[alfa] California regulations

[alfacybersite <acs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Biba said: "I'm sort of laying low since the Sheriff's helicopter flew 
over while I was primering late last evening. Then later a small plane 
flew directly over my, unh, err, exterior spray booth, at a pretty low 
altitude. Big Brother or merely paranoia? Only time will tell."

Jay Mackro replied: "Biba - I hope you made out OK. While I would not 
condone production painting outdoors, I suspect that the amount of VOC 
you are putting into the pristine air there in Irwindale is minor 
compared with what the the local 'burger joints are spewing out."

*******

Actually today is most likely the "Dreaded Day of Reckoning". Since it 
was the Sheriff's helicopter wasn't sure who would come knocking on my 
door if I was /  am under surveillance and will be cited - Sheriff's, 
AQMD, Bureau of Automotive Repair, or most likely the Code Enforcement 
guy from my beloved city of Irwindale. Since the City folks only work 
Monday through Thursday, today will be their first opportunity to stop 
by for a chat. Oh yeah, the Sheriff's helicopter circled several times 
both this past Saturday and Sunday while I was filling and sanding.

I do want to point out I don't paint outside - okay maybe the loose 
parts, but paint inside with the door closed with a largish filtered 
exhaust fan in a plywood shroud which fits below the overhead door and 
picks up virtually all of the "particulate". Not an official paint booth 
by any means but does cut down on a lot of the "bad stuff" from going 
into the atmosphere. The epoxy paint I use outdoors is a bit iffy 
environmentally, but dries in about 20 minutes so obviously the 
"particulates" don't go very far. The high build primer dries in seconds.

Generally I paint about one car a year. This year is a bit unusual to be 
doing two within a few months of each other. Also makes me more of a target.

Solvents: I don't have time to dick around with stuff which "sort of" 
degreases parts and the car itself. I clean parts with either Home 
Depot's Paint Thinner or most likely, lacquer thinner. I use Castrol's 
Super Clean which I buy by the gallon from Kragen's or Pep Boys.

You joked about recycling old cars. While I have no doubt restoring an 
old car is more environmentally damaging than say GM turning out one 
Chevy, I wonder if there is all that much difference. While the old car 
has to be degreased and any new parts have to be made somewhere, I'm 
sure there is considerably more electricity used (which might easily be 
coming from a coal fired generator) throughout the manufacturing process 
and think of the number of workers driving to GM's plant, etc, etc.

That said, I'm not sure if there is any automotive manufacturing (except 
for parts) currently going on in CA (not in Our neighborhood).

Biba
Irwindale (at least for the moment), CA USA
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