forging with a respirator?

[clockworkfish]

Is there a need for a respirator while forging? and would something like this trend airshield pro be ok with the heat? and would it protect against hot bits of metal flying towards someones face?

 

[mgysgthath]

A face shield is never a bad idea, nor are Didymium glasses to protect your eyes from the forge light. I don't think a respirator is necessary, just good ventilation and a Carbon Monoxide alarm etc.

 

[sunshadow]

Depends on the airborne particulate level from other operations done previously or concurrently, or if you are using coal in an enclosed space. I never wear a respirator when forging, but then I forge outside, or if forging inside forge before grinding. Eye protection is a must, driving to the emergency room holding your eye open to keep the chunk stuck to the surface of the eyeball from doing further damage really sucks (I was done forging at that point but had the safety glasses off while putting away the forge and the blower turned over and blew a piece of metal into my eye)

-Page

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

It depends on whether or not you have asthma or want to keep from getting it. I can't forge, grind, paint, do pretty much anything without a respirator.

 

[Michael Kemp]

... as for Didymium - somebody correct me if I'm wrong - it's great for blocking sodium flare for glass blowers - but it does NOT block IR - so you'll still cook your retina if you stare into a welding-heat forge wearing Didymium glasses.

 

[Carcara]

Thanks for catching that. Didymium glasses are worn by lamp workers like bead makers who work
with a torch and borosilicate glass. Glass blowers wear what are called shade 3 furnace viewing glasses in the industrial safety catalogs which are meant to block out infra red radiation. These are the green glass
lenses like the shade 5 lenses are found in oxy-acetelene torch goggles and shade 10 lenses are found in welding hoods. The shade number refers to the darkness of the tint.

 

[mgysgthath]

Yes you're right about the glasses, I forgot to mention there is more than one spectrum to worry about. I use a green IR face shield and the glasses.