Forced-air respirator system

P.Brewster

P.Brewster

Joined
Jul 25, 2007
Messages
1,380
I bit the bullet on a modular forced-air respirator system after some research. I'm only 1 day into using it but so far I'm very happy. There are premium systems/components available, and there are budget systems/components. In an attempt to strike a balance between economy and quality, I mixed/matched and went with the premium headpiece and the budget air pump. I spent a total of about $650, compared to $1200+ for a complete premium system or $400 for a complete budget system or a Trend.

Here's what I got:
Headpiece: 3M M-107 (has a flame-proof neck seal)
Headpiece accessories: 3M M-972 flame-proof headpiece cover and peel-off visor covers
Breathing tube: 3M BT-30 (connects headpiece to air-pump tube)
Air-pump, air-pump tube: Turbine Products Breathcool II

I did buy the half-mask Breathcool kit, because it was the same price as buying the air pump, tube and connectors individually. It is quite obvious that the air-pump is their flagship product because the half-mask and breathing tube components are extremely poor quality.

The system works great! The 3M headpiece is especially nice. At the lowest setting with a 25 foot hose, it feels like a fan is blowing in my face ... my lips were actually chapped after a few hours. The air is indeed cool! My only complaint is the strong vinyl odor from the air-pump tube. Hopefully that dissipates; perhaps I can find a tube with less stank.

The back-story is as follows: I've used a full-face 3M respirator for years. It was fine for weekend grinding, but I went full-time last August and now I'm at the grinder about 30 hours per week. Due to the weird jigs I use, I am often running my KMG backwards with a 36 grit belt, so I'm literally being showered with sparks. The sparks would hit the respirator filters and melt holes in them. I bought some kevlar fabric and made some flame-proof filter covers, which solved this problem. However, I'm not clean-shaven and I know I wasn't getting a proper seal from the respirator. I've mitigated, but not solved, the seal problems by using silicone earplugs as 'face caulk'. I've had my eye on the Trend respirator for years, but it seems they haven't improved the overall quality beyond medium-well, as evidenced by numerous reviews. I needed something that, unlike Sex Panther, would work every time, all the time. Hence my choice.
 
I am glad to see I am not the only safety nut on here. I know a lot of guys are trying to protect their lungs. I would advise to anyone that is going to use any type of resperator to get a breathing test. You can pass out if your lungs can not draw through a filter. If not then what P.Brewster bought will do the trick.
 
Yeah, I bought a 3m Versaflo system, and consider it to be one of the best purchases I ever made. I've noticed a big quality difference in my breathing since. I also have a full beard, and the respirators weren't cutting it. They're also all uncomfortable enough that I simply can't stand using them.


All my buddies made fun of me for looking like a character in Breaking Bad at first, but have since asked me to keep an eye out for a deal on one for them also.


Mine has the hard-hat type head-gear, and last week I had two belts break back to back and slap the top of my head, while a friend was watching me make a knife for him. He jumped about 15 feet each time, and I didn't feel a thing. Nice bonus feature I didn't realize I'd need. ;)

I only have to charge the battery about once a week.


Anyway, PAPR is where it's at. I'm not a safety nut, but I am a bit of a health nut, and I think they're two different things. I'm ok with immediate risks that may kill or maim quickly, it's the slow subversive long term stuff, that'll still be lingering well after I'm too old to make knives, or be the cause of what keeps me from making knives, that I'm worried about.
 
mikethelnife - yup, I felt a distinct throat irritation and chest congestion after multi-hour grind sessions with the full-face respirator. I see the forced-air system as an investment in health and comfort.

Javand - the M-107 that I got was $200, whereas the hard-had version is $400. I just couldn't bring myself to double my investment on that single component for the additional protection. The M-107 does cover the majority of my head so I think it will protect me from most belt-grinder mishaps.

Down to road I may upgrade to the 3M PAPR system but for now I'll rock the air-pump and try not to trip over the air line.
 
Yeah I lucked out and got the whole package new for $500 on a "Make Offer" ebay listing. Didn't expect to get it, and was already working out another system when I did.


There's definitely a few different ways to put together a kit, most of the blower units can be adapted to various head gear, etc, so the trick is just being willing to do a little tinkering. Well worth whatever effort it takes though.
 
FWIW

I have sleep apnea and use a device called a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) at night to alleviate my snoring (the alternatives were sleeping in a different room or my wife killin me and getting off on the he needed killin defense).

Anyway enough humor...................... my first CPAP gave me a sore throat, nosebleeds and caused ear problems. Had that one a week then replaced it with a deluxe model, heated and humidified, which solved all my issues in days. That was over 10 years ago. The technology has improved and current CPAPs are more intelligent and, best of all, almost silent which pleases my wife. The array of headgear for these medical appliances is astounding too. There are also, as a second line of defense, cheap, in-line HEPA filters for the hoses available that you change out once a month. It's amazing how grey they get, even in a bedroom, imagine the shop!!!! I've used my old one in the shop when doing a bunch of cutting on my tablesaw and I pretty much didn't even notice I was wearing it much less the dust. It worked like a charm (noisier than the current one but who cares in the shop).

My point is that if there is some way to humidify the air your "forced-air respirator system" supplies it may help with your sore throats and other issues. Another point I should mention is that these sorts of things require diligent attention to cleaning. Washing masks and hoses may keep you from getting an upper respiratory infection that you won't like..............

Just a few thoughts

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel
 
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I made and used such a device 10 years ago for construction demolition. One word: drool.
 
Drool............... hahhahhahahahahaha. I've noticed that with my Res-Po-Rater that has a snorkel mouth piece (it should have a draintube into a catch bottle). It seems there's, frequently, a tradeoff of some sort, more comfort (created by better design and materials) costs accordingly.

That said:

There's something to be said for PROFESSIONALLY designed personal safety products (which, I suppose, is why they cost what they cost). Given the number of hazards we all incur on a daily basis, scrimping on one's shop safety gear (IMHO) is a bad decision.

I'm learning to weld and I recently went through a debate with my wife on why I needed a REALLY good safety gear. That debate began over me wanting an expensive, auto-darkening welding helmet and not the $41 super special from Harbor Freight. Since my eyes are priceless (to us both) and she just had a $6,000 shot in one eye to correct a "floater" the discussion was short-lived with her telling me to buy the best (i.e. safest) helmet I could find (despite welding being a bucket-list hobby thing for me). I should post a pic.............

Anyway I think your $650 solution will do a great job for you and I'd always encourage others on BF to pay not scrimp on personal safety gear despite me sometimes using a homegrown solution.

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel
 
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