Welcome Ronnie Craig. When looking at threads as a new person, check the dates of the posts. This is a 7-year-old thread. It is an important topic, so bringing it back is not a problem.
Also, fill out your profile info so we know where you live and a bit about you.
As to masks and filters, any mask is better than no mask. However, a GOOD mask is far better than some types. The things we have used during Covid are not worth much in a shop. There are folks who use a gaiter, but it doesn't do a whole lot of good against fine dust. A better choice is a face mask with P-100 filters. These go from simple half-face masks for $30 to better ones for up to $100.
By far the best choice is a PAPR type system. This filters the air and delivers it as a continuous flow across your face behind a full-face shield. These can be very expensive. You can find them on Ebay and other places pretty cheap if you look around. Sometimes the best deal is finding the filter unit and then finding the hood separately. That usually gets you a system for around $100 or so. You may need to add a hose between the two, but the expensive parts are the filter/blower system and the hose. Batteries can be expensive for some of these units, so take that into consideration. The good thing is that we use them in a fixed location, so most filter/blower setups can be converted to run on a simple battery pack or power supply. The filter unit can even be mounted on a shelf or somewhere out of the way and connected with a long flex-hose umbilical.
