Dust Mask Recommendations

[forgeblast]

I ended up going with a full face respirator. it seals better, and I find I do not have to search for safety glasses too.

 

[dstig1]

We bought ours at a local welding shop, but I did see the same respirator labeled as GVS Elipse P100 at Woodcraft too. It's also on Amazon, etc. This is probably the true brand and Miller private labels it. Elipse P1 Mask M/L

Correct.

I ended up going with a full face respirator. it seals better, and I find I do not have to search for safety glasses too.

Full face respirators are the unsung heros of respirators. Many people look at them and think they will be cumbersome and painful to wear, but the reality is the exact opposite. They are a much better mask than half masks as they seal off your entire face. This does a couple things. You will NEVER get a particle that bounces off your cheek, then off the inside of your safety glasses, and finally into your eye. Your entire face is fully sealed off, so it just can't happen. Just remember to bend down when you remove the mask so that anything stuck on the top of it doesn't fall down into your eyes. Second - the hardest part to fit on a respirator is around the nose bridge. The contour of your face changes so sharply between the cheek and the crook of your nose and then to the bridge, and back again on the other side, that is it always a pressure point on a half mask that will cause some level of discomfort. Full faces seal around the perimeter of your face, and it is much easier to do that, so the pressure points are very much lower and it is easier to obtain a good seal. The main downsides are that they are a lot more expensive, less readily available, and if you require prescription eyeglasses, they require you to buy a kit and have your optician fit them with prescriptions lenses. Those are pricey. If your employer requires a FF, then they should pay for all that, but if this is on your own, that is a big nut to crack.

If you've got questions, fire away. I do this for a living for 25+ years...

 

[tomplum]

Let us know how it works out and what you bought. I could be jiggy with a full face that would fit over my eyeglasses.

 

[dstig1]

Tom , there is NO full face that will fit over your eyeglasses. Period. The bows of the eyeglasses will break the seal and make the respirator pointless. That is why all respirator manufacturers are required to offer a prescription eyeglass kit with any full face in the US. You can buy the kit and bring to the optician of your choice to have them put your prescription in to the frame. The downside is that this is a small volume item so it tends to be expensive. Now in the home you can DO whatever you want, but not much point in doing something that will negate your protection, now is there?

 

[Fallon]

I've got a couple old PAPRs & they fit over anything. Powered air-purifying respirator - Wikipedia

They dont seal well against your head/face, but the fact they are pressurized makes that moot.

 

[Beltzington]

Thanks for everyone's comments, looked at Lowe's masks yesterday and was not impressed with their selection or prices, I may make it over to Home Depot today but will likely end up buying online. Not interested in a full face mask, brings back bad memories of gas mask training. The RZ 2.0 mask looks easy to put on and comfortable but it is curious they would mention they have been used in movies but not any industry approved certification.

 

[TractorGuy]

I use the earloop mask from Walmart. Sold in the pharmacy department. Put them on and bend the metal strip to conform to the shape of your face and they work pretty well. Very light weight and functional.

 

[Sebculb]

Cowboy bandana tied stickemup bandido style. Or a t shirt tied ninja balaclava style.

 

[Fallon]

Medical type masks are designed to keep you from getting others sick. Not to protect your lungs. They dont seal against your face well. They catch spit, particulate matter & stuff containing bacteria while letting air go on through. They work well for their intended purpose, but it's not the one most of us are looking for.

 

[dstig1]

Medical type masks are designed to keep you from getting others sick. Not to protect your lungs. They dont seal against your face well. They catch spit, particulate matter & stuff containing bacteria while letting air go on through. They work well for their intended purpose, but it's not the one most of us are looking for.

Bingo