Best Respirators for the $?

NJBillK

NJBillK

Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
Messages
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I was curious if anyone could weigh in on some of their preferential respirators for the following $ areas.
-$50
$50-$100
$100-$300
$300+

Thanks a Ton folks.
 
Hey NJ, I have and have used several different mask/respirators--I have one 3M 6000 series that is a respirator/full face mask-shield. It does keep everything out, and is surely safe for keeping stuff away from your face, but I wear glasses, and I can't leave the on with this type of rig, I also have two straight up respirators, a 3M and a high end North, I can wear my glasses with these bit they block my view when trying to work close. I recently tried the Resp-O-Rator http://www.amazon.com/Resp-O-Rator-...8&qid=1454284480&sr=8-1&keywords=resp+o+rator
and I like it a lot--my beard is a non-factor with it, and It doesn't bother my vision. I would recommend it highly, I have used a Trend air shield Pro, and I like this thing a lot better than even that--it runs a little over $50 and filters are about $12 check it out.
 
I use a 3M 'bump cap' full face shield positive air helmet with a 3M Turbo PAPR filter and blower unit. It's good with my beard and my glasses and doesnt fog up.
 
My latest favorite is a 3M Breathe Easy Turbo with a 3M PAPR helmet and face shield.
It can be worn on the fanny with the belt, or on a respirator backpack. I have been using both, and am leaning toward the backpack. The big Li-Ion battery is very expensive, but the whole unit is so good it is worth it. It runs eight straight hours on a charge. You just put it on and breath cool and dust free air all day.

Only negative is I am pretty sure the neighbors think I am running a meth lab.
 
Being bearded, I prefer a positive pressure system. I started using a Trend Airshield Pro years ago for my wood turning, and it remains my respirator and shield of choice. The rechargeable battery is self enclosed in the helmet. I've recently added the hearing protection muffs when I started grinding on Damascus billets.
Will set you back $350-$400 but well worth it IMO
 
If you go with a 3m half mask I would recommend these filters, not the 3m p100 particulate filters as I don't trust them. I can smell g10 through my mask when using them. This set up will run you somewhere less than $50. Of course what the other guys mentioned above is better if you can afford it!
 
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...k-when-making-a-blade?p=15052460#post15052460

There is a list of respiratiors in that article


For the least $

I like the soft black silicone half masks from 3M or from North Safety
Buy from a real industrial safety supplier, there are 3 sizes and you need to fit it.
Go there fully clean shaven.

You can buy something like it in the bix box hardware stores, but they are made cheaper and the mask is harder plastic.




Over the long term with heavy use, the positive pressured air full face masks are nicer.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
My latest favorite is a 3M Breathe Easy Turbo with a 3M PAPR helmet and face shield.
It can be worn on the fanny with the belt, or on a respirator backpack. I have been using both, and am leaning toward the backpack. The big Li-Ion battery is very expensive, but the whole unit is so good it is worth it. It runs eight straight hours on a charge. You just put it on and breath cool and dust free air all day.

Only negative is I am pretty sure the neighbors think I am running a meth lab.
Click to expand...

How heavy on the head is that setup Stacy? I love my Trend but I have neck problems and it is a tad top heavy.
 
Patrice Lemée;15706946 said:
How heavy on the head is that setup Stacy? I love my Trend but I have neck problems and it is a tad top heavy.
Click to expand...

That is the main reason I don't use my Trend much anymore. It is heavy. The helmet and face shield I am using with the Breathe Easy Turbo are quite light on this rig. IIRC, I use a type L helmet. To be honest, I barely know they are on, and that keeps them on my head/face all the time. The Aircap-2 I was using was lighter, but really wasn't quite good enough for filtration. I'll try and take some photos soon.
 
Thanks Stacy, that would be great. I'll most likely get one later this year when I get enough shop time to justify it.
 
Patrice Lemée;15706946 said:
How heavy on the head is that setup Stacy? I love my Trend but I have neck problems and it is a tad top heavy.
Click to expand...

Patrice, I've had neck spinal surgery and sport a beard in the Winter and THE BEST unit I've found is a very simple one.

http://www.amazon.com/Resp-O-Rator-...8&qid=1454349049&sr=1-104&keywords=respirator

I don't use the dorky nose clip,
I just don't breath in through my nose only out. Its very light and I can answer the phone, chat with customers at sharpening gigs without all of the bother & weight of a half mask.

One thing to remember is to keep your jaw closed as much as possible or you will create saliva / drool into it.

