Full face respirator?s

Robert Hankins

Robert Hankins

Joined
May 19, 2003
Messages
1,848
Switching to a full face respirator in the shop. After getting sick for the last time (Hopefully) grinding Ironwood and Cocobolo.
Did a search here and nothing specific to answer my questions before I lay out the bucks for a new one.

Need one that is comfortable, lightweight, easily replacable parts, easy to adjust and above all somewhat cool to wear. Live in the desert and even with a cooler running in the shop it can hit 95plus degs in the summer.

ohh yeah price is an issue:D
 
I have worked several hours at a time in the North full face shown on the link above. They are not cheap, nor are the cool.

Working around dangerous gases on a regular basis I find it amazing how people want cheap safety products that might get them by. I don't mean any disrespect by my comments, I just don't like seeing people get hurt b/c they place unrealistic demands on safety gear and practices.

The money it costs many to visit the doctor one time, when they have little, no, or poor health insurance, which is exactly the case with many who are self employed, will pay for one of the full face, passive type respirators found at the link above.

The money you save in hospital visits, rehab, fewer years on your life, and strain on your family will more than pay for a forced air ventilation system for your shop, and a forced air ventilation system that includes a hood for the maker. Good ventilation for your shop will also keep your shop cleaner, which means visitors feel you are even more of a professional, and your equipment lasts longer.

A half mask for a grinder is a complete waste of money, IMHO. If you can see any residue around your nose after removing the mask, material was getting past the seal.

If you have facial hair, or if the mask does not have a good enough seal to cover the exhaust vents, blow into the mask, and puff the mask out, you are wasting your time. Some is better than none, but I would not rish losing anyone to doing something half arse.

I enjoy mingling with everyone hear, and want to continue to do so for a long time. The knife industry needs each and every one of you.

Skimp on that next grinder, and get the safety down pat. Thanks for the work you do. I greatly appreciate your talent.
 
Terry Newton said:
The money it costs many to visit the doctor one time, when they have little, no, or poor health insurance, which is exactly the case with many who are self employed, will pay for one of the full face, passive type respirators found at the link above.
Click to expand...

Breathing medications: $400/month

Oxygen: $175/month

1/4'ly trip to doctor: $175

To have my breathing back: priceless.

I agree that anyone who does this fulltime would be doing themselves a great disservice by not doing everything they can afford to protect those precious lungs. I realize that not everyone can afford a $grand for a powered respirator, but that is what I eventually had to buy because I can't even breathe through a regular cartridge respirator anymore.

Well said. The only thing I would disagree with is about the half face respirator. Our periodic fit tests at work suggested that if they were properly adjusted, about 95% of people without facial hair could get an excellent seal. That said, your point about dirt in the nose is well taken. If you get dirt in your nostrils, something needs to change.

I'm not targeting you with this, Robert, just making a general comment to anyone who might listen to my sermon. Hope you never get sick from this again....
 
I recently got one of the 3M 7000 series respirators. It's a whole lot more comfortable than my old AO half face model and it seals a lot better around my goatee. It's also easier to breathe through. The only drawback as far as I can see is there's no ventilation around your face, so when the going gets hot, you'll need to take an occasional break to dry off your face and the inside of the mask. As I just added another grinder to the shop this weekend and it's going to take some time to figure out a new dust collection rig, I think I'll just keep on with the 3M rig. No black boogers since I got it!
 
fitzo said:
I realize that not everyone can afford a $grand for a powered respirator, but that is what I eventually had to buy because I can't even breathe through a regular cartridge respirator anymore.
Click to expand...

I waited around on eBay for a while and got a used Racal (now 3M) powered helmet (BreathEasy? particulate filter but not chemical) for about $150. Cost me another $100-ish to fix up. Still cheap compared to the new ones.

I'll probably upgrade to one of the ones with chemical filters, belt mounted motor, etc. some day, but this works amazingly better than an unpowered one for grinding with a beard. The motor means that there's air blowing out of your mask to keep the dust from creeping past your beard.
 
Come to think of it, I have always had a beard since I started using respirators. Perhaps that is why I always had such bad luck with the half-face style. Either that, or my bigger than average tater. :D :o
 
Terry n Fitzo your right on the money
Finally after more than half my life is gone do I learn to listen to good advice, or at least recognize it!
I think full face with fan type deal will work even in the heat, since summers last 9+ months here. Kinda like winters back east.
In august even the half mask gets pretty sweaty and have to take a break every 1/2hr or so.
Price become secondary at this point:D
No facial hair except a mustache
 
Robert, the cheaper fan powered respirators are for dusts. They don't offer chemical protection. You use synthetics a lot for handle material. The dust will be stopped but the phenol vapors and formaldehyde vapors that hot phenolic gives off present a chemical hazard (carcinogenic and liver). Even some woods make some nasty stuff. Those two woods you named are bad actors for that. They can cause sensitization, meaning all they do is stink right up to the day of a sudden severe allergic reaction in some people that can cause airway constriction, cyanosis, and death. There was a guy from oregon, name Ted McDowell, IIRC, that ground cocobolo for years then damn near dies suddenly. Your best bet is something that is good for "dusts, chemical vapors, and formaldehyde."

Doing the work you're doing, the best protection and cool, too, would be the Breathe Easy like I have. The powered respirators blow a lovely cool breeze across your face and provide a safety shield, too, so us old blind farts can wear our readers inside! The problem is the danged things are $1000 new.

I wish to hell I could provide a less expensive alternative, but I don't know what it would be. We both agree, though, that effective breathing protection is a must. I preach, I know, but I don't want anyone to have to live like I do.

Check out airwareamerica.com or call the guy and ask his recommendations. His name's Mike, he's pretty sharp.
 
I'm finding that a square funnel-shaped vent with a powerful vacuum on the other end of it, I get a fabulous cross-draft. Sparks and crud fall into the water bucket, and light dust and fumes that would ordinarily fill the shop with a haze all get sucked right into the vac. I got to say this setup works better than anything I have ever tried. Now all I need to do is vent it to the outside and I am golden. I shaped some stinky ironwood without a mask yesterday and I didn't even smell it. I'll post pics of the setup when I get it ported to the outside
 
with the 3M 7000 series mask, what filters do you guys use, and also, do they have sort of lens protection?
i need to get a full face mask soon
 
Jeff
I have a 1.5hp dust collector venting directly beneath my wheel, a cooler which gives a good cross breeze and a 20" fan with a AC Filter taped on front.
DON'T kid yourself.
Even with all the stuff going the filter picks up a bunch of microfine particles:eek:
 
I have one of the 3M full face air supplied units because I have a full beard and it works well. The air flow makes even summer work pleasent.

The full face shield is protected by tear offs like we used to use in motorcycle racing. Only had to replace one face shield in 5 years use.

Filter cartriges are easily replacable and are available in all varieties of dust fume and organic vapour configurations.

Expensive yes but nothing else works like them.
 
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