Materials

Know your materials

Know your materials and what they involve before you use them. Are they water soluble or oil-based? What aggregate or thinning substances will you need? Will you be using any dangerous chemicals? How do you plan on disposing of your waste?

Please see below for a list of common materials that you can & can’t use If you want to use something not on this list, you must provide a MSDS and get it approved by the Makerspaces staff before using the material.

CAN USE	CAN’T USE
Cement / Concrete Plaster & Gypsums Liquid latex Wax Natural pulp or fibre (such as paper) Paints, solvents & timber finishes Additives (such as pigments, aggregate & thinners	Hydrochloric Acid Sulfuric Acid Nitric Acid Acetic Acid Ammonium Hydroxide Potassium Hydroxide Hydrofluoric Acid Sodium Hydroxide (lye) Aerosol sprays (can be used in spray booth)

Silica and associated risks

Silica is one of the most common naturally occurring elements on the planet. Silica, the mineral compound silicon dioxide (SiO2), is found in two forms – crystalline or noncrystalline (also referred to as amorphous). Sand and quartz are common examples of crystalline silica.

When these materials are worked on, silica is released as a fine dust known as respirable crystalline silica or silica dust. Exposure to excessive levels of silica dust can cause severe respiratory issues and even death.

Please be cautious when using materials containing silica and make sure a P2 respiratory mask is worn by everyone in the space.

Materials Containing Silica
Asphalt
Brick
Cement
Clay
Concrete
Fiber Cement products
Grout
Gunite/Shotcrete
Mortar
Paints containing silica
Plaster
Some Plastics
Refractory Mortar/Castables
Rock
Sand
Soil

Material Properties

MATERIAL	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
Cement	Excellent binding material Easily workable Good resistance to moisture once cured	Heavy
Plaster	Cures extremely quickly Easily workable Cost efficient Resistant to water Minimal shrinkage with thermal and moisture changes	FIne particles can cause mess Extremely liquidy before curing, so mould must be water-tight
Acrylic Paint	Water proof Dries quickly	Some contain additional toxins
Oil-based Paint	Durable Smooth finish More resistant to scratches and damage than other paints	Dries slowly Difficult to clean up after painting Needs a solvent for thinning during use
Glues	Quick adhesive method Many different material options to use on	Can have highly toxic fumes
Sand	Inexpensive Easy to obtain	Heavy Once wet, can take a long time to dry

Materials and Associated PPE

MATERIAL	PPE REQUIRED	REASON
Cement & plaster	Respirator Gloves	Cement & plaster dust can cause harm to lungs Contact with skin can cause irritation & dryness
Latex, oil paints, solvents & some finishes.	Respirator	Fumes can cause headaches, dizziness & nausea
Sand	Respirator

Sourcing Materials

It is important to acquire materials from a reliable source, where ingredient lists or Material Safety Data Sheets are available for the material.

Some reliable stores in Melbourne are:

Bunnings Warehouse: Extensive general construction materials and equipment

Barnes: Moulding, casting and sculpture

Mitre 10: Extensive hardware and construction supplies

Demak: Outdoor timber and hardware

Bowens: Timber, hardware and building materials

Storage

Storage in the Wetworks is limited. The shelves located inside the wet room are for short-term storage of projects only. Please label all of your work and materials using our project cards located at the Guru desk.

The Wetworks undergoes regular clear outs in an effort to keep the workspace clean & safe. If your work, material & equipment is not clearly labelled with a collection date it will likely be thrown away. It should also be stored properly on a shelf, nothing should be left on ground level.

If you require larger or more long-term storage, please speak to Maker Spaces staff and we will try to arrange an alternative for you.

Disposing of materials

Do not pour cement, casting solutions, liquids of large particles or high viscosity into the sink. If it is water with residue in it, please use a sieve to filter out any larger particles.

Whilst we have a separating tank, it is only designed to catch small amounts of debris. It is important that as many solids as possible are removed from any water before it is poured into the sink.

If you are not sure how to dispose of your material safely and in an environmentally friendly manner, please speak to Maker Spaces staff.