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last 2 off the bench XHP steel

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The PowerCap is balanced with the battery in the back it is supposedly pretty comfortable.

I used the AirCap II for several years. It is a smaller unit with a ballcap filter/blower and light duty face shield. The battery is in a vase you drop in your back pocket. It was OK, but just a bit light duty for the dust created in grinding.
 
this is a major upgrade from the half mask I used to use- because I wear glasses, I always had to tilt my head down even further to be able to see properly over the mask. A couple hours of sustained grinding and I'd be dealing with neck and shoulder pain for days. It also keeps all the dust and shrapnel out of my eyes and off my face.

the problem with this unit is that the filters are at the front, which I'm sure can't really be avoided from a manufacturing standpoint, but that's where all the dust comes from when we're grinding. The belt mounted filter for the 3m units is good but of course those things are very expensive. The filters for the JSP unit have replaceable pre filters, so I have a layer of fine stainless steel mesh facing out, and then the pre filter, which catches the larger stuff which can be vacuumed out as it gets clogged. Instead of spending extra on the dedicated JSP pre filters, I but sheets of filter material from that online place where all things are available and cut out my own pre filters. The shop vac under the bench is handy to occasionally clean out the shmutz. The other nice thing is that the fan which sucks air in through the filters creates a nice breeze on my face, so when I close my eyes I think I'm on a nice beach in the Dominican Republic- until I get jolted back to reality because I ground the end of my finger off

this unit is no magic bullet, but it's super affordable compared to the 3m units, and compact. I wish I'd gotten the tear offs, since the face shield is getting pretty scratched up, but besides that it allows me to work longer with more comfort and that's huge
 
I tried many PAPR type units.

Paper paint masks are a joke in the blade shop.
I know some folks like the "Scuba" filters, but I find them sort of ridiculous as well as they don't offer any face protection. You also have to wear a nose clip for them to work.
Half mask and full masks with disposable filters don't work well with glasses and beards and are very uncomfortable.
The Trend Air Shield was very good but heavy and awkward. It was almost like a space helmet.
The AirCap II was very comfortable, but not really suitable for heavy grinding.
I tried a friend's AirCap Advanced and it was nice. The PowerCap is the same basic unit. It is well worth the cost.
The 3M belt and backpack mounted "Breathe-Easy" and similar filtered units were nice, but I got funny looks from the neighbors, who were sure I was running a meth lab in my shop. However, I could wear it for hours comfortably.
I switched to an outside air source supply with a 3M or similar style hood with the hose down the back. Just plug the umbilical hose into the PVC air port on the wall or hanging from the ceiling and walk around the shop easily. You can buy commercial filtered air supply blowers used for paint booths or make your own from a blower. and some filter media. Look on eBay and Amazon for paint booth hoods and blower setups. Toss the hoods and keep the blower/filters/and long supply hose. Use CPAP hoses or similar for your umbilical and you will barely know you are th]tethered to the air port.
Put the blower/filter unit in another room or set it outside in the yard or driveway. Mine is in the shop upstairs. They can be a bit noisy and sound a bit like a vacuum cleaner. Sound baffling is wise.
 
Ok, are the lighter colored areas coarser finish or deeper scratches left over?
 
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