Thread: Hare and Forbes Asbestos warning

When did you buy the lathe Retromilling?
Stuart

It is not a big concern... Cars in the pre 1980's or later used asbestos in their brakes yet we do not have epidemics of asbestos related diseases.....

How many people know asbestos is naturally in the air we breathe...

So long as you don't be silly it should not be a concern...

Good to see you back.
A bit late when you have been using your lathe for 2-3 years.

Dave
PS
Have been meaning to call in and see what you have been up to, as I have lost the email some how with your phone number.

Originally Posted by .RC.

How many people know asbestos is naturally in the air we breathe...

I knew, but there's probably a few more that do now.

Nev

Unless I'm very mistaken, most of the hazard associated with asbestos attends to the workers in factories producing the brake pads, and miners producing the raw materials. Older houses may have asbestos in flooring materials and insulation in heating equipment. Demolition or partial demolition (e.g. rehab or additions) requires special attention to limit exposure. Owing to the small amount, end users of brake pads are relatively safe.

The letter is most likely corporate CYA.

Cheers,
Joe

Originally Posted by Stustoys

When did you buy the lathe Retromilling?
Stuart

I bought it 2 years ago .

I have a hafco AL340A with foot brake...
They never sent me a letter ??

The asbestos is not the problem. It's the fact that they want to weedle out of their resposibility to replace the dangerous part, by asking me to put a Warning sign on it that will ruin the value of my purchase. Who is going to buy a lathe with an Asbestos warning label on it.
If your new car has faulty brakes , they recall the car and fix them. They don't slap a defect sticker on your car and ask you to keep driving it .
This is unacceptable and is typical of the bad attitude of Hare and Forbes towards hobby customers. They are never getting any of my business ever again .
Every lathe that they have sold that was made in Taiwan or China with a foot brake or milling machine with a spindle brake could have this problem .
A good supplier would have written to me warning me and offering to replace the part.

Originally Posted by joe greiner

Unless I'm very mistaken, most of the hazard associated with asbestos attends to the workers in factories producing the brake pads, and miners producing the raw materials. Older houses may have asbestos in flooring materials and insulation in heating equipment. Demolition or partial demolition (e.g. rehab or additions) requires special attention to limit exposure. Owing to the small amount, end users of brake pads are relatively safe.

The letter is most likely corporate CYA.

Cheers,
Joe

If thats the case then why do I need to put a Warning sign on my lathe?
I agree that it is cover you a*s for Hare and Forbes but they don't give a sh*t about what damage it does to me . Would you buy a secondhand lathe with an Asbestos Warning sign on it ?

Originally Posted by matthew_g

I have a hafco AL340A with foot brake...
They never sent me a letter ??

Exactly! When I run my lathe my face is only about 1/2 a meter from the braking system.
When you drive your car you are inside the car and you are not that close to the brakes are you ? My decision to buy from Hare and Forbes has been one big regret .

I am wondering what the legality is of selling something with asbestos... Asbestos products have been banned since the 90's....

I'd by it if the price was right.

I'd think OH&S would have kittens if this lathe was on business premises.

"While friable asbestos poses the most immediate health risk, the use of any form of asbestos is banned, making it illegal to manufacture, supply, transport, store, sell, install or reuse asbestos-containing materials or products."

What is asbestos? - WorkSafe Victoria

Seems it was banned 31 Dec 2003
The road to a corporate inquisition - News - www.theage.com.au

I wonder if consumer affairs could tell you anything useful?

Stuart

I would contact consumer affairs and find out the exact status of selling asbestos containing products.

If it is in fact illegal, I would write to H&F requesting a full refund of the purchase price, as at the time of sale the goods were not of merchantable quality, and in fact were/are illegal to sell or import into Australia.

One of the (perceived) benefits of purchasing through a retail outlet like H&F is that you are assuming that they have done their due diligence in selecting products to retail. If they haven't, then they are no better than your direct from china ebay store.

It's probably not a huge task to reline the brake with a non-asbestos friction material; the average car brake place should be able to arrange this at a not too outrageous price.