It time I got serious about respiratory protection.

I have some recoil pads to grind, general sawdust not to mention sanding the old paint off a boat bottom.

I need it to unobtrusive so I can easily bend my head to see what I'm doing on fine work and also not fog up my glasses. I have seen the ones with double filters but they look too cumbersome.

What do you wear and why?

For general wood and rubber dust, I use the double filter mask from Harbor Freight, also available at Tractor Supply, Home Depot, etc. I have a beard and this model has worked for me for many years. I'm over 60 and still breathing well. Don't forget to buy extra filters.

Go to the local industrial supply place and tell them you need a good fitting, tight sealing respirator with HEPA filters. I've had one of these for about a hundred years because I do lots of work around solder fumes.

I believe my mask and filters are made by 3M. It fits well and in addition to work, I wear when running a router, belt sander, or fine cut table saw. I grew up with asthma and appreciate functional lungs.

Rob,
The most appropriate respirator for your needs would be a 3M 6000 series with P100 filters. It's also very important that you get properly fitted for whatever respirator you end up using. Having an improperly fitted respirator is, often times, much worse than not wearing one at all. You should be able to get the mask and filters for under $25. Here's the links to the respirator and filters:


3m 6000 series respirator

P100 filters

Good luck and be safe,
Chuck

I have a couple of different respirators. I have some cheap dust mask types that I can grab, and then I also have a "dual cartridge half-mask" that I feel safe using with anything ranging from paint to heavy duty sanding. They seem to last me about 5-7 years but I change the filters about once a year, or immediately if I am using it and start smelling anything other than air. The masks are about $25 from grainger and the filters & prefilters cost about the same for a tube of 10.

Thanks for the recommends, will be by Graingers in the AM;

Chuck, they have 3 different P100 filters, one for oil & on oil based particles , one for that plus acid based vapors and a third for that plus organic based vapors I imagine organic would be best? I sometimes work with glues and solvents.


thanks,

Rob

Rob,
Yes, you want the filters that absorb organic vapors. They also absorb some acid vapors, as well. I fit test about 350 people per year and issue these respirators and filters to many of them, so I have a little experience with them. The nice thing about them is the filters are very flexible and don't get in the way, and they don't restrict your breathing as much as a lot of the respirators on the market. BTW, I do not work for 3M, just use some of their products, regularly.

Chuck

Thanks Chuck. If you have a minute can you go over the fitting procedure? They come small, med. & large, I figured I'd be a med. but who knows?


thanks,

Rob

Rob,
You probably do wear a medium. It seems as though 90% of men do. Basically, a qualitative fit test involves you wearing the respirator and someone dispenses a test smoke, Saccharin solution, or a Bittrex solution around the sealing area of the mask, while you perform certain activities. Typically, these activities would include nodding your head up and down, moving your head side to side, all while speaking out loud, and holding your breath for about 10 seconds. If, during these exercises, you smell any of the solution, the respirator does not fit properly and you need a different size. I'd be glad to fit you and supply you with a respirator (on me), but your a little too far away. About 450 miles too far. Maybe one of the safety supply stores in your area has someone who can fit test you, if you buy your respirator from them.

Good luck,
Chuck

Thanks Chuck, I'm a med. in just about everything else, I'll try it on at Graingers.

Depending on what you really are using respiration mask for , may I suggest ;

I use a similar version of these . My unit sets out side or in a fresh air stream

it's simple compact . Uses 50Ft. sections of quick connect hoses 1.25" ID . They intern hook too

a manifold . A smaller .500" ID belt plenum configuration which supply's my suit and helmet with plenty

of fresh air . Never Fogs even with glasses on , suit is also nice as it's like wearing air

conditioning !. Oh and it keeps nasty residue off my clothes as well !!.

Remember Lung transplants are far costlier than ANY EQUIPMENT YOU'LL EVER PURCHASE !.





http://www.envirosafetyproduct...espirators-papr.html

http://www.envirosafetyproduct...-hoods-h-series.html

http://www.envirosafetyproduct...spirator-system.html

Doc, You are very correct. PAPR's are great. They are pretty cost prohibitive, though, for the intermittent user. I have a few myself. They also eliminate the need for fit testing, as well as, being clean shaven before wearing it.

Chuck

I need to move a body. Can someone recommend a good respirator mask for the job?

Sorry, chiming in a bit late, but make sure you get a NIOSH approved respirator. N100 filters are for dry contaminates, with no oil vapors or contaminates and filter 99.7% of the crap. R100 filters add some oil resistance and should be replaced after every shift (8hrs). P100 are said to be oil resistant, but that varies by mfg.

For a fit test, try on the respirator, cover the filters with your hands or duct tape. The mask should suck against your face and you should not be able to breath, no matter how hard you inhale. If you feel cool air across the face, it is too big. However, this is not a NIOSH approved fit test, if you want an appropriate fit test, contact an environmental waste company, they will often do it for free.

John

Forrest....

All I can tell you is, if you spray enough Old Spice on the filters my mask uses, you can cover up the stench of just about anything...

When you decide on your filters be sure you get the ones which allow stacking. I always used a stacked filter for debris on top of the organic vapors filter; it extends the life of your expensive vapors filter.
Some filters do not allow stacking or you have to buy the more expensive ready made filter with fiber paper filters. Not replaceable.
When I was working with zolatone or heavy lacquers I did not need the extra debris filter but when sanding lead paint or other such haz-mat stuff it really helped to be able to make several quick changes.

Rob,
That's exactly the combination I was speaking of. For the work you described, it should be perfect. Hope it fits well. I'm on vacation right now, but if you want to PM me your address, when I get back in 2 weeks, I'll send you a few extra sets of filters. I have quite a few extras.

Chuck

Thanks Chuck, that's very kind of you. It does fit well, I put it on w/o out filter, blocked the two air holes and couldn't breathe at all. Turns out I was a size medium.

Used it last night while sanding bottom paint off my boat. I always had problems with dust mask fogging glasses because of an improper fit, since this one fits correctly all expelled air exits in the front center and no fogging at all.

Thanks for all your help enjoy your vacation.

Rob