respirators and protecting your health

Deathstar,

I think that you will find that we are all in agreement on the use of respirators. No matter how good your setup is, WEAR ONE ANYWAY. I'm not yelling at you, that just seems to be the general consensus. I have a Pace Peacekeeper. I'm pretty sure it could suck up a small dog. I still wear a respirator. Do a search here and you will see many more opinions much more informed than mine.

Regards,

Jeff 

I worked 22 years in a chemical plant where we produced acids, refrigerataion grade amonia, swimming pool additives, rigid foam products, cooling tower additives and lethal gasses. We operated the largest Phosgene gas plant in the entire world, phosgene was used in WW II as a nerve gas and is super lethal. You had to wear fresh air masks to work on equipment and carry an emergency escape mask with you at all times. Knowing the danger we lost 3 people in the years i worked there to lethal gasses but many more were injured because they thought themselves bullet proof and taking off their mask for a short time would be ok. Wear the mask people, I have a 28% lung capacity now because I thought I was bullet proof.

hi Bayoutider,  may i ask what exactly happened to you from the chemicals(did you breathe them first or second hand)  and how did the problems develop? 

  Hi-  I  an  new   to  airbrushing  and  wanted  to know   if  you   could   recommend  a  certain  brand   of  respirators   and   prices  which  you  feel   are   appropriate.( I  am   willing   to pay   good   money    for   a   quality     respirator .)

Any   opinions/advice    is  greatly   appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Hollywood 3,

There a quite a few good respirator manufacturers out there, but the three I like best are 3M (6000/7000 series), MSA (Mine Safety Appliances)--Advantage and Comfo series, and North.  I find the comfort of these three to be the best.  Of course, your mileage may vary.  American Optical (AO) and Survivair also make good products.

When purchasing a respirator, make sure you equip it with organic vapor cartridges (They should be color-coded black), and at the least a paint prefilter to remove the particulates.  Sometimes you can buy them (respirator + cartridges) as a set.  Check your local hardware/home-improvement stores like Lowe's or Home Depot.  You can also check with your local safety supply houses in the area where you live, or even go online to places like www.labsafety.com .  I have found Lab Safety to have an excellent selection of respirators at reasonable prices. 

You can expect to pay around $15-$25 for the mask alone.  Cartridges will be extra, and you'll have to purchase cartridges specifc to the manufacturer and model of the mask (e.g., Buy an MSA Advantage respirator, and get the Advantage cartridges).  Again, depending on where you shop, you may be able to find the whole shootin' match for $20-$25.  Stay away from off-brands, and don't purchase from e-bay, since some of their products do not have approvals from NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health).  NIOSH is the certifying authority for respiratory protection in the U.S. and those certified devices will carry a TC number (testing and certified) on the packaging.

If you get confused/uncertain about what to get, how to wear it, store it, clean it, or test it, please give me a shout and I'll be glad to help.

Gip Winecoff

phosgene was used in WW II as a nerve gas and is super lethal.

Point of order.. Phosgene (CG) is not a nerve agent. It's a Choking Agent that attacks the lungs and causes them to fill with fluid and cause a dry-land drowning... It also wasn't used in WW2, but was used by both the Brits and Germans in WW1.

Just a little trivia from your Friendly Neighborhood Army Chemical Operations Specialist...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not downplaying safety.  But isn't funny that back in the 70's and 80's, we would use spray cans indoors with no respirator, paint with enamels and get it all over our hands, but yet we are still alive?  For me, I always use my spray booth and respirator.  I should have kept my M40 Protective Mask from the Corps...

Jesse

usmc1371 wrote:

Don't get me wrong, I'm not downplaying safety.  But isn't funny that back in the 70's and 80's, we would use spray cans indoors with no respirator, paint with enamels and get it all over our hands, but yet we are still alive?  For me, I always use my spray booth and respirator.  I should have kept my M40 Protective Mask from the Corps... Jesse

But when we get older and have respiratory problems, will we remember those "good ol'days" in quite the same way?

 

I never said they were "the good ol' days".  I'm 36 and still run 5 miles with ease so hopefully I'll be ok.  It the paint doesn't get me, the fluoridated water will.  Darn commies...

By the way, the mask I use is one I purchased from Paasche: http://www.paascheairbrush.com/respirators.html

It's the first one listed.  It comes with paint filters and the cartridges.  It's made by US Safety and cost me $30.00.  If you interested in buying it, the cartridge is a 158-T-20.  Information on the mask and cartridges can be found here: http://www.ussafety.com/cartridges.htm

-Jesse

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the fact you have to make sure the mask is sealed to your face - if the mask isn't sealed, you might as well not be wearing it.  Put the mask on and adjust it until it's tight but not uncomfortable - then cover the inlet filters with your hands (if the filters are too large for your hands to cover, place a plastic bag over the filters, holding them in place.  Take a deep breath and hold it - the mask should be sucked down towards your face and stay there until you release your hands (and your breath).  If the mask does this you're ready to paint.  If not, it's usually easy to determine where the seal is leaking and correcting the problem by tighening the proper strap.  Once the mask is properly adjusted, you should be able to remove and replace the mask, with it sealing properly  each time (unless you loosened to straps to remove it).  BTW if you have a beard the odds of ever getting a good seal are pretty much against you.  (and if you're wearing the mask and start to smell paint fumes - quit painting and determine where your leak is - if the mask has a good seal, replace the filters)