respirators

M

manassas dragon

Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
158
i've read that respirators are vital due to dust from handles and steel. most pictures that are posted of knives in progress don't show a respirator being
worn. do you guys actually wear them always/sometimes/occasionally/never?

anyway i was pricing them at home depot in the 35$-40$ range. do you guys
consider them adequate. looking at past threads on the subject showed respirators as high as 300$.

looks like making knives is a huge drain on the budget for a hobbyist.
 
manassas dragon said:
i've read that respirators are vital due to dust from handles and steel. most pictures that are posted of knives in progress don't show a respirator being
worn. do you guys actually wear them always/sometimes/occasionally/never?

anyway i was pricing them at home depot in the 35$-40$ range. do you guys
consider them adequate. looking at past threads on the subject showed respirators as high as 300$.

looks like making knives is a huge drain on the budget for a hobbyist.
Click to expand...

P100 filters are what you need.

If I forget to wear it, I really notice.
 
I have worn a respirator with a P100 filter since I started working with the exotic woods I use to rehandle knives. I wear it EVERY time I go into the shop, for the entire time I'm in the shop...dust particulars hang around for a long time. Since I started down the knife making road, that habit hasn't changed when grinding metal.

Mine is a 3M, half mask and it cost around $40 at Lowe's as I recall. It's comfortable and after about 5 minutes I don't even notice it any more until my kids see it and point and laugh. Get a good one with a good head strap (mine has a split thing that fits around the back of your head) that is comfortable and you'll get into the habit of wearing it.

The filter replacements:

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Cartridge-Filter-60922-Acid/dp/B000N7JLX2

Are more than the price of the mask every time you replace 2.

Here is the respirator:

http://www.amazon.com/3M-6300-6000-..._1_cc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301327274&sr=1-1-catcorr
 
I didn't wear a respirator for 20 years. That was stupid. The amount of black dust I was coughing up and blowing out of my nose was really amazing. Yes I was young and bulletproof. I have been wearing a respirator when grinding or after grinding for the last 5-6 years, and yes, I now have a $300 respirator. The regular half mask with P100 cartridges is the starting point, you do not want to go below that. Going to better respirators will increase your comfort and convenience

-Page
 
I always wear mine, I could see taking it off for photos though. I'm going to upgrade to a full face respirator, I don't shave very often and I can tell my half face respirator isn't cutting it.
 
I recommend always wearing one. I too used to be bulletproof, and it caused me to have more sinus infections than I could shake a stick at and one bout of walking Pneumonia. Since we installed a dust collector in our shop the change to my health has greatly improved.
 
I have a 3m half mask, i would get that at the least, preferrably get a full face one or a positive air. I got sick of trying to filter it so i mounted my grinder on a cart and roll it outside now, aint doing it inside anymore.
 
#6200 Medium size
#6300 Large size (most popular)

#2091 P100 filter 2-pk.
#2097 P100 filter w/ organic vapor relief 2-pk.
They are economical and work pretty well. Our customers tell us they like them because they fit well.

That would be a bare minimum with all the different types of dusts and chems you Makers encounter.

The #6900 is a full face respirator and uses the same filters.
 
I recently switched to a fullface respirator and am kicking myself for not choosing it from the start. It is sooooooo much more comfortable and effective. I can't tell you how many time debris has bounced off the halfmask and under my glasses. I spent 13yrs in a T&D shop breathing in everything from grinding dust to vaporized tapping fluid and coolant.... I wonder when that is going it catch up with me.
 
Rick Marchand said:
I recently switched to a fullface respirator and am kicking myself for not choosing it from the start. It is sooooooo much more comfortable and effective. I can't tell you how many time debris has bounced off the halfmask and under my glasses. I spent 13yrs in a T&D shop breathing in everything from grinding dust to vaporized tapping fluid and coolant.... I wonder when that is going it catch up with me.
Click to expand...

Doesn't the facemask fog up on you? I like the idea of the extra eye protection.
 
Nope.... no foggin way!

3M 6900 Series
images
 
What do you guys with beards use? I see Gossman sometimes with a half mask but wonder if that's actually working due to the beard. I know the guys around here with beards use full helmet jobs with a filter on their belt but those are $1000's and they're dealing with acid fumes. And yes, Scott looks like me in 10 years.:eek: LOL
 
Shotgun said:
What do you guys with beards use? I see Gossman sometimes with a half mask but wonder if that's actually working due to the beard. I know the guys around here with beards use full helmet jobs with a filter on their belt but those are $1000's and they're dealing with acid fumes. And yes, Scott looks like me in 10 years.:eek: LOL
Click to expand...

I suggest getting the filter ports surgically implanted on the side of your neck.... or... you can fold your beard up over your face... that should filter out debris.:p:thumbup:

Seriously, though... I know that even my short beard compromised the half mask. If you want to test the effectiveness, put a patch of tape over the filter port and take a slow deep breath in. If you are able to do it, your mask is compromised. I had a tiny bit of leaking with the half mask and called it good nuff. This full face just about sucks my eyeballs out of my head when I test it.

Rick
 
Silicone grease rubbed on your beard where the mask makes contact will help with the seal if you are having issues. Its a trick we use for divers who have beards. Some use petroleum jelly but that can degrade rubber over time.
 
Yeah, half mask doesn't work for me with my beard much at all. So the full face jobs do the trick? Do you have to tuck your beard inside? ;)
 
Don't use silicone based grease with anything made of silicone.... it will melt. Please, don't ask me how I know this.
 
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