Its the best thing I've found for keep my lungs clean without a lot of weight on my neck.
 
Under 50 bucks... 3M half mask 6000 or 7000 series respirator with a good set of filters. This is honestly the absolute bare minimum I would ever suggest for a knife maker. You expose yourself to huge amounts of particulates, vapors, chemicals and other nasties and those silly disposable paper ones just don't cut the mustard.

The downside to them is that they do not work well with facial hair--you'll need a positive pressure system then. Get a bit of a beard going with a half mask and you will lose that seal against your cheeks/jawline, rendering it about as effecting as the cheapie disposables. You don't need to be super clean shaven but anything much past a good bit of stubble will allow unfiltered air into the mask.

I use this one with an appropriate set of filters and have been very pleased with it...

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Facepiece-...1454358871&sr=1-1&keywords=3m+7500+respirator
 
Last edited:
Stacy, something like this with this? Trying to research what you mentioned 😊
 
razor-edge-knives said:
Stacy, something like this with this? Trying to research what you mentioned ��
Click to expand...

Yes, those are the ones.


I watch the sales threads here and eBay and pick the parts up when they are cheap. A brand new Breathe Easy pump can be bought for $100 or less. A battery can be had for $250, but with luck you can snag a new or almost new one for $100-150 ( Be sure to check the date). A full system with battery and helmet occasionally comes along at $200. A helmet runs between $50 and $150, depending on the type and condition. I have several systems, so visitors can breath good air, too.

I bought a box of ten full torso spray booth hoods for $30. They are the disposable type made from plastic, but if I cut away most of the drape, they are good for tasks with lots of fine dust. The white ones from pharmaceutical use are readily available very cheap. I think the meth lab guys sell them to make extra money :)

I bought a case of ten Breathe Easy filters for $50 with free shipping.


NOTE:
Getting the stick-on Mylar/acrylic lens protectors to keep the face shield from getting scratched up in use is a really good idea.

If you have a large shop with dedicated stations for grinding and such, you can plumb the shop with 2" PVC and have plug-in ports at the equipment (you don't even have to glue the pipe together). That allows just a hood/helmet and six feet of flex hose to hook up wherever you are. Hook the hose to the back of your belt with a clip and plug the helmet hose into it. this will help to keep neck strain down. The air duct can be powered by a single blower and filter system drawing air from a clean air area or outside. A "key fob" remote power switch can turn the blower on and off.
 
Another solution I am currently looking into is just to buy a good faceshield/helmet, and then put together the rest of the system with inexpensive plastic tubing, a USB-powered computer case fan (preferably 1" diameter or so), a cell phone charger that puts out power appropriate for USB devices, HEPA filters inside a homemade HEPA filter holder, and some nylon webbing to make a harness or belt support for the entire system. Some of the 3M prices are really high. I have to test how many hours the cell phone charger can power the fan.
 
You will need a much better fan/blower. The computer fans and most cheap fans/blowers are not positive pressure devices. It may say that it supplies 20CFM, but once the pressure rises just a tad, the flow drops off drastically. You need about 10CFM that is consistently provided to safely breathe wearing a helmet. On a hot day, 15CFM is needed. The units come with a flow meter to test the flow rate before wearing. Knowing that the air being provided is sufficient to make positive pressure under the hood is important. Using a respirator with insufficient air flow is about the same as using a crocheted condom ... it ain't gonna do what it is supposed to do.
 
Thanks for the CFM recommendations. I see the computer fans are available in various CFM ratings. I saw one that is variable speed and says it goes up to 47 CFM, but it might be too noisy at that speed, and it's over 3" square. It will take some testing after getting all the parts assembled.
 
Anything wrong with the harbor freight respirators? I've been using one and am able to get a good seal even with a beard. I notice no smells and my mucus doesn't turn black at all. As soon as I take it off I'm able to smell whatever I've been working on.

I know brand name respirators are probably better but I picked it up for like 13 bucks on sale. I don't grind indoors.
 
I just ordered a resp-o-rator to try out. Been wanting to try one ever since I saw it way back when Karl Anderson (I think?) recommended it. As someone with a full beard who fogs up glasses and face shields like a rear car window on prom night, I think this sounds like just the ticket. We'll see....

Normally I use a regular cartridge style respirator wth the straps pulled tight enough to get a "better than nothing" seal, but I can never get glasses or even goggles to fit well with them, so I often go with one or the other...

Looks like eBay has some much friendlier prices on the breathe easy setups, so I may try that out if I ever have a couple hundred extra bucks laying around.
 
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