Ready to go at my 61 Westy Dryer..(sounds like cement mixer) and was wondering about the use of asbestos..anyone run into it when fixing dryers?
Thanks
Jerry
Thanks
Jerry
Asbestos in Classic Dryers?
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Did you actually find asbestos in the dryer?
I would tend to doubt it's there, at least not in any quantity. The air flow on most dryers is good enough to prevent any overheating and need for heat shielding. If the dryer does overheat it's most likely due to a clogged exhaust vent or thermostat malfunction.
When I find something I suspect is asbestos, I hold a piece (carefully, with tweezers) over a gas flame. If it burns it's organic. If it melts it's probably fiberglass. If it stays pretty much the same it could be asbestos. At that point only a microscopic analysis of fiber length can be sure.
I would tend to doubt it's there, at least not in any quantity. The air flow on most dryers is good enough to prevent any overheating and need for heat shielding. If the dryer does overheat it's most likely due to a clogged exhaust vent or thermostat malfunction.
When I find something I suspect is asbestos, I hold a piece (carefully, with tweezers) over a gas flame. If it burns it's organic. If it melts it's probably fiberglass. If it stays pretty much the same it could be asbestos. At that point only a microscopic analysis of fiber length can be sure.
everythingold
Well-known member
Abestos was widly used as an insulator, not only for heat, but also sound. Give the wide use of asbestos in floor tiles, house siding etc., i'd be surprised if there wasn't asbestos in some sound dampning system. But asbestos in these forms, like tile, are completly harmless.
toggleswitch2
Well-known member
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Asbestos is not radio-active for G-d's sake.
The shape of the fiber (1:2 ratio) is what helps it lodge in the lungs and cause issues.
Newsflash. There are many fibers with that size ratio.
No need to panic over short-terms and or limited exposure. Less to worry about if nor friable
en.wikipedia.org
The shape of the fiber (1:2 ratio) is what helps it lodge in the lungs and cause issues.
Newsflash. There are many fibers with that size ratio.
No need to panic over short-terms and or limited exposure. Less to worry about if nor friable
Friability - Wikipedia
christfr
Well-known member
hey,, have had 2 diff westy dryers apart a 49 an early 50s and a late 50s and yes all three of them had asbestos in them. the gasket from the heat tube to the drum is for sure. and since i have been working in a car service shop for 29 years back in the 70s and till the got rid of asbestos brake pads and shoes we were around the dust all the time. i know it was not a good thing. so like togg said there are many diff fibers in dryers back then that are of such a tiny size that they can cause lung issues so what i did was wear a nose mask as not to breath in any of the icky stuff and all the dust and wore gloves cause the westys also had fiberglass insulation and that sucks when it gets under the skin on your finger tips. so yea cover up and start a workin on that dryer. be sure and get the inner drum out and check for loose change and what evere else might be in there. i found all sorts of that stuff in this dryer here... good luck
Wouldn't necessarily recognize it, but
I believe I found 4 sheets of asbestos in my 1963 Pull-out GE dishwasher, stuck to the sides and back of the cabinet shell. These insulating sheets are a black material, fairly thin and had white "A"'s stamped all over them. #1 rule with asbestos is to leave it alone. I did.
I believe I found 4 sheets of asbestos in my 1963 Pull-out GE dishwasher, stuck to the sides and back of the cabinet shell. These insulating sheets are a black material, fairly thin and had white "A"'s stamped all over them. #1 rule with asbestos is to leave it alone. I did.
Hi Chris,
I've just completed my Workplace Health and Safety Officer training, and it would appear that there is no reduction in risk between the Asbestos Pads and the Ceramic fibre pads that replaced them. The fibre sizes are about the same and will lodge in the lungs almost as easy as asbestos.
As long as it is coated with something, and not loose, it is pretty safe. As long as you dont disturb it, you should be reasonabley safe.
I've just completed my Workplace Health and Safety Officer training, and it would appear that there is no reduction in risk between the Asbestos Pads and the Ceramic fibre pads that replaced them. The fibre sizes are about the same and will lodge in the lungs almost as easy as asbestos.
