rsvp =[

  26. zuolin
    Date: Sun, Nov 15 2009 05:29:59

    close the room door when you're cutting
    when there's a smell open the window
    and get the hell out of your room and close the door
    wait for 30 minutes
    go in and hopefully your room is back to normal xd.gif

  27. Raine
    Date: Tue, Nov 17 2009 22:00:44

    QUOTE (zuolin @ Nov 15 2009, 12:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    close the room door when you're cutting
    when there's a smell open the window
    and get the hell out of your room and close the door
    wait for 30 minutes
    go in and hopefully your room is back to normal xd.gif

    Someone ban him again.

  28. spinneraddiction
    Date: Tue, Nov 17 2009 22:34:52

    this happened to me once
    when i started to smell the smelly smell i felt the barrel and it was HOTT, really hot
    so maybe it has to do with the plastic starting to melt?

  29. Penwish
    Date: Tue, Nov 17 2009 22:41:50

    that's exactly what it is. Plastic itself is not toxic. the raw materials are though. Best not to breathe it in try to hold your breathe when you drill/dremel. I do the hardcore cutting and grinding in the garage with a fan on

  30. Nation
    Date: Tue, Nov 17 2009 23:23:35

    QUOTE (RoastBeef @ Jun 16 2009, 10:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    after? but the instant my scissors touches the barrel, it smells like chewbacca without showering for a year

    rotfl.gif

    I've never had this problem, and I cut and file RSVP's all the time..
    hmm scratchchin.gif

  31. EssenceOfLife
    Date: Wed, Nov 18 2009 02:07:49

    Just a keep the air circulation in your room open.
    YOU can probably look up something online that you can set up that will keep fresh air going through your room from your window with a few fans.
    If it smells bad it's probably bad for you ;]. Plus its plastic. A little bit wont hurt but I wouldn't suggest sniffing it like you did > _ >.

  32. Oldschool Nate
    Date: Fri, Dec 4 2009 07:30:45

    You're getting fumes because you're cutting the plastic too quickly. Patience is key when working with softer materials. Slow down the drill or dremmel, and work slower. You run fewer risks of warping the plastic when you work slowly, and you won't burn the plastic if you work slowly.
    Plastic shavings might make you sneeze, but they're non-toxic. The fumes however, are hazardous to your health. Work near a fan and some fresh air. Or at the very least in a large open room.

    I've been cutting up pens and plastic stuff since before the UPSB existed. A few of the old timers might remember me. So trust me. Slow it down. Your pens will come out better for it, and so will you.

  33. NinjaPenguin
    Date: Sat, Dec 12 2009 22:58:33

    QUOTE (RoastBeef @ Jun 15 2009, 04:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
    I was cutting a few rsvp barrels when i noticed that after my 2nd barrel, my room smelled REALLY REALLY bad, then i snifffed the cut part of the barrel and knew it was coming from there.
    So do u get smelly smells when u cut ur pens??? and is it bad???


    If you cut too quickly, it could start smoking and thats where the smell would come from, and yes, plastic burning has toxic fumes.

  34. Ricercar
    Date: Tue, Dec 22 2009 13:48:14

    QUOTE
    You're getting fumes because you're cutting the plastic too quickly.

    Correct. Slow down a bit, and just relax. The fumes ARE toxic, as the raw materials are being released out of the pen.

    QUOTE
    Just a keep the air circulation in your room open.

    This too. What my brother does is go out in the garage with the garage door open, and sit on the workbench with a fan next to him on full blast. I do the same thing when I spray paint anything.

    I didn't find any information on what EXACTLY you're breathing in, but it is toxic.