DIYers, what is your favorite respirator/particle mask?

[Doppel]

Merry Christmas!

Any time I do anything around the house with dust (wood, cement, etc.) I wear a mask. I hate the cheap non-replaceable filter ones, as they let vast amounts of air in around the edges.

MSA has a substantial product line. The mask I use now is $25 at home depot and has a particle 100 rating (lead and other toxic dust). It fits ok but I've found dust still gets into the mask. I went so far as elastic banding some bags around the filters to find where the air comes in, and it comes in around mask edges, this is because of the design of the mask (it just can't keep a seal when pressure gets very low in the mask, including apparently regular breathing). Also, this mask does not protect against vapors very well (so everything still smells bad).

I don't want a $150 full face mask (actually, I do, but I don't want to pay $150).

What do you use? Do you find it prevents 100% of dust entering, which is only possible if 100% of air is coming through the filters? If I blow my nose after using a mask I do not want to see it discolored from whatever I was supposed to be filtering

 

[velillen]

Welll first off if air is getting in through the sides it sounds like it isnt fitting correctly. We use respirators a lot at work and i can tell you most people wear size mediums. When i try on a large size at our annual test fitting i get the same as you experience...air comes through the sides. Go down to a medium and it works tons better and i get no air through the sides. Also you need to be shaved or less than 1 day stubble for it to be effective

We use the MSA Comfo Elite series of half face and i've taken it home on occasion. Its rated up to asbestos work (which i do have to do so i trust my respirator lol). Can also use it for chemicals with the different cartridges

I find i get a good 100% seal. No dust enters. in really dusty environments the cartridges will start to "clog" though and make breathing harder...which is a good sign it is working!


For full face we use the MSA Ultra-Twin® Full-Facepiece Respirators. its actually what i normally use just since it keeps dust out of the eyes too. Definitely seals better even if you havent "shaved" in a day or two. just a better seal overall. The nice thing is though the half-face and full face use the same filters so you can go between them.


One thing about the price. Just remember if taken care of these things will last for years. 250 sounds like a lot but we have respirators that are 5+ years old still being used and we use them way harder and more often than a DIYer will. Just clean it properly and store it properly and itll last 10+ years. Definitely an investment thatll hopefully keep you healthy!


Anyways hope that helps!

 

[Squisher]

Kinda like velillen said, the ones at Home Depot are probably one size fits all. Try different sizes and different brands. They had a table of them at work that I picked through before I found one I liked.

 

[velillen]

Kinda like velillen said, the ones at Home Depot are probably one size fits all. Try different sizes and different brands. They had a table of them at work that I picked through before I found one I liked.

Ah yes if you can try finding a local "Safety and health Expo" close to you. Theres usually tons of vendors. The one my work supports/puts on has like 3 o r4 different vendors of respirators. Good place to try them on and just talk to guys who actually know about them.

 

[911paramedic]

It's all about the fit, we used to get custom fitted for our TB masks. You put the mask on and they, no laughing, cover your head with this huge bag filled with a very strong smelling citrus aerosol. If you can smell the citrus, it doesn't fit.

For really fine vapors you will need a canister respirator, but again, it's all in the fit. My friend had one for dissection and it managed to keep out the formaldehyde, while I got pretty wobbly after a few hours.

Try medical suppliers although they may want to rape your wallet, and you are trying to avoid that. If nothing else, you may be able to get fitted there and buy somewhere else.

 

[Texashiker]

I use N95

Unless you have some kind of top notch mask, dust is going to get in.

The N95 when properly fitted is fine for most applications.

It's all about the fit, we used to get custom fitted for our TB masks. You put the mask on and they, no laughing, cover your head with this huge bag filled with a very strong smelling citrus aerosol. If you can smell the citrus, it doesn't fit.

Yep, same here. One of my job requirements is that I was fit-tested with the N95.

 

[bfdd]

make sure you don't have facial hair. you cannot get a proper seal if you have hair on your face.

 

[Gothgar]

 

[Doppel]

I do have a little facial hair unfortunately.

The mask I have is size M. Thanks for the posts. I don't know if there is a safety expo.

I think I'm open to spending a good bit of money after all. After safety glasses I think a good mask is probably the most important thing while working.

Some guys are working on the basement and left their masks down there but I don't want to try those dirty things on

So it sound like I was right to think a good fitting mask really should keep out everything but that it's tricky to pull off if not willing to spend the time on it.

 

[BoomerD]

I have one very similar to this:

It was issued to me on the last HAZMAT cleanup job I was on...in 1998. (I think)
I had it out of the bag maybe once since then.

Looks like they're about $40

http://www.google.com/products/cata...ei=jJH3TryzIuaaiQLq2ZSMAw&ved=0CJ0BEPMCMAQ4FA

They also offer a "classic" line for about $30.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=O5H3Tq2HK4mviQK8k-zRDg&ved=0CLIBEPMCMAc

 

[ussfletcher]

http://www.amazon.com/3M-8210Plus-Pa...4847585&sr=8-1
They seem to fit pretty well for disposable masks.

 

[0roo0roo]

cheap 3m masks do fit, soft enough that no air leaks around the sides.
any cheaper and yes it becomes a joke.

pack of 10-20 from amazon gets them down to about a buck a mask.

 

[Muse]

I have one I bought at a hardware store over 2 decades ago. It was a huge store and they had considerable variety. It's brilliantly designed and still does the job wonderfully. The only problem is my glasses tend to fog up when I use it. To alleviate that I often apply some anti fog compound to my glasses when using it. It has a system that assures that when you breathe in, the air goes through a filter about 2 inches in diameter, but when you breathe out it goes through both the filter and a couple of exit valves. That is, the 2 exit valves are one-way, a clever design using thin plastic membranes. The filters are washable, you use one at any one time, and I wash the filter when it starts looking too dark and then let it dry. It's pretty darn comfortable, extremely light. It's not designed for working with lead paint, but it's way better than nothing. I've often tested this thing to see if it was doing its job by putting the palm of my hand over the filter and sucking in and I can tell that it's making a good seal. Of course, without your hand over the filter there's less pressure, so it's not a perfect test, however I don't recall feeling that it wasn't making a proper seal. It seems to fit my face nicely. Uh, I don't sport a beard! The surround is a soft grey rubbery compound.

I also have a heavy duty (and hell of heavy!) dust mask that I almost never use, something with credentials.

 

[Fritzo]

I think that settles it. Every possible questions has now been asked here.

 

[Doppel]

Of course, without your hand over the filter there's less pressure, so it's not a perfect test, however I don't recall feeling that it wasn't making a proper seal.

Agreed! This is why at first I thought mine was sealing well, and eventually put bags held with elastic bands in place so that I could see how the seal is without my hand helping to push it on my face ;0

I think that settles it. Every possible questions has now been asked here.

Just wait for my next thread "When you're making a cello, how many months do you typically let your wood dry for?", followed by "Can't seem to get this glass-blowing thing down, need some tips."

 

[Muse]

Agreed! This is why at first I thought mine was sealing well, and eventually put bags held with elastic bands in place so that I could see how the seal is without my hand helping to push it on my face ;0

Can't picture that. Could you explain it further?

 

[Muse]

I think that settles it. Every possible questions has now been asked here.

No way, and actually I'm about to post a new thread. Well, maybe someone's asked this before, but I'm not searching... (Hint: about buying used books online)