Whether you’re cutting the ‘donor’ fairing (we’ll explain what that is later), sanding down the damaged area or heating the plastic with a hot-air gun, the first rule is always the same: protect yourself. Repairing a kart bodywork, in fact, involves the use of potentially dangerous tools such as cutting tools, rotating tools that must be handled with care, and high-temperature hot air, not to mention the fact that the material may chip during the preparation and finishing stages, becoming sharp. For this reason, before starting any work, you must equip yourself with a personal safety kit, consisting of at least three items. First and foremost, you must protect your hands with work gloves that comply with the relevant standard (EN 388) and feature an additional layer of polyurethane to ensure maximum ‘protection’ for your fingers and palms – the areas most exposed to contact with tools and the plastic parts you will be handling. Latex or lightweight rubber gloves should therefore be avoided: when exposed to heat or very hot plastic, they may tear or melt, losing their protective properties and even causing burns to the wearer. Naturally, it is essential to wear safety goggles (compliant with the EN 166 standard) useful for preventing injuries from splinters and various residues generated during cutting, sanding and finishing. The use of an FFP2 face mask (EN 149), on the other hand, is recommended throughout all stages of the work, both when fine dust is generated and when the heated plastic begins to give off odors and vapors. To complete the kit, it may also be useful to have a lightweight protective overall, especially if you are working in a workshop or carrying out multiple repairs. It is not as essential as gloves, safety goggles and a face mask, but it helps to protect your clothing from dust, plastic debris and dirt generated during the work.

To buy: 12 pairs of gloves, protective goggles, 50 FFP2 masks, protective suit
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