help ! metal dust problem

[hobbyguy]

Hi , this is my first post and I really need some help. I drilled some holes in some mason jar lids (first time ever drilling anything) in my house on my bare carpet. I have vacuumed the carpet twice since then but the other day I noticed some very fine metallic dust particles on my stove which has me worried especially about us breathing this in . I don't even know what type of metal it was it's the jar lids that look gold anybody know what metal this is ? What can I do about this and is it a danger ? Thanks

 

[Tin Falcon]

If you are worried about a little metal dust you are selecting the wrong hobby and hanging out on the wrong forum.
that said gold colored chip prom a mason jar lid I would guess to be brass.
A few chips from drilling are nothing to worry about.
You are not asking a foolish question . some metal dust can be harmful when grinding or sanding hard metals like High speed steel carbide or tungsten it is advisable to wear a particulate mask. Berilium copper used in spark fee tools is pretty hazardous. I would not even think about sanding it or grinding it in my house or shop. Only outside with disposable clothing and proper respiratory protection. Half face respirator minimum.
Magnesium dust and titanium dust can catch fire.

Please post an introduction in the welcome area tell us a bit about yourself and your interest in model engines.

Tin

 

[hobbyguy]

Thank you for replying. I do not think the metal was brass because it rusts and fairly quickly, I heard brass does not rust . Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[///]

Magnesium dust and titanium dust can catch fire.

Many metal dusts can catch fire, including Aluminium and iron, when fine enough and suspended in air it is a potential explosive.
It is taken very seriously in industry, so much so that electrical and mechanical equipment must be certified for use in explosive atmosphere's (ATEX and IECEx)
Good ventilation is a must, working outdoors is preferable.

 

[aarggh]

The gold on the lids might just be the coating that jars have to seal the lid from contaminating the contents. Still, machining metals around carpet can be a bad idea, once bits of swarf get around, they are almost impossible to get out.

cheers, Ian

 

[Hopper]

I drilled some holes in some mason jar lids (first time ever drilling anything) in my house on my bare carpet. I have vacuumed the carpet twice since then but the other day I noticed some very fine metallic dust particles

Blimey, you're game. What did 'er indoors have to say about all that?

Carpet and swarf are a terrible combination. I think that is where the boffins got the idea for Velcro from. A magnet might help with steel swarf, which is what tin lids are mostly made of. It won't do you any harm as far as breathing it in etc. Drill swarf is not fine enough to get into the lungs.

 

[Longboy]

Hi , this is my first post and I really need some help. I drilled some holes in some mason jar lids (first time ever drilling anything) in my house on my bare carpet. I don't even know what type of metal it was it's the jar lids that look gold anybody know what metal this is ? What can I do about this and is it a danger ? Thanks

......Well most people take a Mason jar and just unscrew the steel lid off the top instead of drilling. The correct proceedure as described in the "owners manual" is to hold the jar in your right/ left hand up against your belly and with your rt/lft hand get a firm grip on the lid with a minimum of 4 fingers and a thumb and twist in a counter clockwise dirrection........on a side note modern science has discovered that metal particles are heavier than air and ordinarily not a concern breathing in.....however the National Weather Service still recomends taking cover durring those anvil storms that pop up in late spring......

 

[///]

I think that is where the boffins got the idea for Velcro from.

Ofcourse we all know Velcro is really alien technology and was discovered in the remnants of the Roswell UFO crash. Rof}
Some people actually believe this, the world is a scary place