PPE AND COSPLAY!

PPE AND COSPLAY

I am compiling a quick safety guide on a few products for all cosplayers and makers out there! In my experience the risks are not talked about enough in this hobby. Partly because the short video clips we can post on our socials really don't give us the time to show it. It may also be "common sense" for the ones who went to school or haven been doing this a while to not post that content. But for all the newbies and people growing and trying out new materials for the first time, it may not be so obvious! So if there's a product you see in a quick you tube video and you think "I need to try that!" Please do yourself a favor and Research it. look up the safety involved. I'm going to start off fairly basic for everyone here and just cover a few of my favorite products. In no way is this an in depth guide but it scratches the surface. I hope I can help and inspire people to do their due diligence on the products they are using.

I will provide my amazon affiliate links to my fav products if you so choose to purchase them, by using my link I will get a small commission off that purchase. (Every little bit helps and I thank you if you use my link!)

What is PPE?

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. Pieces of equipment you can wear for added safety to yourself and others. Here are some commonly used types for cosplay/crafting/makers.

Lets start with back to basics, types of PPE you should own for cosplay making.

Respirator:

A respirator is a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling hazardous atmospheres including fumes, vapors, gases and particulate matter such as dusts and even airborne pathogens such as viruses. Respirators come with many types of cartridges depending on the material you are working with. ALWAYS read the product labels on what filter cartridge may be needed.

I use a 3M branded one. you can get it here:

https://amzn.to/3SBi2e7

full face: https://amzn.to/3sdXpK8

Dust masks (basic surgical mask):

Dust masks offer light protection against fine dust and other dangerous particles.(ex. wood sanding) If the materials are truly toxic (ex resins), use a full-face mask like a respirator, which adheres tightly to the face, to protect the nose and mouth against the harmful contaminants.

surgical masks : https://amzn.to/3QCSMmi

Goggles:

Goggles, or safety glasses, are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes. They are used with handling any chemicals and in woodworking for protection. Use these ANY time something can fly up and get your eye. This includes possible sanding disks breaking, dust particulates from sanding any material, any splash back from paint or chemical spraying or splashing.

goggles: https://amzn.to/474qyWE

safety glasses: regular, good grip: https://amzn.to/47bLR98

fun ones I use with my industrial machine: https://amzn.to/477Ln3M

Gloves:

A glove is a garment covering the hand, with separate sheaths or openings for each finger including the thumb. Gloves protect and comfort hands against hot or cold, damage from friction, abrasion or chemicals, and disease; or in turn to provide a guard for what a bare hand should not touch. There are various chemicals that can eat through certain types of gloves like latex for example. Nitrile gloves may be needed instead depending on the chemicals. Do your research.

Nitrile pink fits ladies med: https://amzn.to/46PlwxI

Nitrile blue: -https://amzn.to/49be29Q

Vinyl gloves: - https://amzn.to/40eybHY

Hearing protection:

A hearing protection device, also known as a HPD, is an ear protection device worn in or over the ears while exposed to hazardous noise and provide hearing protection to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss. HPDs reduce the level of the noise entering the ear. If your using power tools to cut wood for example, protection should be worn.

Pink https://amzn.to/3tPBOIq

Black https://amzn.to/3QCSRq6

Now! Lets talk about commonly used chemicals we see for cosplay building and what you need to know.

ADHESIVES:

Contact Cement-

BARGE contact cement- yellow and red can.

The brand safety specs are here: http://www.bargeadhesive.com/uploads/6/4/8/2/6482595/barge_rubber_cement_tf_(da020,_da025)_quabaug_-_ghs_us_-_hcs_2012_v4.4english_(us).pdf

We see this being used in cosplay tutorials all the time among MANY other brands. I choose this brand because I love the results I get with it. The can I have mentioned here, contains toluene. Which is toxic. They also do make a blue can that is toluene free, but it is still not good for you.

You’ll need adequate ventilation, eye protection, rubber gloves and a respirator when working with it. and PLEASE KEEP PETS AWAY. They are more sensitive to things than humans are.

Blue sml tube: https://amzn.to/3s8pthZ

Blue can: https://amzn.to/3sdXDAY

Yellow and red can: https://amzn.to/3FCRgKv

Epoxy Resins:

Epoxy resin is usually derived from petroleum products, which are toxic to the environment. Epoxy is not bad for the environment if it is disposed of properly. However, if it is not disposed of properly then it can be hazardous if it gets into rivers or streams.

Epoxy resins are a class of thermosetting polymers made from monomers that contain at least two epoxide groups. They provide strong adhesion, chemical resistance and other specialized properties. Due to these qualities, epoxy resins are used in a variety of methods and products.

I like to use Gorilla Glue epoxy. Safety sheet is here - https://www.gorillatough.com/wp-content/uploads/Gorilla-Epoxy-Resin-3.pdf

Gorilla Epoxy adhesive is incredibly strong and durable for household and automotive repairs. I have used it on 3D prints ,Jewelry, worbla etc. The easy-to-use syringe keeps the epoxy resin and hardener separate, so it is easy to dispense. It dries clear, sets in about 5 mins, cures to handle in 30 mins and full cure in 24 hrs. this stuff is strong.

