Respirators

[Walk On Wood]

Seth, I beliebe OV for both.

 

[gkaiseril]

The filters for non-particular material, gases, also filter particular matter. I agree that the OV series with at least 95 or higher would be the choice. Since the OV and other gas and chemical filters have active ingredients that chemically bind with the gas they should be used only when working with chemical or gas exposure and then use N series for general work.

If you are using the reusable facemask it is real good idea to wash it out at the end of the day since sweat and bacteria will accumulate inside the mask and with enough time and build it, it could be a health risk.

 

[ifit]

Ignoring the application my preference in respirators is the full face airflow respirators like peter reviewed
The reason being is that the standard types get very uncomfortable sweaty and are harder to breathe in, this is not too bad for spraying or stationary dust work but for any application where the work is physical they soon become an annoyance

 

[Stone Message]

Ignoring the application my preference in respirators is the full face airflow respirators like peter reviewed
The reason being is that the standard types get very uncomfortable sweaty and are harder to breathe in, this is not too bad for spraying or stationary dust work but for any application where the work is physical they soon become an annoyance

I agree with this. I used to use 3M 4255 respirators when I did a lot of spraying (I think it was shown in one of my videos) but if you were doing any work the extra effort of breathing through the respirator could become tiring. The powered respirators are far better but I accept that there is a large price difference - unless you factor it across a longer period of time.

Peter

 

[grbmds]

I just bought the Trend Airshield Pro (partly based on Peter's review). While I haven't used it very long it does seem to be very effective. I had an old Racal Power Visor; similar concept to the Airshield but much lighter and unfortunately much less well put together. It did last a long time though and, when it stopped being manufactured, I bought extra spare replacement filters, etc. I think the powered are best and, although the Airshield is a little less comfortable to wear than my old Racal, it still seems to be he most complete protection regardless of Festool's great dust collection efficiency.

 

[Stone Message]

I just bought the Trend Airshield Pro (partly based on Peter's review). While I haven't used it very long it does seem to be very effective. I had an old Racal Power Visor; similar concept to the Airshield but much lighter and unfortunately much less well put together. It did last a long time though and, when it stopped being manufactured, I bought extra spare replacement filters, etc. I think the powered are best and, although the Airshield is a little less comfortable to wear than my old Racal, it still seems to be he most complete protection regardless of Festool's great dust collection efficiency.

I also had the Racal Airstream and got rid of it when the filters seemed to disappear from the shops. I then tried the non powered route but realised that it is far better to get a powered respirator.

The Trend Airshield is a great powered respirator in the sub £300 bracket. If you can jump to the next class then the 3M Versaflo is simply brilliant.

Peter

 

[Walk On Wood]

This is the 3m papr I have been eyeballing for awhile now:

http://www.zoro.com/i/G3630216/?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&gclid=CImiv-_tmMECFVFgMgodFGkAbQ

I typically coat floors 3-10 hours a week, mostly with conversion varnish. I currently use a 3m full face respirator with FM cartridges. On longer coats (30minutes plus) I really notice my breathing get labored by the end.  I'm thinking/hoping the papr will solve that

 

[ifit]

If you are spraying with a compressor the best option is an air fed respirators that run off the compressor they are ultra light and only cost about £100

 

[grbmds]

I just bought the Trend Airshield Pro (partly based on Peter's review). While I haven't used it very long it does seem to be very effective. I had an old Racal Power Visor; similar concept to the Airshield but much lighter and unfortunately much less well put together. It did last a long time though and, when it stopped being manufactured, I bought extra spare replacement filters, etc. I think the powered are best and, although the Airshield is a little less comfortable to wear than my old Racal, it still seems to be he most complete protection regardless of Festool's great dust collection efficiency.

I also had the Racal Airstream and got rid of it when the filters seemed to disappear from the shops. I then tried the non powered route but realised that it is far better to get a powered respirator.

The Trend Airshield is a great powered respirator in the sub £300 bracket. If you can jump to the next class then the 3M Versaflo is simply brilliant.

Peter

Too bad the Airshield isn't a little better balanced on the head. There seems to be a little too much weight at the top. Other than that, it seems to be the best on the market for the price. I managed to get mine at 15% off at a local Wisconsin Woodcraft store sale. Can't get it any cheaper than that. It does seem to do a great job of filtering dust and the fan makes it even better.

 

[wow]

I also had the Racal Airstream and got rid of it when the filters seemed to disappear from the shops.
Peter

I have the Racal AirMate (not AirStream) but parts for both are readily available here in the US. 3M bought Racal, and continued to innovate and offer the products and parts for each.

 

[grbmds]

I also had the Racal Airstream and got rid of it when the filters seemed to disappear from the shops.
Peter

I have the Racal AirMate (not AirStream) but parts for both are readily available here in the US. 3M bought Racal, and continued to innovate and offer the products and parts for each.

I used to buy my Racal parts from Air Stream America. Just checked their site and the AirMate and AirStream seem to be way more expensive than the Trend products, which is why, when the Racal products were available I bought the Power Visor; closer to a reasonable price range for me. Unfortunately, even with all the spare parts I had bought for this model, I can't keep the basic unit together anymore. 3M doesn't make this model. Too bad because it was a good option at a good price for someone who doesn't work in a production woodshop. The Trend Airshield was the closest and it was a borderline decent price, especially with a discount at the time I bought. It seems to work well, just a little unbalanced.

 

[JeromeM]

Just a note to heavy users of masks, it's a good idea to limit your time to under 4 hours per day, and take a 5 or 10 minute break every 25minutes otherwise you get drowned in you own vapour/humidity it builds up in the lungs. Using a mask also cuts down your lungs efficiency by about 15%.

