Respirators

i have both. I tend to use the half face as I can don it easier and remove my safety glasses to check my work if need be. The half face i got from Harbor Freight and it has a good seal for my face. They come in 3 sizes I believe, so you may have to estimate size and hope for the best.
 
Kevin McGovern said:
i have both. I tend to use the half face as I can don it easier and remove my safety glasses to check my work if need be. The half face i got from Harbor Freight and it has a good seal for my face. They come in 3 sizes I believe, so you may have to estimate size and hope for the best.
Click to expand...

No, you don't need to hope for the best

You go to a real store that is specialized in industrial safety supplies

They are certified to trial fit you for a respirator

They carry ones that are reputable and carry parts and filters.
HF and other retail stores carry no name import face-pieces and filters, but next year when the contract changes, where do you get filters for your mask ?

P100 filters

North Safety and 3M half masks
You can buy online later and the order numbers will be active for years and years.

I like the soft black silicone.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...You-Want-In-One-Place?p=12016587#post12016587
see the Safety Equipment


A half mask is 50 bucks or less
A full mask is a few hundred.
Plus the face piece will tend to get scratched up.
 
I don't use either. I use a PAPR. Since it is built into a safety helmet, it doesn't need to fit any specific size face. Beards and face hair are no problem either. The big plus is they help keep your face cool in the hot summer.
 
I use a Moldex 8000 half face with a P100 particulate filter cartridge and an additional pre filter. I get it all from Northern Safety.
I use the same setup when working in heavy grain dust as well.


Sent via telegraph with the same fingers I use to sip whiskey.
 
+1 from me for the full face 3M.

I had a half face and I find the full face (w/ sacrificial peel off shields) to be more comfortable overall and I feel impervious to the floating crud!!!!!

It is heavier than half face and safety glasses. I would occasionally get s$#t in my eyes with that setup.
 
I have a half-face 3m.

The biggest problem with half face masks is that you still need to find decent glasses, which is hard since with regular style glasses there's room around the edges for small pieces to bounce in. I've got some full seal goggles on the way so we'll see how that goes.

I like the idea of a full face mask but they can be a pain to get ear muffs over.
 
I use a 3m half shield at home but forced air is much nicer, more spendy but nicer. I have some lung issues and with any kind of cartridge type I feel like I'm struggling some.

This and eyewear is not the place to cut corners.

I also wear earplugs when doing anything noisy. Long time musician got to save what I have left.
 
I use a breathe easy PAPR when doing any grinding, handle shaping or other dirty work. Hand sanding I tend to use a 3m half mask with some Dewalt goggles that I can wear over my Rx glasses. I'm bearded so I should probably use the PAPR all of the time but it's a lot of gear.
 
12345678910 said:
No, you don't need to hope for the best

You go to a real store that is specialized in industrial safety supplies

They are certified to trial fit you for a respirator

They carry ones that are reputable and carry parts and filters.
HF and other retail stores carry no name import face-pieces and filters, but next year when the contract changes, where do you get filters for your mask ?

P100 filters

North Safety and 3M half masks
You can buy online later and the order numbers will be active for years and years.

I like the soft black silicone.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...You-Want-In-One-Place?p=12016587#post12016587
see the Safety Equipment


A half mask is 50 bucks or less
A full mask is a few hundred.
Plus the face piece will tend to get scratched up.
Click to expand...

When I said, "hope for the best" I was referring to the fact that the unit is sealed in a pouch, so you can't try it on in store. Of course if it doesn't fit, you shouldn't wear it and return it for one that fits. As for masks lasting "years and years", the valves are certified for a year, the face gasket for 2. At least that's what DOD goes by.
 
Kevin McGovern said:
As for masks lasting "years and years", the valves are certified for a year, the face gasket for 2. At least that's what DOD goes by.
Click to expand...



I didn't say that. You've got to read the words that are there.

You can buy online later and the order numbers will be active for years and years.
Click to expand...

I mean that the models are stable and consistent

You can buy parts and fittings and filters by model number because specs and part numbers are consistent year after year.
 
12345678910 said:
I didn't say that. You've got to read the words that are there.



I mean that the models are stable and consistent

You can buy parts and fittings and filters by model number because specs and part numbers are consistent year after year.
Click to expand...

I did read it. On the off chance you can actually replace the face piece (not likely) it will cost more than a new mask. So the benefit of having replacement parts on an item that is likely to reach the end of it's useful life in two years isn't really a benefit. Guess I should have pointed that out.
 
I use a North half face for knife work, but I have spent a lot of time in the North full face at a former job. The full face does seal better in my opinion. It's also nice that you don't need additional eye protection with it. The level eye protection is superior with the full face. However I think they're more prone to fogging than a half face and glasses.
Fit is different with them also. I wear a medium large full face but medium small half face. The larger sizes leak around the nose cup for me. As was suggested earlier you really should get a proper fit test prior to buying a respirator. Truthfully you should get medically cleared as well as you can hurt or kill your self restricting your breathing if your respiratory system is weakened. Just something to consider if you know it may be an issue for you.
 
I wanted to add the reason I "hate" safety glasses is I hate them at the grinder because my particular setup has my eye about level with the belt as it's coming toward me, so when I'm looking down on the platen or wheel glasses don't really give me good protection from anything coming off the top of the belt.

I wear them all day at work for almost 20 years and generally forget I have them on the rest of the time.
 
kuraki said:
I wanted to add the reason I "hate" safety glasses is I hate them at the grinder because my particular setup has my eye about level with the belt as it's coming toward me, so when I'm looking down on the platen or wheel glasses don't really give me good protection from anything coming off the top of the belt.

I wear them all day at work for almost 20 years and generally forget I have them on the rest of the time.
Click to expand...
a8aff44a3bf6abc019b027e84dc5f780.jpg

These should help.
 
Kevin McGovern said:
I did read it. On the off chance you can actually replace the face piece (not likely) it will cost more than a new mask. So the benefit of having replacement parts on an item that is likely to reach the end of it's useful life in two years isn't really a benefit. Guess I should have pointed that out.
Click to expand...

I bought a no name respirator in a big box hardware store.

Three months later I went back for new filters.

The filter attachment method was proprietary to that mask. They stopped carrying that mask and accessories. It was proprietary to that store for that contract life.

I had to throw away what was a new mask to me after 3 months.
It didn't make it the two years


If you pick North or you pick 3M, you can be sure things will continue to be consistent and available.
You can order filters on Amazon because you can trust the part numbers.


Is that clear enough?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top