Best Respirators for the $?

[Jesenius]

I've used those in other applications.

P95 is not effective against the finest most harmful dust.
P99 is better.
. . .

You have right, of course, P99 is better.
But I'm asking myself is it needed? Does grinding make so little particles that P95 filter isn't enough for?
I cut heavilly used P95 filter in half and I did see that dust stopped at first layer of them.
I grind usually steel, wood or plastics. Any idea to do better test?

 

[12345678910]

You have right, of course, P99 is better.
But I'm asking myself is it needed? Does grinding make so little particles that P95 filter isn't enough for?
I cut heavilly used P95 filter in half and I did see that dust stopped at first layer of them.
I grind usually steel, wood or plastics. Any idea to do better test?

When I blow my nose at the end of the day, it's black.

That means the mask did not stop those particles.

 

[JTknives]

When I blow my nose at the end of the day, it's black.

That means the mask did not stop those particles.

Is that because the filter did not stop them or does your mask leak around your face?

 

[12345678910]

Is that because the filter did not stop them or does your mask leak around your face?

Probably the bulk came in from bad seal.


Exposure is cumulative.
You may not feel it now, especially if you're a smoker.
But you will feel it later and by then it's too late.


The silicone half masks are so cheap both to buy and to maintain.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

At the end of the day I blow my nose and wash it out with water and get black crud. I will admit where I go wrong.

As some point in the day I take the hood off and go etch,check, etc. the blade. When I come back I go to the grinder to do one little adjustment. I don't put the hood back on because, "It only will take a few seconds." Twenty minutes later I have fixed the problem and six more I spotted. That is how you end up with black boogers even with a good respirator. When I find myself doing this too often, I set the hood on the top of the grinder when I take it of. That means I have to pick it up to use the grinder ... and since it is ion my hand, I might as well drop it on my head.

Tip:
At the end of the day, go to the sink and turn the tap on with warm water. Cup your hand under your nose and suck in the water through your nostrils. Immediately blow it back out. The sink will be full of black stuff. Repeat several times until it blows out clean. Then, suck the water in a bit more until it makes you gag a bit. You are basically "drinking" the water through your nose. It takes a little practice to get used to it, but becomes second nature after a few times. Blow it out and then hock up a luggie. It will probably have some black in it, too. Do this a time or two more and your nasal passage and the back of your throat will be cleaned off. Many jewelers and other workers in a dusty atmosphere do this to keep things clean and avoid the many problems you can get from these contaminants in the nose/throat.

 

[Drew Riley]

As some point in the day I take the hood off and go etch,check, etc. the blade. When I come back I go to the grinder to do one little adjustment. I don't put the hood back on because, "It only will take a few seconds." Twenty minutes later I have fixed the problem and six more I spotted.

Yep, this.

That, or "I'm done grinding, now I can take the mask off".... nevermind the cloud of dust floating through the shop. Yes, I need a dust collector.

 

[12345678910]

Those aerosol nasal rinse products work


It's feels like pressure washing your brain the first time.

But it's really effective.

I like the sparkling bubble effect for breaking up the stuff and getting it out.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Those fancy little bottles are for yuppies .. a real Canadian man uses a garden hose.


Whatever system you use, be it saline spray, netty pot, or the tap on the basin ... washing out your nasal passages is important.

 

[Jesenius]

When I blow my nose at the end of the day, it's black.

That means the mask did not stop those particles.

Well, I'm just a hobby maker and I do stock removal only. I have no condition for blacksmithing so I can't try how effective is it there. When I grind in my workshop I wear mask for 6-8 hours except launch break that I usually do in separated room. I have my nose everytime clean with no black impurities. I use P95 with organic veapour filter exactly like here. Do You have right mask size? That makes big differencies.

 

[12345678910]

Well, I'm just a hobby maker and I do stock removal only. I have no condition for blacksmithing so I can't try how effective is it there. When I grind in my workshop I wear mask for 6-8 hours except launch break that I usually do in separated room. I have my nose everytime clean with no black impurities. I use P95 with organic veapour filter exactly like here. Do You have right mask size? That makes big differencies.

Yes I have and recommend those half masks.

I was referring to my experience with the fabric masks.