One reason why to use a good respirator!!!!

You folks opened the door, so I'll jump on my soapbox again.....

THERE IS NO EXCUSE GOOD ENOUGH FOR NOT WEARING A GOOD RESPIRATOR!

I just had my annual CAT scan last week, and haven't heard anything from the Doc, so I'm assuming things are fine....but, if having your ribs spread open (with a couple ripped loose from your breastbone), a chunk of your lung cut out, and then 8-10 weeks recovery sounds like fun, then just keep making up excuses not to wear a respirator. I used to have the big red "S" on my chest too.....but after my scenario, I learned that none of us are "bullet proof".

OK, crawling down off my soapbox now.

I had a lot of time to contemplate things while I was recovering, and did a great deal of research on protecting myself. All of this stuff we deal with in the shop is cumulative....meaning that it will eventually sneak up on you, unless you ALWAYS protect yourself. Just going to Home Depot, and buying any old "mask" isn't good enough...spend the money and get the best quality in a mask you can find. I settled on the 3M 7500 half face masks because they offer everything I need.....outstanding "seal" (provided they are sized properly), comfort, bottom exhaust (doesn't fog glasses), and easy to maintain.
The baseline filters are 3M (P100 type) 20XX...which is the basic particulate filter....with successive levels of protection from specific hazards being added from that point. 2091 is the most common filter. I found a great deal on 2 cases of 2076HF filters, and purchased them, along with a dozen of the 7503 masks.
Here's a link to the various 3M filters:http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Health/Safety/Products/Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LES9MG812H2_nid=8D5S5LZ17HbeF3RH7CD92Ngl
 
Any of the P100 filters are particulate baseline filters. Anything beyond the 2091 filters just adds additional protections from specific hazards.

For example, those filters I mentioned (2076HF) are particulate protection filters, with an additional protection of other hazards, up to and including Hydrogen Fluoride. In other words the additional protections are added into the filter, but it's still for particulates.
 
I have been using this style of mask from 3M for years. I usually keep two, one with the big filters and one with the round pink filters for particulates. They are by far the best fit of any I have tried. A freind of mine that does custom auto paint work put me on to them .
 
How long this pink filter will work if i grind the blade bevels for example? I ve used similar noname mask for sometime now, but it takes a round prefilter on a vapor cartridge and I can't find them anymore. May be it's time to switch. The filter price is anything but cheap though and I did not see any bulk filters. The link from 3M site does not work for me for some reason.
 
Guys, after googling, I found the 3M 7500 half face masks go for $27.00 on Discounts Saftey Gear.com. The filters range from $3.00 ea. to $5-7.00, depending on what protection is needed.

I don't know if these are good prices or not, but they seem reasonable to me. Hope this helps.

Dave
 
What kind of protection do I need for stuff like hand sanding wet and filing? I had assumed none, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
 
If there is ANY question in your mind as to whether you need protection or not, then the answer is YOU DO. For all those years I THOUGHT I was protecting myself with a cheap half face mask. I never had the sense to realize that those black lines on each side of my nose was the mask NOT doing it's job. Teaching yourself about how and what to protect yourself with is as important as any aspect of your knifemaking.
 
David Stifle said:
I don't wear a respirator because it fogs up my glasses. Can you guys reccomend a respirator that would let me see without fogging up my glasses at every breath? Man, that's a scary story, I'm a convert.

Dave
Click to expand...

I got sick of fogging glasses and wearing safety glasses on top of glasses at work (cabinet maker). I ended up just getting contact lenses and have never looked back. Don't have to clean dust off your glasses every 10 minutes, don't get sweat smudges, not annoying with ear muffs etc. etc.

obviously they're a pain in the ass if you get a lot of dust in them BUT YOU SHOULD BE WEARING EYE PROTECTION! haha. Anyway. Works for me.

Tim.
 
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