Birchwood Aluminum Black, safety.

[chronomariner]

Aluminum black is often used to weather props that are made of aluminum.

I have been doing some reading of the safety documentation and I have been trying to find some information that I can’t get an answer to.

So it does say that in a state it has been found to cause cancer and birth defects, it is also bad for the skin, but I would guess that it is in it’s liquid form. Like if you swallow it or spill some in your eye or on your skin.

But what about after it has dried on the object, is it safe then?
I mean, it is used on guns too.

For example lightsabers, people use them a lot for tricks and spinning, and you would squeeze and spin it around in your palms causing some friction plus natural hand sweat/fat. So I would assume over time that some of the dried aluminum black would wear off on your hands.

Has anyone done some digging into the safety?

 

[ZeroSum]

When you say "in a state", do you mean the State of California? If so, ignore that.

 

[joberg]

Contact Birchwood Casey as to safety of a solid product.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

I’ll defer to the members who dip their metal pieces into aluminum blackener with their bare hands as to whether they’ve been transformed into horrible mutants.

As with any chemical agent used to weather metals, I always use gloves when I deal with aluminum blackener.

After cleaning the object, it should be safe to handle.

 

[Leinads]

Manufacturers provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) although getting this is often like pulling teeth. You can also search chemicals in the following registry:

OSHA Standards and Exposure Limits​

Occupational Chemical Database | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

www.osha.gov