As long as it is coated with something, and not loose, it is pretty safe. As long as you dont disturb it, you should be reasonabley safe.
Yes, in the Westinghouse and...
Bendix also used asbestos gaskets in their heaters of the combo. Sometimes, not disturbing it is not an option. Elements go bad, air ducts must be cleaned and general service from time to time is required of any "classic" appliance. I haven't worried too much about the asbestos, I just use appropriate caution. I don't have a haz-mat suit or breathing apparatus, just wear gloves and a dust mask if you're concerned. You can also dampen the gaskets if they look unstable to prevent dust from becoming airborne.
Bendix also used asbestos gaskets in their heaters of the combo. Sometimes, not disturbing it is not an option. Elements go bad, air ducts must be cleaned and general service from time to time is required of any "classic" appliance. I haven't worried too much about the asbestos, I just use appropriate caution. I don't have a haz-mat suit or breathing apparatus, just wear gloves and a dust mask if you're concerned. You can also dampen the gaskets if they look unstable to prevent dust from becoming airborne.
pturo
New member
People should be more concerned with Radon, the number 2 cause of lung cancer.
Radon's also easy as heck to deal with - vent the house.
Interesting aside - the whole radon thing started after a worker at the Limerick nuclear plant in PA came in one day and on the way in tripped the scanner they use at such plants. Needless to say, an investigation was launched, and it turned out that there were high levels of radon in his house.
Radon itself's got a short 1/2 life, as do most of the decay products, though some aren't the best things to be inhaling (polonium, etc) It eventually becomes lead.
As for asbestos, I doubt much was used in large amounts in appliances, and frankly, fiberglass and other stuff is likely just as bad. IIRC, most asbestos acoustic tiles were so for fire resistance, which it's famous for.
Interesting aside - the whole radon thing started after a worker at the Limerick nuclear plant in PA came in one day and on the way in tripped the scanner they use at such plants. Needless to say, an investigation was launched, and it turned out that there were high levels of radon in his house.
Radon itself's got a short 1/2 life, as do most of the decay products, though some aren't the best things to be inhaling (polonium, etc) It eventually becomes lead.
As for asbestos, I doubt much was used in large amounts in appliances, and frankly, fiberglass and other stuff is likely just as bad. IIRC, most asbestos acoustic tiles were so for fire resistance, which it's famous for.
christfr
Well-known member
yea id have to agree the rotten old fiberglass is really nasty it gets all dusty and just falls apart when you touch it and is really tough on your fingers.. i wonder how mice seem to just love it. i mean they chew it and nest in it.. ick
Well,
I can't speak for all slantfront Westies, but the dryer (early 1950's, can't yet say for sure) we have coming up next on our list definitely has asbestos wrapped ducts.
My intention is to wrap them in one of those metalized acrylic adhesive tapes (used for heating ducts, mufflers, etc.) and leave the stuff alone. What on earth all this hysteria is about is totally beyond me.
I can think of very few substitutes for asbestos which are as effective, stable, efficient, cheap...and not, themselves, dangerous.
Wouldn't the black insulation in the GE dishwasher be bitumin?
I can't speak for all slantfront Westies, but the dryer (early 1950's, can't yet say for sure) we have coming up next on our list definitely has asbestos wrapped ducts.
My intention is to wrap them in one of those metalized acrylic adhesive tapes (used for heating ducts, mufflers, etc.) and leave the stuff alone. What on earth all this hysteria is about is totally beyond me.
I can think of very few substitutes for asbestos which are as effective, stable, efficient, cheap...and not, themselves, dangerous.
Wouldn't the black insulation in the GE dishwasher be bitumin?
Well, I'll have to recheck the infobase, but I was taught that the problem with Asbestos is that it produces fibers that are too short to be ejected from the lungs by cilia action but too long to be absorbed and disposed by cellular absorption. So they just stick around and irritate the tissues until they cause cancer. Yes, cancer can be caused just by irritation. That's why you should keep picking at it ;-).
