I need to repair the air conditioner condenser casing. Just struck me that it might contain asbestos? I am thinking about sending in a broken off piece for testing. This is for a 1970 Buick.
So does the floor insulation...under dash insulation...etc.....not like your gonna be grinding it for 20yrs everyday....but I also paint....grind..sand...weld...torch etc etc...with absolutely zero protection ha
Any source on that the casing actually contains asbestos ? Seems there is some legal action against Harrison for asbestos in their plant equipment, but have found no information on asbestos in their final products yet. https://lipsitzponterio.com/asbestos-job-site/harrison-radiator/
if you’re that worried, get it wet asbestos is only damaging if it’s airborne if it’s wet, it can’t be airborne
Be careful...I studied toxicology in grad school and it takes many years for cancer to develop and small amounts over long time worse than a few larger exposures. Surprised I'm still around...have had both....but I never smoked cigarettes at least.....
The problem is I already ground it... Then this thought struck me after a while. A bit naive. At least I was outdoors. So I figure if I get some secure info about this I at least know what to do with the dusty clothes etc already tomorrow. And how to continue with the repair.
takes a bit of of asbestos exposure to make a impact wash your stuff no impact some type of asbestos some more fryable than others and percentage in product makes a difference the stuff in our cars so minor worked in construction for decades before got any training and years of exposer before i knew and was trained and still not concerned shipyard and fire proofing guys were the worse affected and then took years , casual contact not to worry about
Back in 1987, my wife's sister bought some commercial property in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. It turned out the curling Quonset but had asbestos insulation just on the surface, Supposedly a particularly bad type. The local companies wouldn't touch the stuff, so, family to the rescue. They rented the equipment to Jill and gave us lessons on removal, air locks, ... the whole spiel. We removed it and arranged with the dump for immediate burial on arrival. Once, I found a small bit in my respirator. Not a good feeling. Asbestos is much safer wet. That is how we drilled the floors in TELUS Central Offices. Those old floor tiles.... yup... Asbestos.
It is scary stuff! I sent samples to a lab now to know for sure how to better proceed. Apart from the health aspect I am also just very curious on what they will find.
Speaking of asbestos - The EPA finally outlawed all and any variation - yesterday! Yup - chrysotile asbestos was still being used in some industries. Comes from Russia. I thought it all was outlawed years ago. I remember in 1974 going into a lagging shop in the shipyard and turned right around and left. You could not see across the room from all the asbestos dust in the air. Sad. https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/18/heal...-of-asbestos-used-in-united-states/index.html
I thought they were fiberglass, like the air cleaner snorkels? You don't want to inhale that either, just sayin.
I hope it is! It is just that asbestos was added to so many things back then for a variety of reasons. Even to Bondo Hoping to get the lab results soon.
Got the lab results and they found no asbestos I sent separate samples from The AC housing The adapter between the AC housing and blower Some fiberglass looking filler a previous owner used on the housing A hemp appearing (jute?) insulation on the inside of the firewall And nothing found, awsoooooome This was then for a Buick Electra 225 Custom Convertible 1970. I would still recommend doing a test if you are in the same situation as me, even with the same vehicle, because they might have varied the material formulas for the same year model. AC casing specifically are warned for by many, see e.g: https://www.chemcare.co.nz/articles/asbestos-in-the-automotive-industry Doing a test was not very expensive and it went fairly smooth. Testing was done by https://evema.se/. I spoke personally over phone to the person doing the analysis forehand. They seem to be a serious business that has been around for some time. They signed off on it and I got a proper protocol.
Not sure what lab you used. I am a licensed Asbestos inspector with 33 years of experience and I can tell you the ac boxes on the inside of the car and on the firewall are all asbestos. Specifically Chrysotile Asbestos. I sampled them a few years back. Those white fibers you see are it. I think there were fiberglass in it too. I would not worry much about it as the asbestos fibers are trapped in resin. I would not suggest sanding those parts however. There is an article and maybe a video on line about GM workers at the Harrison plant in New York being exposed during manufacturing.
I should correct myself and say they are asbestos containing materials. No product is pure asbestos. I’m really surprised at the company that did it for you.
I suppose they might have varied the composition in these boxes over time. What year model did you test? I saw that video. I have found at least two firms suing Harrison. Neither or these firms websites mention asbestos in the Harrison products, just in the Harrison facilities though.
Mine was 70 or 71 vintage. Same as yours. Just don’t sand or grind yours. Cover with a nice coat of satin clear and no worries.
I got my boxes done and put back a while ago. I think I can trust the lab results, and that Harrison must have varied the material composition over time. I called the lab after I got the results to ask follow up questions. I got in touch with the owner and founder wh0 also signed off on the protocol (I think she did the analysis as well). She said they crushed the samples first. The method they use is SS-ISO 22262-1:2012. That seems to entail using a stereo and PLM microscope. They have been in business since the 80's and they gave a serious impression to me. Their website is here: https://evema.se/asbestanalys/#5
