respirator for micarta

Evan Martin

Evan Martin

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
521
everyone say's get a respirator for working with micarta really we need to where it no matter what where working on. My question is do I need a certain filter to protect me from the dust or does it matter our lungs are how we get air to run our bodies I would hate to screw mine up
 
No, you don't want to mess up your lungs. Trust me on this. The damage is cumulative, and can change your life.

The best protection will come with filters that say "Formaldehyde/Organic vapor/P100". That will provide you with both chemical and particulate protection when grinding micarta and most things in a knife shop. Here's a brochure on half face 3M's Respirator guide I would select the 6000 series. Another manufacturer is AO Safety. Some people prefer fullface masks, too. They will use the same type cartridge.

That only applies, of course, if you have a properly fitted respirator. Here is a pdf from 3M on fitting: 3M Half face Respirator Fitting
If you wear a beard, most respirators are not very compatible except for the supplied air type.

To maximize the lifetime of chemical cartridges, it is best to keep them in a Ziploc bag between uses. They need to be replaced periodically, regardless. It is recommended to swipe the inside of the mask with a sanitizing handwipe before storage to keep microbial growth minimized.

Hope that helps.
 
I use a fabric dust mask for everything when I am light sanding or grinding. If shaping steel or a handle such as micarta I use a full face mask respirator. I have a beard but that only makes it leak a little around the edges you still get alot of protection from dust. You really do not want to breath this stuff and especially metal.
 
I you can smell the micarta through the mask you need a different filter. Not only the dust is toxic but the fumes from the resins are too. Also many items we work on a regular basis can be toxic especially natural shells. MOP and Abalone can kill you fast and kill you slow. If you don't die from the fumes of cutting without proper equip the dust will give you silicosis. Not fun. The money spent on a quality mask is much better than the money for the hospital bills later.

Chuck
 
If I'm in my shop I have a respirator on. There is dust on everything and it's in the air even when I'm not on the grinder. Wear it all the time.
-John
 
I have a question. I have a good respirator with particle/chemical cartridges. I am using a hand file (bastard). Do you think I need to be using the respirator when filing the blank by hand? the particles seem large and heavy.
 
Get more two packs of the cartridges than you need right away also. I invariably have to shop to even find the ones I need for my MSA respirator. I must have went through four venders the other day trying to find the 100 I use for it that is the best one for what we do.

Thought I finally had them and just ordered them through amazon and they emailed me that it was cancelled due to not being in stock three days later. Nice!
Did finally find them though. But seriously I go through this everytime. You might also find a nice air tight sealed container to store it in when not in use along with the bag it comes in. Those work but I double it. The filters work whether you use it or not so don't leave it laying out not sealed up for long periods of time to maximize the life of them.

By the way. If I'm in any enclosed space dusting up particulate matter in anyway I wear it. I have noticed some makers have full beards and always wondered how they seal up the things with that but anyway, I clean shave just for that seal. As someone with asthma you don't want it trust me.
STR
 
fitzo said:
No, you don't want to mess up your lungs. Trust me on this. The damage is cumulative, and can change your life.

The best protection will come with filters that say "Formaldehyde/Organic vapor/P100". That will provide you with both chemical and particulate protection when grinding micarta and most things in a knife shop. Here's a brochure on half face 3M's Respirator guide I would select the 6000 series. Another manufacturer is AO Safety. Some people prefer fullface masks, too. They will use the same type cartridge.

That only applies, of course, if you have a properly fitted respirator. Here is a pdf from 3M on fitting: 3M Half face Respirator Fitting
If you wear a beard, most respirators are not very compatible except for the supplied air type.

To maximize the lifetime of chemical cartridges, it is best to keep them in a Ziploc bag between uses. They need to be replaced periodically, regardless. It is recommended to swipe the inside of the mask with a sanitizing handwipe before storage to keep microbial growth minimized.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

I phoned 3M, and advised them of the toxins released by grinding Micarta, i.e., Formaldehyde and Phenol, and they advised me of using either the one listed above, their #60925, "Formaldehyde/Organic Vapor/P100", or their #60926,"Multi-gas/Vapor/P100". The rep. I was speaking to was leaning more toward the "Multi-gas/Vapor/P100" to "cover a little more bases", but she said that either one would protect you.
- Mitch
 
Bigfattyt, I don't feel that a respirator is necessary for filing metal. Micarta or even wood, on the other hand, make really fine particles, and just to be safe I'd wear the respirator even when I'm filing or sanding it. Having some lung disease, I personally wear a respirator when I'm hand finishing blades.

Two things will do your lungs in: fine particles and chemical vapors. For particles, one should use a filter that says "P100", which is essentially as fine a filter as available. For chemicals, you can use a normal "Organic Vapors" cartridge. You can get cartridges that include one, or both. When you get to working formaldehyde, it should specifically include formaldehyde on the cartridge label if you want "safest".

When you grind metal, you can basically get by with a P100, because you have only particles. Someone may mention vanadium in steels, so I'll mention that vanadium is a filterable particle (like cigaret smoke, or zinc fumes). For wood, solvents, micarta, etc, it's best to include a chemical filter section in your cartridge choice.

In order to avoid using up chemical filters just to do grinding, you can evaluate the economics and might perhaps purchase a second respirator solely for particle filters (which are much cheaper, and don't have an expiration date).

I have both sets for my powered respirator, and switch them out based on the task. At $90 a set for the three chem cartridges, I try to use them wisely.
 
Troop said:
I phoned 3M, and advised them of the toxins released by grinding Micarta, i.e., Formaldehyde and Phenol, and they advised me of using either the one listed above, their #60925, "Formaldehyde/Organic Vapor/P100", or their #60926,"Multi-gas/Vapor/P100". The rep. I was speaking to was leaning more toward the "Multi-gas/Vapor/P100" to "cover a little more bases", but she said that either one would protect you.
- Mitch
Click to expand...

That's good to know, Mitch. Thanks for both calling and sharing! I'll recommend the multi-vapor cartridge in the future.
 
Just FYI...

I do very limited and occasional micarta work (read: maybe 1 knife a month). I always work in a well ventilated garage with the door open when cutting or grinding micarta, and I though the particulate respirator I was using was enough, even though I could smell the fumes.

I've just now gotten mostly over a 3 month cough. VERY hard, non-productive cough that was bad enough at times that I actually vomited. Had to sleep sitting upright for about a week at it's worst. It's possible that it could have been a really, really lingering case of bronchitis, but even so, I know it wasn't helped by the gift work I did leading up to the Christmas holiday. Chest X-rays have turned up fine, and Im pretty much back to normal and thus likely just fine, but that was enough to scare me into better respiration.

--nathan
 
For those that think they are so tough they dont need a resp. There was a well known custom pocketknife maker in the 1970s that used exclusively white paper micarta for handle material. After 3 two week stays in the hospital it was finally determined that phenol posioning and liver damage was the cause. He didnt return to his shop until some friends completely cleaned all of his shop and equipment inside and out. Phenol as a chemical applied to cover one square inch of the body surface is fatal. I dont allow any micarta in my shop.
Boopuppy
Never sell anything sharp to your enimies.
 
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