Silicone Mats

[SharuLady]

This is a question regarding the silicone mats that others are using when they bake their boolits on these mats. Some or most of the mats the temp range goes from 375* or up to 475* The upper range should be sufficient.

The other issue is some or many are cutting the mats to fit their trays. After looking at many of the mats and their reviews, I am finding that many are asking if they can be cut to fit their trays. The replies from other purchasers & from represenatives for those products state they should not cut them, because (usually) they are filled with asbestos & cutting them would cause the asbestos to be free to come out. With food that would be a problem, but with boolits, we would'nt be eating them, but we could/would have exposure to the asbestos as well.

So, I started looking at the silicone mats for BBQ grills, their temp range goes up to 500* and they can be cut to size without the issue of the asbestos leaking out or being open. Has anyone here tried out the BBQ silicone mats & if so how well did they work?
TYIA, SharuLady

[Smk SHoe]

Havn't tried the BBQ mats yet. Did get a couple of cheep Silicone Circle mats off e-bay. They have a honeycomb pattern and work pretty good for standing up .223 bullets.

[farmerjim]

I use non stick aluminum foil for most and the round honeycomb silicone for my 22 cal.
NSAF is cheep and can be reused many times.

[Tackleberry41]

I find it hard to believe they would even begin to use actual asbestos in something for cooking.

[tzzler44]

I hope there's no asbestos in these mats.. I've been using cut baking mats for a year or so now

[Tackleberry41]

Asbestos is just one of those things a company will generally avoid. How much has been paid out in asbestos lawsuits? To put it in a food product seems borderline insane. Its just asking to be sued.

[Artful]

Not using Silicon for boolits but like it bakeware - I'm using parchment paper

[SharuLady]

I find it hard to believe they would even begin to use actual asbestos in something for cooking.

Hi, I was rather surprised and not pleased with this as well. Especially for use in cooking food. That is why I started looking at Silicone BBQ mats. From what I have seen as far is that they can be cut and they come in different sizes and they have a 500* temp max.

[Dragonheart]

I really do not think the mats contain asbestos, just too touchy a subject nowadays. I have cut several mats and is do not see any fibers that can possibly become airborne.

I think you have more to worry about keeping the lead dust from leaving your work area and contaminating other areas, like your residence, than worrying about cut mats.

[JimB..]

Asbestos would be fine to eat, it's becoming airborne and then inhaled that is a potential problem. I'll join in with the folks saying that it is highly unlikely that it is in any product today.

[SharuLady]

I really do not think the mats contain asbestos, just too touchy a subject nowadays. I have cut several mats and is do not see any fibers that can possibly become airborne.

I think you have more to worry about keeping the lead dust from leaving your work area and contaminating other areas, like your residence, than worrying about cut mats.

I agree that it is touchy subject and a foolish thing to use that material but..... I believe that there are some companies in other countries that have used dubious materials that have caused recalls of their products. I just personally prefer to be on the safe side if at all possible.

[Artful]

Asbestos Cooking Mat with Handle
http://www.asbestos.net/exposure/pro...al/stove-mats/

Before asbestos became notorious for its cancer-causing effects, people loved how useful this mineral substance was. Because of its fibrous and fireproof qualities and the inability to conduct heat, people found asbestos products to be of great use in their homes. Asbestos was all over many household in the form of stove mats for a safe furnace, handles for pots and pans, asbestos table mats, asbestos tiles and asbestos cords to bind exposed parts of pipes during frosty weather.

Asbestos Cooking Mats
Today, asbestos is banned from a lot of products or voluntarily removed by manufacturers themselves. When the world found out that prolonged exposure to high levels of asbestos in the air can cause serious respiratory diseases and cancer, the US Environmental Protection Agency had it removed from the following:

Commercial paper
Specialty paper
Corrugated paper
Flooring felt
Roll board
New uses of asbestos have also been prohibited. Manufacturing companies can no longer add asbestos to products that originally did not contain it.

Although asbestos stove mats and other such products are already scarce, there could be some that are for sale or left in consumer homes. Since it is more likely that asbestos-containing materials are found in older homes, those dwelling in one should look out for the following:

Shingles, siding and roofing made with asbestos cement.

For homes built during the 1930’s to the 50’s, pipe and furnace insulation should be checked.

Asbestos cement sheets, paper or millboards may still remain to protect the walls and floors surrounding wood burning stoves.

Coating materials such as textured paint, whose manufacture and distribution was only banned in 1977.

Cited From: Asbestos in Stove Mats -Asbestos.net http://www.asbestos.net/exposure/pro...#ixzz4Iu5dD5k9

http://www.mesothelioma.com/asbestos...ts/stove-mats/

Stove Mats

Asbestos in Stove Mats and Other Household Products

Stove mats were similar to iron rests and ironing board covers. These were simple protective devices designed to be placed over the top of a hot burner in order to prevent damage to pots and pans from hot stoves, and also to protect counters and stovetops from hot pots and pans. They consisted of an asbestos cloth or canvas applied over a rigid material, often with an aluminum edge. The rigid material was often asbestos millboard, so the total quantity of asbestos in a stove mat was very high since it consisted essentially of asbestos wrapped around asbestos. Stove mats found wide use in kitchens, both in homes and in commercial kitchens and restaurants.

Asbestos stove mats were produced by a wide range of manufacturers under brand names like “Masonware”. They were manufactured from the early 20th century until around 1979.

Hazards Associated with Stove Mat Products

At risk for asbestos exposure were individuals working with stove mats in kitchens, particularly under high temperature conditions. Initially, the asbestos in stove mats was more-or-less intact and undisturbed. Over time, however, as the mats aged and began to wear down, they had the potential to release asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers could then be inhaled by people working in the kitchen, and may have also contaminated some of the food being prepared.

In addition, workers in the factories that manufactured asbestos cloth and asbestos millboard as well as the fabrication workers who pieced the asbestos stove mats together were also at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers.

Asbestos exposure can cause a number of different diseases from asbestosis to cancer such as mesothelioma. In 2005, research was published that linked long-term exposure to asbestos to auto-immune disease as well.

Silpat is known around the world as the original non-stick baking liner. Silpat liners are made of fiberglass and food grade silicone and are completely food safe.

Silicone mats without fibers are safe to use

[SharuLady]

TY Artful for this very informative information on these silicone pads. That does help to ease the concerns I have about them plus also to be okay with cutting them to fit the pans. Those pyramid pads look interesting, but unsure how boolits would work with them, but they would be great for cooking on. Being silicone they should/would be easy clean up.
SharuLady