Mowing Dust mask when mowing in dry conditions.

[Marlowe]

I see I'm not the only one. I've given up on getting one of the kids to cut the grass for me and started wearing a mask. One of my boys did bring me a whole case of those nicer disposable ones. I've got a respirator for the extreme stuff. It's the devil trying to get either of them co-ordinated with my glasses so I can breath and see at the same time.

 

[Alan L.]

For the last 24 years I have been taking allergy shots. Most recently one in each arm every two weeks. So, no mask, and very rarely any trouble.

Something else, I pump 16 OZ of water/salt/baking soda through my nose with a water pick and special Grossan nozzle every morning and immediately after mowing. Cleans the pollen and dust out of your nose.

I started this when I started having sinus infections and finally had sinus surgery a couple of years ago. It really helps.

I also use nasal corticosteroids every day and take Zyrtec when I detect a little itchiness in my nose. But I seldom need it.

 

[IslandTractor]

"Dust masks" are not all the same. The typical surgical mask is really not a very good way to prevent inhalation of dust. These are basically designed to keep health staff from spitting into the surgical field. What you want to look at are the higher class "respirators". The N95 grade is probably what you need but you must fit the mask properly to gain advantage over the surgical masks. Different brands fit differently. Unfortunately, in order to be really effective the mask needs a tight fit which can be uncomfortable after a while. The idea of an N95 with an exhaust port sounds about right but only if it fits tightly enough to make inhalation extra work. It does no good to wear a mask if you are going to be breathing "around" it. One advantage of sitting on a tractor rather than doing more vigorous physical activity is that presumably you don't need to move a lot of air and therefore a tight fitting N95 should be OK. The next step up are powered respirators but unless someone figures out how to run these off the auxiliary hydraulics /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, I don't think they'd be too practical on a tractor. They also tend to make you look like you are either from Mars or are living some bizarre Navy Seal fantasy.

Cheap N95s can be had in the paint dept of Home Depot type stores. The more sophisticated types (or other brands if the stocked version doesn't fit well), can be had from a number of suppliers over the internet. Just google N95 and respirator.

Bottom line is that it depends how bad your allergies are as to what degree of protection is warranted. Also, fit is very personal so you might need to try several brands to maximize comfort and effectiveness.

 

[Amontilado]

Always have to wear at least the cheapest dust mask, especially during the dry spells. Else the sinus' clog up and make sleeping a problem.

Steve

 

[Highbeam]

I don't worry about a little leakage. Heck, as long as the majority of the junk is kept out of my throat then that is much better than it would have been. It's not like we're trying to avoid breathing mustard gas or something actually harmful in small quantities, it's the huge load of junk that sets up and causes trouble.

 

[unreconstructed]

Gave up on the masks. I take a 24 hour Allegra when the weeds and grass are seeding out and use a bandana about the size of the olive drab bandages that are in Army first aid kits. That works pretty good for me. Still have some congestion, but I guess that's part of the fun. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Soundguy]

I tried the dust mask thing.. ended up fogging my glasses too badly.

I do as another poster does.. i take a zyrtec or alegra before mowing..

Soundguy

 

[dmccarty]

BamaRob,

I used to use the N95 masks. I don't have allergies but I got tired of cough goo for a day or so after mowing when it was dry and/or spring. The N95 was better than nothing.

Then I had to do some work where I bought a $25-30 rubber mask with replacable cartridges. This thing is good for certain kinds of chemicals. What I noticed when wearing it was that it was much more comfortable than the N95 mask. I could breath while tearing out drywalls and such. Th N95 really made it hard to breath.

So I use this mask when mowing in dry or pollen days. It really helps. I am sure my neighbors think I am a nut wearing this mask and my ear protection/radio muffs with an antenna sticking out. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But I don't cough goo out of my lungs anymore.

Later,
Dan

 

[Farwell]

Dan,
I too use the same type of mask you use. I have a couple hundred of the disposable masks that I keep in coffee cans out by my table saw but when I have to wear a mask for any length of time wearing the other mask is the only way I can tolerate it. I think I will over come my fear of neighbors thinking I am a wimp and start wearing it when I mow as well. The lung goo will probably come back to haunt me someday if I do not start with the mask when mowing.
Farwell

 

[Jagmandave]

I don't know if it's an N95 or not, but the ones I wear have two elastics rather than one, so they fit better, and they have a little exhale valve on the front, as well as the foam edge. I use them when grinding metal too, keeps me from blowing out black snot later..........