Does as an "all in one" respirator, eye and hearing protection system exist?

R

Rancho5

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Feb 10, 2015
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I wear glasses so I use a full face shield in the shop. Then I finagle on a set of hearing protectors when I need them. Now that I'll be knife grinding and making micarta I need a respirator and I'm wondering how I'm going to get that added too. I've read lots of threads on the importance of a good respirator and also in changing cartridges so I've gotta get a good one. With my glasses I'm kind of limited in getting everything on at once.

Any suggestions? I do not have a shop but work in the garage so a clean air system isn't really an option.
 
Safety Manager in a chemical plant here - unfortunately, there is no such beast that will do everything you want. There will be some trade-offs. Here are some options for you:

1. Full-face dual cartridge respirator (such as a Sperian Survivair, MSA, or 3M) with particulate filters and add a spectacle kit inside it for your glasses. Then you just need to add earplugs or earmuffs for hearing protection. The respirator itself provides the protection of a face shield.

2. If you can work without your glasses, you can use a Trend Air Shield (full face shield and powered-air purifying respirator together) and add earplugs or earmuffs for hearing protection.

3. The lowest cost but biggest pain option will be your glasses; a face shield; a 3M 8211, 8511, or half-face dual cartridge respirator; and add earplugs or earmuffs for hearing protection.

Good luck with whichever one you choose! Let me know if I can help you out with any additional information.
 
#3 above if your on a budget.

If money is no object do a google search for 3M PAPR. I work in a chemical plant and they are super comfy and work great.
 
dr_fosg8 said:
#3 above if your on a budget.

If money is no object do a google search for 3M PAPR. I work in a chemical plant and they are super comfy and work great.
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Yeah 3M makes a versaflo helmet with built in hearing protection, face shield and hardhat.

I've got the same helmet without the hearing protection. Be warned that retail on the whole system (PAPR, hood, batteries, etc) is $$$. I got a killer deal on mine with ebay luck, and it was still very expensive. Retail on it was like $1500, without the super high capacity battery.



I will say, it's a million times better than any kind of face mask type respirator. Comfortable, effective with facial hair, battery and cartridges last a really long time.


I don't always wear it, but when I'm making damascus, running an angle grinder and the surface grinder all day, I pretty much wear it, all day.
 
".....2. If you can work without your glasses, you can use a Trend Air Shield (full face shield and powered-air purifying respirator together) and add earplugs or earmuffs for hearing protection......"


I used a Trend Air Shield with glasses for several years just fine? I switched to an Aircap II and wear it with my glasses, also.

Hearing is best protected separately. I have Bose noise compensation headphones as well as "range muffs" for high impact noise.

This general shop use set seems pretty good for the money:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/152709/Trend-Airshield-Pro-with-Ear-Defenders.aspx
 
I will certainly echo the need for protection, especially earing protection which is often overlooked by makers. I have tinnitus, also know as ringing in the ears. In my case though, what I hear 24 hours per day, every single day of my life, is a high pitched whine. I am, of course, to blame for this condition as I failed to wear hearing protection. Word to the wise, fellas.
 
I've got tinnitus from shooting shotguns ALOT as a teenager without protection.

I've ordered the 3M 7503 and the pink particulate filters. It should all fit under my face shield and I'll wear foam earplugs. Should be good to go.

Thanks for all the great advise.
 
12345678910 said:
These are the best earplugs I've found

Highest noise reduction ratings

Very comfortable

Very cheap if you buy a bulk package
but you can buy one pair at a time at a safety store for a dollarish to try them out.

http://www.howardleight.com/earplugs/max-lite
Click to expand...

One of my other hobbies is as an audiophile, so my hearing is very important to me. In conflict with this, I also enjoy noisy things, hunting/shooting, woodworking and knifemaking. Whenever possible, I double up on hearing protection, muffs over plugs.

I like the Howard Leight plugs and have used those as well, but prefer the fit of their MAX plugs, in addition to the more comfortable fit (for me) they add another 3dB of NRR.

http://www.howardleight.com/earplugs/max Although not identified by name, they're available through McMaster Carr http://www.mcmaster.com/#54725t32/=w4ytjy

The Achilles heel of any foam plug is proper insertion. Doesn't matter what the rating is, if they're not fully properly seated, they won't block sound. I've seen the instructions to pull on the ear while inserting them but have never been able to get it right. What works for me is to roll them tight and just before inserting them, wet them with a little saliva. This lubricates them enough that they slip in without sticking in the ear canal. The way I explain how a properly inserted plug feels is that "If they don't feel like they're in too deep, they're not deep enough.".

-Kurt
 
bndshardr said:
The Achilles heel of any foam plug is proper insertion. Doesn't matter what the rating is, if they're not fully properly seated, they won't block sound.

I've seen the instructions to pull on the ear while inserting them but have never been able to get it right.
What works for me is to roll them tight and just before inserting them, wet them with a little saliva.

This lubricates them enough that they slip in without sticking in the ear canal.

The way I explain how a properly inserted plug feels is that "If they don't feel like they're in too deep, they're not deep enough.".

-Kurt
Click to expand...

It took me a little experimentation to find what I liked

I like that they roll down to almost nothing, easy to put in.

The thing I have to watch for is having clean fingers before rolling them.
 
12345678910 said:
It took me a little experimentation to find what I liked

I like that they roll down to almost nothing, easy to put in.

The thing I have to watch for is having clean fingers before rolling them.
Click to expand...

I tend to reuse them until they're too grungy to put in my mouth :barf:

When that happens, I leave them in a pants pocket and run them through the washing machine. That works pretty well, but eventually, when rolled for insertion, they expand too quickly to get them in, that's when the hit the bottom of the trash can.
 
So then are the 3m 6000 7000 series cartridge respirators ok to use for grinding and buffing? I currently use that set up with glasses and plugs. I think I need more face protection than just my glasses. Please share your thoughts.
 
sahunter06 said:
So then are the 3m 6000 7000 series cartridge respirators ok to use for grinding and buffing? I currently use that set up with glasses and plugs. I think I need more face protection than just my glasses. Please share your thoughts.
Click to expand...
I also wear glasses and thought I was good until a piece flew around and in and messed me up. I ordered a
full face shield. I'll try to paste a link.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VXXUWK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
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