Asphalt Shingle Cutter

I found this old asphalt shingle cutter in my neighbor's scrap heap. It's really cool and is probably at least 50, maybe as old as 70, years old. It's in surprisingly good condition and all the parts seem to be there. It even has some of the original light green paint visible on some of the underside areas.

My concern is this. I've heard there's really no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Is that something I'd have to worry about with a tool like this that's been sitting outside likely for several decades? Is there a safe way to clean it...like taking it to a car wash and spraying it while wearing a mask, etc...? My neighbor has said I can have anything I want in the scrap heap. There's some cool shit but nothing worth dying over.

Suggestions? I'd like to bring this home and display it in my shop.

https://i.imgur.com/XjiHQw9.jpg

Just hosing it off would likely work just fine, if there's any asbestos left on it from being outside that long. It doesn't stick around like plutonium

the danger with asbestos is when you inhale asbestos dust.

Having set out side for many years and hose it off, if in doubt, paint it with lead based paint ;)

(j/k about the lead based paint, using a good coat of paint will seal it for any stray particles that may have survived the years of exposure and the hosing off)

Personally I would just look for any dust residue and call it good if there isn't any, FWIW I did Asbestos tear out in another life.....

Kinda what I figured but I knew there would be someone far more knowledgeable about this sort of thing.

I may go ahead and pick it outta the scrap heap. Thanks.

My concern would be zero. Take it!

The American Pickers will be chasing you soon!

[Coffee]

Zero concerns about the asbestos.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

My concern is this. I've heard there's really no safe level of exposure to asbestos.

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Well don?t tell OSHA.

?The Occupational Safety and Health Commission (OSHA) has set a permissible asbestos exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter (f/cc) for work in all industries?

Cool find! I wouldn't be concerned either, looks like it has been out there for a while.

Take it.

Asbestos is still used in a wide variety of products from brake pads to asphalt. Houses next to stop signs will meter higher than the rest of the houses on the street. I don't remember if they meter higher than "safe" levels, but regardless, no one is doing anything about it. Asbestos is dangerous when it becomes fryable, which essentially means broken into small enough pieces to be inhaled into your lungs. Asbestos is terrible for your lungs because it is basically a stone, and once it gets into your lungs, it's not going anywhere. I say all this to give context rather than a hearty "don't worry 'bout it."

That said, whatever fryable asbestos contaminated that cutter probably blew away long before any of that rust set in.

I could be wrong, Irving, but I believe asbestos hasn?t been used in brake pads since around 1985.

If I could get asbestos brake pads for my vehicles, I would. They run cooler, stop very well, and generally don?t destroy rotors the way all of this ceramic and metallic stuff does.

Back before I was banned from a popular running website, someone asked if it was okay to run barefoot on the street because they knew asphalt contained asbestos but they weren't sure if it would be absorbed through their feet.

Like many things, people are vaguely aware of dangers related to asbestos, but not a great general understanding of why. I feel like that's mostly because of the class action lawsuit commercials. Fun fact about those commercials and their timing. Large settlements can be required to be paid out at fixed intervals. You see those commercials just before another batch of settlements is about to be released (same for pharmaceutical lawsuits), so the lawyers run the ads to get as many people signed up as possible before the scheduled settlement drops.

It's possible that they don't, but asbestos is still around like 30 round magazines are still around.

Yeah. I work in a lot of industrial facilities that were built in the 60?s and 70?s. Transite siding and floor tiles are pretty common. Gaskets and insulation made of asbestos are plentiful. I actually have a file with some documentation about an incident where I ?may have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace? so that years from now when I?m dying of mesothelioma my loved ones can try and sue.

Yes- People treat it like it is some sort of super radioactive compound.

Finding a big old weathered chunk on the the brake of an old mining hoist in mountains, grinding it in your hands, and deep breathing the dust- not a good idea.

Walking across a floor with asphalt bonded asbestos tile- not very concerning.

Not airborne, not scary...

Don't tell anyone, but I removed the asbestos tile from my house by myself and threw it directly into the trash. I could have paid a company $10,000 to do the exact same thing but double bag it before they threw it into the trash, but I opted not to. Nebraska has no laws about asbestos. Neither does Montana, which is where the big asbestos plant was that kicked everything off in the first place.

Bailey, watch a couple Mymechanics retiraron videos on YouTube and restore that sucker!

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Originally Posted by Irving

Don't tell anyone, but I removed the asbestos tile from my house by myself and threw it directly into the trash. I could have paid a company $10,000 to do the exact same thing but double bag it before they threw it into the trash, but I opted not to.

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Same here.

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Originally Posted by thedave1164

the danger with asbestos is when you inhale asbestos dust.

Having set out side for many years and hose it off, if in doubt, paint it with lead based paint ;)

(j/k about the lead based paint, using a good coat of paint will seal it for any stray particles that may have survived the years of exposure and the hosing off)

Personally I would just look for any dust residue and call it good if there isn't any, FWIW I did Asbestos tear out in another life.....

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While there's humor in what you posted. In reality that item was painted with lead paint.
While there's some concern (if you're a Green new deal type) The amount of any harmful materials in something that has sat out in various weather conditions, is minimal. Unless you decide to either try eating the paint chips, or put an appendage in between the cutters. Take and display it with pride.

I have been involved in the asbestos removal industry in one form or another for over 25 years.

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Originally Posted by ray1970

Well don?t tell OSHA.

?The Occupational Safety and Health Commission (OSHA) has set a permissible asbestos exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter (f/cc) for work in all industries?

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That is the legal permissible exposure limit, not a safe level. OSHA even states that.

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Originally Posted by ray1970

I could be wrong, Irving, but I believe asbestos hasn?t been used in brake pads since around 1985.

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They are not prevalent but you can still buy asbestos brake pads, even some new import cars have them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

Back before I was banned from a popular running website, someone asked if it was okay to run barefoot on the street because they knew asphalt contained asbestos but they weren't sure if it would be absorbed through their feet.

Like many things, people are vaguely aware of dangers related to asbestos, but not a great general understanding of why. I feel like that's mostly because of the class action lawsuit commercials. Fun fact about those commercials and their timing. Large settlements can be required to be paid out at fixed intervals. You see those commercials just before another batch of settlements is about to be released (same for pharmaceutical lawsuits), so the lawyers run the ads to get as many people signed up as possible before the scheduled settlement drops.

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Asbestos fibers can inter through the skin. They can also cause "asbestos warts."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

Don't tell anyone, but I removed the asbestos tile from my house by myself and threw it directly into the trash. I could have paid a company $10,000 to do the exact same thing but double bag it before they threw it into the trash, but I opted not to. Nebraska has no laws about asbestos. Neither does Montana, which is where the big asbestos plant was that kicked everything off in the first place.

Bailey, watch a couple Mymechanics retiraron videos on YouTube and restore that sucker!

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Removal from you home home is perfectly legal but you are supposed to dispose of properly. Montana and Nebraska may not have state laws but federal laws still apply. It wasn't an asbestos plant, it was a vermiculite mine and processing plant in Libby Montana. That didn't kick it off but it was a huge issue that changed a lot of regulations.

Yeah, exactly what I said!

There are real issues concerning asbestos. Now Radon seems like a complete fabrication, but I know a lot less about that.

Radon. A buddy was selling his house and after the inspection he had to have a $4K system installed to mitigate the high levels in the basement.

Radionuclides must also a thing. A fountain I used to drink out of is now out of service because of high levels.

When I have to make a hard stop on I25 during rush hour I like to roll down my window and take a deep breath or two.