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Respirator questions

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  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Philomath, OR, USA
Respirator questions
Posted by knight667 on Thursday, June 24, 2004 2:09 PM
After reading lots of posts on here and talking with my wife, I'm gonna be picking up a respirator soon (hopefully on the way home from work this evening). I've been using a particle mask (the type you'd use for sanding) which works okay, but I want some more protection.

My questions are as follows:
1) I was thinking dual-canister, but would single-canister work as long as it's rated for painting?

2) I have a beard (goatee really), am I still gonna be okay using one of these? I know that in the Army my blasted gas mask wouldn't fit right when I hadn't shaved for a few days on field exercises, and that's an issue someone mentioned in an earlier post, but I was wondering if anyone had any actual experience with that issue?

3) A respirator coupled with a spray booth and proper ventilation and I should be good to go, right?

Thanks in advance for any input!
John "The only easy day was yesterday." - US Navy SEALs "Improvise. Adapt. Overcome." - US Marine Corp. "I live each day/Like it's my last/...I never look back" - from "I'm A Rocker" by Judas Priest
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 24, 2004 4:18 PM
To get a mask to fit against whiskers, line it with Petroleum Jelly.
Thats what I use to get my Dive mask to seal against my Moustache.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 24, 2004 4:27 PM
You can get a 3m relatively cheap online from a lab safety dealer for about $ 8-10. Cartridges (Organic Vapor) around $7-9.
You can test the fit against the beard by holding you hand over the relief valve and exhaling, you know right away where the leaks are.
It's a good idea, you should be fine with a half mask, dual cartridge. They are supposed to be changed after 8 hours continuous use, I tend to toss 'em when I can detect some odor or notice the airflow slowing down.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Philomath, OR, USA
Posted by knight667 on Thursday, June 24, 2004 5:51 PM
Do you guys wear respirators/masks only when airbrushing, or at all times? Seems like *everything* we use is toxic, so I was considering wearing it constantly...
John "The only easy day was yesterday." - US Navy SEALs "Improvise. Adapt. Overcome." - US Marine Corp. "I live each day/Like it's my last/...I never look back" - from "I'm A Rocker" by Judas Priest
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Thursday, June 24, 2004 7:55 PM
I always wear my respirator when I'm airbrushing or working on resin (sanding, grinding or sawing) and on those occasions when I'm trying something new and am not sure of possible reactions. Otherwise I don't wear my respirator, just make sure that my modeling area is well ventilated. (I also tend to have on rubber gloves anytime I were my respirator - strange I spent 16 years as the BN NBC NCO - hated MOPP IV - but now look forward to it 'cause it means I've just about got another model finished)
Quincy
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Thursday, June 24, 2004 9:21 PM
Check out this thread: http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15325

It has a lot of posts, but pay special attention to those made by Styrene. He goes into a lot of detail about how to choose a mask, how to test and use it, and what to watch out for. His posts on the effects of chemicals on the human body are always interesting and knowledgeable so when he speaks I tend to listen.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Philomath, OR, USA
Posted by knight667 on Friday, June 25, 2004 10:06 AM
Picked one up last night for $30. Works great! The mask extends far enough under my chin to make good contact with skin, so my seals are good.

Thanks for all the info, and thanks MusicCity for the link!
John "The only easy day was yesterday." - US Navy SEALs "Improvise. Adapt. Overcome." - US Marine Corp. "I live each day/Like it's my last/...I never look back" - from "I'm A Rocker" by Judas Priest
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Friday, June 25, 2004 2:06 PM
They are invaluable. I used to paint R/C car bodies with laquers and I'd have a headache for a couple of days afterward. No telling how smart I'd be if I hadn't killed off all those brain cells Tongue [:P] Just kidding, but I do wish I had known then what I know now.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Friday, June 25, 2004 7:50 PM
I use a Comfo Elite when I spray enamels:

I like it a lot.
When I spray MM Acryl I use the Cool Max paper ones like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40030
They are real comfortable and you can breath easier with them.

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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