If anyone has better info on this please help me out here..

I would like to see you proof of either of your claims. I have never seen any research that support either of them.
The first  "you get drowned in you own vapour/humidity" is utter BS. People survive with a humidity of anywhere between 0% (divers) and over 90% (many areas when it rains) and they neither desiccate nor drown.

As to the  "Using a mask also cuts down your lungs efficiency by about 15%." Again this has no foundation in fact. Lung efficiency will be effected by things like pneumonia and lung infections or cancers. No masks reduces lung efficiency, though they can increase effort of breathing. However it would have to be a very inefficient mask to have such high resistance and so you should change your mask.

 

[Stone Message]

Just a note to heavy users of masks, it's a good idea to limit your time to under 4 hours per day, and take a 5 or 10 minute break every 25minutes otherwise you get drowned in you own vapour/humidity it builds up in the lungs. Using a mask also cuts down your lungs efficiency by about 15%.

If anyone has better info on this please help me out here..

I would like to see you proof of either of your claims. I have never seen any research that support either of them.
The first  "you get drowned in you own vapour/humidity" is utter BS. People survive with a humidity of anywhere between 0% (divers) and over 90% (many areas when it rains) and they neither desiccate nor drown.

As to the  "Using a mask also cuts down your lungs efficiency by about 15%." Again this has no foundation in fact. Lung efficiency will be effected by things like pneumonia and lung infections or cancers. No masks reduces lung efficiency, though they can increase effort of breathing. However it would have to be a very inefficient mask to have such high resistance and so you should change your mask.

I am with Preferrablywood on this from my own experience.

It can get quite chilly in my workshop and I have found that water vapour from one's breath condenses on cold mask interiors quite rapidly. Drying them out is important and not necessary with a powered respirator due to much higher air flow.

I have no way of knowing whether lung capacity is reduced by 15% but would guess that as it is harder to breath that the overall function is harder and presumably less efficient.

Peter

 

[grbmds]

Just a note to heavy users of masks, it's a good idea to limit your time to under 4 hours per day, and take a 5 or 10 minute break every 25minutes otherwise you get drowned in you own vapour/humidity it builds up in the lungs. Using a mask also cuts down your lungs efficiency by about 15%.

If anyone has better info on this please help me out here..

I assume that you don't get vapor buildup with a powered mask like the Trend. I've never had any build up to speak of, but the chances of working with the mask on for a whole day would be slim. Usually I use the mask for awhile, take a break, and then go back. Then, I don't do this for a living, but for enjoyment and satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Being in the workshop all day might not give me those results.

I would like to see you proof of either of your claims. I have never seen any research that support either of them.
The first  "you get drowned in you own vapour/humidity" is utter BS. People survive with a humidity of anywhere between 0% (divers) and over 90% (many areas when it rains) and they neither desiccate nor drown.

As to the  "Using a mask also cuts down your lungs efficiency by about 15%." Again this has no foundation in fact. Lung efficiency will be effected by things like pneumonia and lung infections or cancers. No masks reduces lung efficiency, though they can increase effort of breathing. However it would have to be a very inefficient mask to have such high resistance and so you should change your mask.

I am with Preferrablywood on this from my own experience.

It can get quite chilly in my workshop and I have found that water vapour from one's breath condenses on cold mask interiors quite rapidly. Drying them out is important and not necessary with a powered respirator due to much higher air flow.

I have no way of knowing whether lung capacity is reduced by 15% but would guess that as it is harder to breath that the overall function is harder and presumably less efficient.

Peter

 

[JeromeM]

I am with Preferrablywood on this from my own experience.

It can get quite chilly in my workshop and I have found that water vapour from one's breath condenses on cold mask interiors quite rapidly. Drying them out is important and not necessary with a powered respirator due to much higher air flow.

I have no way of knowing whether lung capacity is reduced by 15% but would guess that as it is harder to breath that the overall function is harder and presumably less efficient.

Peter

Hi Peter

The first point is quite different from "Preferrablywood's" claim that you should do it because you will drown. And is a perfectly sensible reaction to a water buildup in a mask.

With the second, while it may be pedantic, breathing effort through a mask is not the same as reduced lung efficiency. It just means that your chest and diaphragm muscles need to work a bit harder for the same amount of air. It does not reduce lung efficiency.

I can find no proof for his claim of 15%  and am sure that my mask (3M half mask) is not anywhere near that (unless I don't change the filter for far too long )

 

[grbmds]

I have never noticed that it is harder to breathe while using my old powered dust "helmet". I haven't used the new Trend Pro very much yet, but just putting it on and trying it out, didn't seemt to cause any issues. I generally breathe a little easier with it on since my face doesn't sweat with air movement and I feel a little safer without the possibility of inhaling dust. As for other types of dust masks, I never found one that I could wear that really would seal well and not be uncomfortable while wearing it. I don't even try any new products anymore, given that the ones I did see and buy at WW shows, never worked well. I've just dumped all of them and now use the powered version (now will be Trend in the future until I find something that is an improvement for a good price). There is obviously no moisture buildup with the powered versions; at least I don't get any.

 

[charley1968]

The respirator makes for higher 'dead-space, i.e. a volume that gets ventilated (such as mouth, nose,throat, trachea, bronchi) but does not participate in gas-exchange/respiration ,which happens in the alveoli. Subjectivly a bigger dead-space can lead to shortness of breath. Furthermore higher dead-space can lead to accumulation of CO2, which exacerbates subjectivly felt shortness of breath.