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[pepito]

Hello from Minnesota!
I'm excited to join this forum.  Like some of you I'm sure, I've liked rocks since I was a kid.  Now I'm stating to get back into rockhounding and collecting rocks and will start learning some lapidary skills.  So if you have some good tips, let me know any time!  I'm not familiar with all the names or am good at identification, I'm just drawn to rocks.  Recently I got an 8" lap grinder and have a tile saw I will be using, along with my small stash of rocks.  Before starting to cut/polish them, I had questions on safety (my main concern) :
What kind of mask/respirator do I need when cutting/grinding rocks? 
Also any other safety things I should do?  I plan on working in my garage with the door open (there are no vents) and will use water while grinding.
Thank you!

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Welcome to the forum. Lots of good info here, and the search function works fairly well for specific queries.

Otherwise, a good place to find topics like you've mentioned is in the "Gadgets, Gizmos, and Dohickeys" toward the bottom of the home page. There's even one board in there devoted to safety topics.

Have fun looking around. If you're like most of us, you'll find things you didn't even know you needed to know.

[hummingbirdstones]

Welcome to the forum, pepito!  Here's a thread that will answer a lot of your questions:

http://lapidaryforum.net/group/index.php?topic=2776.msg29279#msg29279

[lithicbeads]

Few of us use the big mask as much as we should be realistically the 3m half mask with particle cartridges is the safest way to go and keep your dusty clothes out of the living space. have fun.

[Sapphireminer]

Hi pepito welcome from Australia hope you enjoy cutting and polishing your rocks.
Dave

[palmwood13]

Welcome from Utah. Enjoy the forum

[Kaljaia]

Welcome from central Oregon! I don't use a mask (I probably should...) but I only cut wet, either water or oil-cooled.