3M Breathe Easy Respirator

silver_pilate

silver_pilate

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
3,974
I finally just got sick of wearing a tight, suffocating, hot, sweaty, negative pressure half mask, and decided to bite the bullet and get something to increase my comfort level AND my safety. Also, since I have some chin hairs, the seal was sometimes a trouble with regular 1/2 masks.

So I started looking around and was able to purchase a brand new-in-box complete 3M Breathe Easy PAPR positive pressure system for just under $400 shipped on ebay (for the belt pack, battery, charger, hose, air flow monitor, and face mask). This package comes with a full face respirator/mask, so I also picked up a general purpose helmet assembly as well. Not a bad total price for a system that typically costs over a grand new. I plan on wearing this with the general purpose helmet during most shop activities and look forward to a refreshing flow of clean air rather than a damp but clean dungeon of suffocation. :)

3mBE.jpg
helmet.jpg


Anyway, I'm looking for filters/cartridges for this system. Currently, I'm leaning towards the EP3 filters which is rated for sulfur dioxide, chlorine, formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride and high efficiency particulates. I think that should cover pretty much everything. One thing I'm not sure of is organic vapors. What the heck are they, and do I need something to filter them. The reason is that there is not a cartridge available for the breathe easy that filters BOTH formaldehyde and organic vapors.

Obviously, most of the protection I need is from particulates which any of the cartdiges I choose will do. But I'm just curious about woods and phenolics.

Fitzo, I know you use one of these, so what filters do you use?

Thanks everyone!

--nathan
 
Congratulations, Nathan! You have made a wise decision. Not to mention a superb price.
I use the organic vapor/high efficiency particle stack. I also have high efficiency particle-only filters. I do little micarta, and word from 3-M was the regular OV cartridges would work adequately for anything less than a toxic formaldehyde environment.
Since the OV cartridges will deal with vapors from acetone to paint thinner to phenol, etc, that is a better choice for me with this emphysema. Not to mention, anything you smell from wood falls into the "organic vapor" category, too. IMO, they would be fine for you, too.
Enjoy.
 
Sounds good, Mike. In my big open and well ventilated shop (that's what a 15x15 foot overhead door will do for you ;) ), I'm not worried about getting a toxic formaldehyde atmosphere when working the occasional micarta scales. Sounds like the OV/HE cartridges (AP3, I believe) are the way to go.

I'm excited to get this in and start using it! I was lucky to find a good price; you have to watch some of those really good prices on ebay, as some don't include the charger which can cost $100 or more by itself. As it is, I may have to buy a different air supply hose. I'm waiting to see of the included hose can be adapted to the helmet.

Thanks again, Mike.

--nathan
 
 
Jack, that should work well for most particulates. I don't know how it would perform for fine-fines, and it doesn't really offer protection for organics, vapors, etc. I read a good bit about them, and I really considered getting one. However, I decided if I was going to spend hundreds of dollars on respiratory protection, I may as well spring for an industrially proven system.

I know Stacy uses something similar to the Trend called the Aircap. It's made in Europe, though, and I haven't found an American dealer. Again, good for most particulates.

--nathan
 
Thanks Nathan , I do appreciate you taking the time to answer . When my eye heals and I can sell a couple of knives I need to get one . It should work well for most of my work . Of course I need to finish my dust collection .

Thanks again.
 
$400.00?? Man what a great price! I have one as well and didn't get that price!! The bad part is that I haven't got in any shop time. :(

I got the red helmet w/mine. I can't tell from the photos, but that air hose looks a little different than mine. Is there a rectangular end that snaps onto the back of the hemet? Mine has one end that has a hex (nut) shape to screw onto the air pump and then the rectagular adapter for the helmet.

Anyway congrats on the GREAT price. You kicked some serious butt there!!

I got mine because I'm too stubborn to shear the whiskers off and I have worked in the past with respirators. I won't miss that for sure. Just think no more micarta stink and black boogers.

Oh yeah, I have been buying up some nice desert ironwood and various other (some stabilized) woods for handles. To think that I will be shaping handles and then NOT getting that wierd bout of bronchitis later (yeah, it happened to me after my first knife). Cheers, Nathan!
 
