Safety first

[GRapp]

Well, in my case, maybe not first but better late than never I suppose. I've ground steel on a bench grinder on occasion for years with no lung protection. Now that I'm studying to make knives and profiling a handfull, I'm realizing it's a ggod idea. Will the N95s I have be enough or do I need to get a respirator?

 

[fitzo]

All I can tell you is that the crap you suck in making knives can show up in lung x-rays.
IMO, get a decent quality respirator with cartridges suitable for welders (particle + fume protection), provided you can get a seal (no facial hair). I use a PAPR (Positive Air Pressure respirator) because I have a full beard.

 

[seanj]

Definitely get a respirator. If you don't wear glasses I'd recommend a full face respirator. I have a 3M Full Face Respirator and it was worth every penny. They come in small, medium and large. I would get several different quality cartridges for it. The one that fitzo mentions is similar to mine where I can add the PAPR kit at a later date. These Respirators aren't cheap, but to me they are worth every penny. I ended up with lung problems because I didn't pay attention to this for a number of years.

 

[GRapp]

Copy that and thanks.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

PAPR is the way to go. It costs more than a simple N95, but is what you really need for knifemaking.

 

[Ricky-O]

For those of you who use PAPR, do you wear safety glasses under it to protect your eyes, or does the mask have a safety glass lens? I tend to scratch my cheap safety glasses, and wonder how expensive it would be if I scratched the lens on a PAPR.

 

[weo]

if I scratched the lens on a PAPR

Depending on what you get it might be as cheap at 20-30 for a new lens (but it's been about 5-6 years since I bought my replacement). There are clear replaceable/disposable lens covers that I use. Peel and stick.