Thread: Which respirator to use?

I've been using a dust mask I got at Walmart for when I'm working with the wood for scales and it helps, but I still end up coughing and just feel plain bad when I get done. Can anyone recomend a respirator to use? Should it be powered or not? I don't want to pay through the roof for one and I don't want to make the same mistake I did when I first started out with straight razors and wasted money on an ebay special! Any assistance would be appreciated greatly! My price range is probably around $75. Thanks!

Any one that is at least N-95 rated and seals around your nose and mouth, those filter masks do not seal...

Start here

Amazon.com: respirator US Home Improvement


Make sure to order extra filters now!!!!!!!


Look here: http://entweb.clemson.edu/pesticid/saftyed/respclas.htm

+1 on the rating and sealing issue. Half mask is what I use, and I get them at the local hardware store (Ace around here) becuase I can always get a new filter localy then. It cost a couple bucks more than on-line, but the convenience of local filters I find easier when I need say a new prefilter for spraying lacquer or something. 3M Professional Series Respirator - Respirators & Safety Masks - Ace Hardware

$75 should buy you all you would need and more. I use one of the 3m line, and I think the starter kit for those is around $30 or so... (though I think that is the contractor/pro price I receive).

going locally got one great benefit: you can get a mask that fits you well
the cheapest non disposable tend to have expensive replacement filters where i live atleast so i would check that too before buying

The top manufacturers of half-faced respirators are 3M, North, MSA, and to a lesser extent Moldex.
Here at work, we've decided to put all of our guys in 3M because they're just as effective, but cheaper than Norths and we can get their cartridges at Grainger. MSA and Moldex are harder to get and supply with spare cartridges, but that might be different where you're from. All of them are good products and are required to perform within ANSI specifications. Anything ANSI approved should be safe to use.

The thing about cartridge respirators that many people may not think about prior to getting one is that they make it a little more difficult to breathe. In fact, in order for one of our guys to be cleared to wear a respirator at work, he has to pass a pulmonary fitness exam at the local Oc Med. If they have asthma or something thats going to cause them to collapse after we put them in one of these things, they don't enter conditions that would require them to wear one. Period.

Because you're working at home, OSHA isn't going to require you to go through an exam or a fit test, but a couple of things to keep in mind are that a N95 is 95% efficient, and therefore easier to breathe through than a P100, which is 99.97% efficient and is more difficult to breathe through. Trust me, it takes a LOT more effort to breathe when you're wearing a P100... it really puts some stress on your lungs. N95 should meet your needs anyway. You can also get N95s in the disposable respirator variety.

There are other types of respirator cartridges as well, and you should be advised of this so you get the right one. All you need is an air-filtering n95 type cartridge. There are also activated carbon, organic vapor and inorganic respirator cartridges, acid gas, etc... which you don't need - and they're expensive. And avoid the P100 (aka. HEPA) as well, as these are used mainly to filter out 3 micron asbestos fibers during asbestos abatement style work.

Powered air-purifying respirators are beneficial because a pump is constantly pulling filtered air through the respirator cartridge and delivering it into your breathing zone. It puts much less stress on the lungs and delivers the same benefit of filtering your air. But PAPRs can be prohibitively expensive... in the $200+ range.

EDIT: Let me say one more thing about half-faced respirators. Whenever you don one, check the seal to make sure you don't have any leaks. You do this by putting your palm over the exhalation valve and breathing out... make sure the respirator puffs up against your face and listen for leaks.
Then put your palms over the inlet valves (cartridges) and breathe in.
If you have a good seal the respirator should collapse against your face and you shouldn't hear or feel any leaks.
Its not particularly critical to get a perfect seal in a woodworking shop, but you don't want to defeat the purpose of wearing one.
One of the main issues with failing a positive and negative pressure test is having a few days growth under the seal of the mask... but I can't imagine anyone here having that problem.

I use a 30.00 3m resporator from lowes. It has worked excellent and I really don't mind wearing it. Get something confortable because I wear it about 80% of my resto time. Everything except mockups, planning/design, and pinning. Everything else is done while wearig it!!!!

I happen to know what I'm talking about here for once. I have to for work. Use a Half-Face Resparator with a P100 cartridge. Any paint store should have them. MAKE SURE YOU FIT TEST THE RESPIRATOR BEFORE BUYING. There's nothing more uncomfortable or more useless than an improperly fitting resparator.

As mentioned, test fit them.

I use this one from Home Depot...

AO Safety Professional Multi-Purpose Respirator - 95050-80025 at The Home Depot

What is not pictured are the straps. There are 2. 1 is like a dual strap that straddles the top of your head and the 2nd goes around the back of the neck to pull the mask inward to help maintain the seal on the face mask.

+1 for a 3m $30 respirator. I've used mine for floor refinishing and also for mold killing with a heavy bleach solution and the thing has saved my lungs. Always a smart idea to invest in safety equipment.