Haha...happened to me, too, Ed, with micarta. It took a while to kick that bronchitis bout. I laugh, but that's was some dangerous stuff. Turns out the particulate mask I was using wasn't stopping everything. That's when I sprung for a good 1/2 mask and proper cartridges. Now I just can't wait to toss that 1/2 mask in the drawer for a good long while and breath cool, refreshing air instead. I've been picking up some various handle materials as well. I picked up some nice quilted red wood and black ash recently. I've also been busy buying up some nice custom classic pocket knives.

The air hose that's included is for the full face respirator in the kit. I have to see if there is a way to adapt it or I'll have to order a different hose. Those can be pricey as well, but the total will still be just over 1/2 the price of a new system when it's all said and done.

I was finally able to get out to the shop the last couple of days. I'm finishing up a knife for a guy in trade for a Martin guitar (I'll also be making one for his dad and helping him make his own later on). I'm going to have to re-work my heat treating oven soon. I think it's working towards its last leg. I also need to build that forge I've been thinking of for the last several years. Either I need to get over to your shop or you over to mine someday soon. Talk to you later, bro.

--nathan
 
I got nothin in my shop (actually it's my bosses shop, but I own all of the tools) that would help you unless you need some welding done. I can make that happen six ways to Sunday. C'mon with it.

As of late, I am playing Mr. Green Jeans trying to raise a small crop of habanero peppers for Indian George so he can continue to melt peoples faces up there in MA. Crazy ass Portagee. :thumbup:;):thumbup::D:):D:thumbup: HEHEHE

As soon as Aldo gets the steel on the way, I'll get my knife making on at least for the Christmas KITH and beyond.

Big cheers up, bro! We will meet again.
 
My wife and son s bought me a 1200 cfm dust collector it has the cloth bag but im going to buy the 10 micron filter . On woods I dont know i wear a 3m dust mask with charcoal filter . One time I didnt wear a mask on some type of wood and my eye light up on fire I put my googles on right away and mask but suffered for 4 hours after. I only breathed the crap for less than 5 min but I guess thats all it takes.
 
Here is the part I was talking about above. The hose snaps into the helmet in the back if you have the same helmet as mine.

DSC04851.jpg


The part is labeled L-122 hope this helps

DSC04852.jpg


DSC04853.jpg
 
Ed, I'm not sure. I've looked up the part number of the hose required for the helmet I bought, and it doesn't look anything like that. I'll have to see when the helmet and unit come in. Anytime you need anything out at the shop...give me a call! I may just suck it up and buy a forge rather than build my own. I really, really like the look of Darren Ellis' 8-HT forge. Then I can build up a PID controlled system for it.

--nathan
 
I think that you are right now that I've had a second look.

DSC04855.jpg


Heres the rest of my rig.

DSC04854.jpg
 
Oh yeah, you have the GVP series PAPR. A little bit different design to do the same thing. Looks like a great unit. I like the idea of only buying one cardridge instead of three.

--nathan
 
I'm real curious to see how you guys like working with these on after you've had some time with them.

We had to wear a 3M PAPR when we went into lime kilns and did maintenance work. In there, they were a God send as the lime dust WILL BURN you wherever it hits your skin and finds some moisture (sinuses anyone??? lol).

However, I'm not sure how it would be in the knife shop.

I hope you guys can give us some honest and detailed feedback after a bit.

What about you Fitz, did you post about this somewhere and I missed it????

Thanks guys! :)
 
NickWheeler said:
I'm real curious to see how you guys like working with these on after you've had some time with them.
....
However, I'm not sure how it would be in the knife shop.
...
What about you Fitz, did you post about this somewhere and I missed it????
Click to expand...

Hi, Nick. As could only be expected, they are far more cumbersome than wearing a half-face mask. You also have to deal with keeping a battery charged. The last I checked, the three cartridge replacement was something like $93.

The blower/power unit, while not heavy, none the less aggravated the problems in my low back. I ended up putting the unit on a little stand, adding an extra hose, and dragging it around with me. I have about 6 feet of reach from the stand.

