Supplied air respirators

T

TomW

Joined
Oct 7, 1998
Messages
1,128
I have to go a bit farther than filter respirators and need suppplied air for some current projects.
I've checked the prices from a few fiberglass distributors and they're pricey.
Overpriced actually but necessary.
Can anybody offer me any advice?
 
Check here:

www.airwareamerica.com

They offer a couple varieties depending on whether you want simple particle removal or chemical filtration also.

I own the "BreathEasy" with the visor instead of the helmet. I used the helmet variety for many years at work. They are both very effective, and I personally find the cool air blowing down across the face a boon. However, they are very expensive and cartridge replacement is not cheap, either.

They are VERY effective, though. Perhaps too effective! ;) Last week I was grinding the enamel off a hippo tooth. When I finally took the respirator off, I found there was fine floating dust everywhere and the entire house stunk like, well, burned tooth. Yuk! When I went upstairs it was to a good dose of the "stinkeye" from the missus! :( I hadn't noticed a thing, though, while I was grinding away. You can work in strong solvent all day with these things and never smell it.

If you make and sell many knives, and have a serious breathing difficulty like emphysema or COPD, this unit will pay for itself in relatively short order and possibly keep you off that oxygen hose. $1000 is expensive, but so is $100/month for an oxygen machine.
 
Just be sure to get a unit that has the batteries and filters on a belt pack. If you get one with everything in the helmet you will hate yourself after about 15 minutes. They are way too heavy.
 
I'd go so far as to suggest hooking a pair of firm suspenders to the belt and allowing the weight to be shared by both hips and shoulders. Helped me a bit, at least.....
 
We had a job at the weld shop once upon a time which required supplied air.

We got breathing air cylinders from our gas supplier, the big 2000 psi bottles (it requires a special regulator) and used those semi clear oxygen masks from the home health supply store. The masks are comfortable as any I have used.
 
You can go to Autobody suppliers. They have Hobbyair and Neoterik supplied air respirators. It is a pump and hose going to either a mask, full face mask, or hood. The hood is the most comfortable as far as I'm concerned. I have a Neoterik system for painting cars, and it works well. I think I paid $325 for the entire setup. You can search either one of the above, but they are the most prevalent for the hobbyist autobody/painter.
 
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