I had been taught that this fiber length was unique to, and characteristic of, asbestos, and nothing else. News to me that other materials can assume the same dimensions, naturally.
With regard to brake shoes/pads. I was once taught that in service, these don't present as much of a hazard because the very high heat of braking tends to result in rounded ends to the fibers and they are not as hazardous as unheated fibers. What was dangerous about brake work was the practice of grinding a bevel on the edges of brake shoes; this released a lot of potentially dangerous fibers.
I agree, there are more serious health hazards in many homes, but asbestos is not something to be casual about.
I had been taught that this fiber length was unique to, and characteristic of, asbestos, and nothing else. News to me that other materials can assume the same dimensions, naturally.
With regard to brake shoes/pads. I was once taught that in service, these don't present as much of a hazard because the very high heat of braking tends to result in rounded ends to the fibers and they are not as hazardous as unheated fibers. What was dangerous about brake work was the practice of grinding a bevel on the edges of brake shoes; this released a lot of potentially dangerous fibers.
I agree, there are more serious health hazards in many homes, but asbestos is not something to be casual about.
To heck with it all!
I'll take my asbestos shielded behind many layers of lead-based paint! I think that's the 2 biggies out of the way.
Truth being that asbestos, while hazardous in a dust form, is a remarkable insulator and fire proofer. If it can be left alone, it's usually just fine. Of course, there's probably some nut out there who likes grinding asbestos with a belt sander and inhaling the dust... If you must disturb it, keep it wet so the dust is minimal and wear a mask! Respect asbestos!
Lead was used as a base in paint for many MANY years/decades/centuries because it was a very good base for paint. JUST DON'T EAT IT!!! LBP was outlawed in the US in 1978 and honestly, if you haven't painted since then you really ought to consider sprucing up your place a bit.
Maybe I'm wierd, but I love oil based paints. The clean up is not fun, but the paints tend to perform so well that it's worth the hassle. I hate putting things down on a surface that has been painted with latex based paint and having it stick, oil based paints don't do that! Sure, latex has its place(s) just not in my paint!
Smile, it's only toxic,
Dave
I'll take my asbestos shielded behind many layers of lead-based paint! I think that's the 2 biggies out of the way.
Truth being that asbestos, while hazardous in a dust form, is a remarkable insulator and fire proofer. If it can be left alone, it's usually just fine. Of course, there's probably some nut out there who likes grinding asbestos with a belt sander and inhaling the dust... If you must disturb it, keep it wet so the dust is minimal and wear a mask! Respect asbestos!
Lead was used as a base in paint for many MANY years/decades/centuries because it was a very good base for paint. JUST DON'T EAT IT!!! LBP was outlawed in the US in 1978 and honestly, if you haven't painted since then you really ought to consider sprucing up your place a bit.
Maybe I'm wierd, but I love oil based paints. The clean up is not fun, but the paints tend to perform so well that it's worth the hassle. I hate putting things down on a surface that has been painted with latex based paint and having it stick, oil based paints don't do that! Sure, latex has its place(s) just not in my paint!
Smile, it's only toxic,
Dave
Hi Suds,
According to my recent training, the ceramic fibres that have replaced asbestos in Brake pads and other things end up having pretty much the same fibre diameter and length, so they also get lodged in exactly the way you describe. So we replace one set of fibres with another that potentially have the same issue.
In Australia, Asbestos Cement producs were used in housing manufacture up until 1991 and they are now prediciting a whole swag of Baby Boomer renovators will come down with Mesothelioma in their twilight years 20-30 years from now.
According to my recent training, the ceramic fibres that have replaced asbestos in Brake pads and other things end up having pretty much the same fibre diameter and length, so they also get lodged in exactly the way you describe. So we replace one set of fibres with another that potentially have the same issue.
In Australia, Asbestos Cement producs were used in housing manufacture up until 1991 and they are now prediciting a whole swag of Baby Boomer renovators will come down with Mesothelioma in their twilight years 20-30 years from now.
everythingold
Well-known member
Dave, Have you used epoxy paints (real deal two part)? They kick leads's ass!
Matt
Matt
