YES! Look what it did to me. Just ask my wife what she has to put up with
When I had my machine shop we would occasionally run into these seats - We tried to be careful but still had some exposure. Just be careful. I probably had more bad effects from all the cheeseburgers I ate.
No compressed air to blow chips away. No wiping chips with hands. Use a bit of lube to get chips to stick to head. Quick suck with vacuum and then straight to the solvent tank.
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i dont think there is a major risk with a serdi type cutter. but i wouldn't use souix grinding stones without a resperator. cutting makes nice chips that are easily cleaned, grinding makes dust that can easily be breathed and get on clothing that can enter the air anytime you move or when you change your clothing. makes me think about all the cobalt flame holders i had to repair before my superiors got their stuff together and issued respirators. i would recommend wearing coveralls, a respirator (or at least a face mask like doctors wear) and a face sheild if you do any grinding so you wont get any airborne dust after you remove the respirator.
We are all focusing on what happens when we cut the seats. When we are porting these heads and using our sanding rolls this issue can get bad. Our grinders will be blowing this dust all over. It may pay to have a wet bath on these heads as you are porting. This could get to be quite the mess. Maybe a very good vacuum system to be sucking the dust in as you port?
If you are not going to use Ti valves i am not sure you really need to go with a Beryllium alloy seat, if valves are going to be Stainless then a standard silicon bronze seat should work fine.
Some good reading on why Beryllium Copper seats are used.