You want to wear gloves, eye protection, old clothing and have adequate ventilation when using epoxy's. Again... NO PETS NEAR YOU.

Gorilla glue brand epoxy: https://amzn.to/3SfhVEN

Casting Resin:

2 part casting resins. There are 2 brands here that I use with good results and there are MANY more brands I haven't used.

ArtResin off amazon: safety data sheets- https://www.artresin.com/pages/sds

Easy Cast from Michaels craft stores. safty data sheet- https://www.tapplastics.com/image/pdf/MSDS%20Easy%20Cast%20Hardener.pdf

Follow directions closely and its "non toxic" . Basically use gloves, well ventilated area. It can be a skin and eye irritant. These ones have low odor which is why I like them for indoor use but you still need ventilation. They both come out pretty clear, you mix the resin A with the hardener B in 1:1 ratios. So its simple to use. it cures well just follow the instructions for temperatures etc. and again REMOVE PETS FROM AREA UNTILL CURED.

Artresin: https://amzn.to/3MJ79mL

FOAM

Eva foam. Eva foam is a staple for most of us cosplayers

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer Safety Data sheet from TNT cosplay supplies- https://tntcosplaysupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/EVA-FOAM-SHEET-AND-EVA-FOAM-ROD-MSDS.pdf

In its normal form EVA is non toxic. But as cosplayers we like to heat it, sand it, cut it and make amazing props and armor. Do not inhale foam dust, wear a filtered mask or respirator to avoid particulates in lungs. Your gonna wanna wear goggles when sanding it and you can wear gloves for a possible skin irritant once it is a fine dust. When heating foam, have good ventilation for any off gassing that may occur.

I buy most of my foam from Redmoon cosplay supplies, Sculpture Supply Canada, or in a pinch this amazon link: https://amzn.to/3SeT5F1

3D PRINTERS

FDM printers:

Filament. Filament is all down to preference. I like PLA+ by E Sun. It can be printed indoors with low VOC's. Here's E SUN brands safety sheet for the PLA +.

https://www.esun3d.com/uploads/PLA%EF%BC%8B-MSDS.pdf

ABS and PETG are more toxic and should be printed in a well ventilated enclosure. All filaments have there pros and cons and application uses. PLEASE do your research about the ventilation required. There's many in-depth posts out there on the subject so do yourself a favor and look it all up. Generally PLA + is ok to print in the home, I wouldn't recommend sleeping beside a printer in operation constantly... No amount of melting plastic can be good to breath in. Pay attention to ventilation and otherwise maybe don't eat it.

Speaking of that...there are however filaments for food safety, so if your making cookie cutters or a lunch box, use those types of filaments instead.

E sun filament: https://amzn.to/3QD7ppm

or through digitmakers toronto

RESIN PRINTERS:

*ALL RESIN IS TOXIC*

Every resin printer needs a well ventilated area. Carbon filters help absorb some of the odors that they put out but defiantly don't sit beside your resin printer while it's working.( unless its in a vented enclosure) All resin requires use of gloves, a mask and eye protection. Especially more so when you are dealing with non water washable resin. You get into using IPA to rinse the prints and there's a much higher risk of splashing, spilling and resin in general touching you. It is a skin irritant and has harmful vapors.

sirayah tech resin ABS like fast: https://amzn.to/45ODM9e

Using PVC pipes in props:

PVC safety sheet of a plain pipe- https://ipexna.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/pvc-pipe-and-fittings-sds-2019.pdf

This link has a little more info regarding heating a pvc pipe.

https://www.charlottepipe.com/uploads/documents/technical/SDS_PVC_Pipe_Fittings.pdf

Avoid creating and breathing PVC dust. Wear a mask and eye protection when cutting it. Sweep or vacuum all dust ehen your done.

Polyvinyl chloride and Titanium dioxide when heated is NOT GOOD to breath in. Gases and fumes evolved during thermal processing or decomposition can cause eye, skin and lung irritation.

If you need to heat bend PVC piping for props or what not do this OUTSIDE, wear a respirator sealed gasses/goggles and wear heat protective gloves to prevent burning yourself. do NOT do this INSIDE YOUR HOUSE. Also KEEP PETS AWAY. I cannot stress the dangers of this enough and there's some pretty popular videos using this technique for cosplay. Most of them are creating inside of there craft areas and not wearing or talking about PPE while they do it. Always. Do. The . Research.

PAINTS

Aerosol or airbrush

Wear a respirator and gloves. Depending on the type of paint and the hazards it may have in the product information, you may need full PPE or minimal. Laquers especially need adiquate ventillation, gloves and respirator.

For all other paint, just read the label.

For example: Oil paint needs ventilation because of the fumes, and solvents used to clean the brushes, while acrylic over time can give your skin some sensitivities with repeated exposure. There's a pro and con with every type of paint and most directions are on the tube or pamphlet that comes with it.

When in doubt research the safety data sheets on the product you are using! It's just a quick google search away!

I hope this was a helpful and eye opening guide for some of you! Wishing you all safe crafting!