I also don't have the helmet, but instead a face-shield style that has been discontinued. It is a little lighter and a little easier on my neck problems. I find it a little less cumbersome than the helmets, which I had worn extensively at work.

Given my lung problems, I had little choice in this matter if I wanted to work in the shop. Not only do I have a beard, but at the time even trying to suck air through a half-face was enough to set me to gasping. A mere couple minutes exposure to grinding dust would send me hustling for the oxygen and leave my lungs aggravated for days. My next case of bronchitis,pneumonia, or chemical pneumonitis could kill me. So, I was faced with getting the unit or quitting. A no-brainer.

The major benefit of a PAPR is that it avoids the issue of proper sealing that accompanies the use of a half- or full-face respirator. Fit-seal was a major issue where I worked, to the extent that once a year we had to take our half-face in and go through a fit challenge with a chemical agent that would make you cough if you had a leak. It was evident from the number of failures that it is easy to not achieve a good fit, even amongst people trained to their use. That leads me to believe there are a lot of knifemakers sucking dust despite wearing a mask and thinking they are protected. Many think they are getting a good seal over a beard, but it is almost impossible. So much so, that the OSHA regs state that "facial hair is incompatible with half and full face respirators". A PAPR avoids that major issue, and my employer began providing them for everyone in a high-exposure environment.
A nice secondary benefit of a PAPR is that the physics of air being sucked through those filters creates a cooling effect. There is a nice cool draft of air blowing across your face all the time. Very pleasant.

Thus, after all this long-windedness, there are advantages and disadvantages. PAPRs are certainly effective, but have their drawbacks.
From the viewpoint of someone who is paying the harsh price for trashing my lungs, my main point is to stress to everyone to make sure they are getting effective protection, not just the semblance of safety that makes them "feel" like they are doing what someone else says works. If it takes a PAPR to achieve that, then it is still much cheaper than the consequences. An oxygen machine costs a helluva lot more than a PAPR. Twenty years from now, when the pulmonary specialist diagnoses progressive emphysema, saying, "But I always wore a dust mask over my full beard," will sound rather hollow. Two months of my lung meds more than pay for a PAPR even at full price.
 
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Thanks Mike! :)

We had to do fit tests once a year at work as well. The odd thing was that employees were told to shave their beard off for the fit test, but were allowed to grow it back after. :rolleyes:

They actually didn't bring the PAPR systems in for our crew until someone complained of lime burns around his face after wearing a half mask.

I would be concerned about the weight. I have a full mask...3M or Northern, I can't remember right now, and in theory it's perfect for knife making. It's a complete face shield, and completely seals around my face. However, in use, it's literally a pain in the neck. I can grind for about 20 minutes with it on before I'm ready to take it off.

I appreciate you taking the time to post your thoughts on it Mike! :) :thumbup:
 
I used to use a particulate only Racal (before 3M bought them) helmet much like this. Still have it around someplace.

Now days I use this: Resp-O-Rator instead.

Downsides:
- Particulate only. Fortunately I don't use Micarta, etc. much (i.e. not at all for several
years).
- You have to breath through your mouth. I was surprised how much this bothered a
lot of people at Ashokan last year. As a mouth breather anyway, it never occurred to
me that it might be a problem.
- Wears out. One of my plastic straps is now held together with a piece of brass sheet
and pop rivets.

Advantages:
- Very light and comfortable. I wear it around my neck use it for almost everything.
- Doesn't unbalance you when you lean forward.
- No built in face shield. I can wear a separate one when I really have to but can see
much better with just my prescription safety glasses.
- All of your air is coming from behind you which helps a little bit with
non-particulates.
- Cheap, but that wasn't my primary reason since I'd already paid for the more
expensive unit.
 
Those Resp-O-Rators are an interesting device. I bought one just to try out when they splashed on the forum a couple years back. As you point out, Dan, it was very difficult to get accustomed to for a nose-breather. I also found it tough to get a good closure on my nose with that little clip they provided. Sort of stifling, actually, since my brain keeps trying to use this honker as the air intake.
It certainly was comfortable to wear, though. It can't weigh more than 4-6 oz.
 
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