Respirators?

Re: Respirators?

RPE

>Ron

Look at my post on 11 Jan. I think it is called Face mask or something like that. I use a non-powered 3M mask. It looks like a scott airpack or what the military wears for gas mask. It has the C95 rating. It has no motors or anything to wear out. It cost about $150. It works for vapors as well as a face shield. It protects your entire face. I like it.

Just a thought.

RP

Re: Respirators?

Chris Wright

>Ron,

I have the Trend Airshield and love it. I have allergies and they would act up horribly when turning black walnut and such. Since I got the airshield everything has been sneezeless!

Chris

The astronaut in the garage is my husband . . .

Fred L. - North Carolina

>I am not making fun of this! Just technological advances in our field . . . like computerized speed controls and other new stuff.

Dust is a real hazard, and I don't think what I have done so far to protect myself is enough. I use a cheap painter's mask with two filters and a shop vac to suck out the finer dust.

I will be following this thread and eventually decide on which respirator I want to get. A better DC is in my plans too.

Thanks all!

FredL

DC alone is not enough

Andy in Raleigh

>It would be if every tool were perfectly designed and all the dust obediently proceeded to the port as cuts occurred. The lathe is one tool that is practically immune to DC and while sanding is the only obvious time it generates a lot of dust, it generates a little even when you're getting nice long curlies. But a good DC will limit the dust enough where many people are fooled into thinking they are fully protected. It does decrease the likelihood that the dust will cause a serious problem, so you are getting shot at with less bullets, but you're still getting shot at.

Re: The astronaut in the garage is my husband . .

Andy in Raleigh

>I am doing about the same as you with one very notable exception - I got a little Shop Vac air cleaner (the little round portable they came out with last year). I run it while ww'ing, also wearing a mask and using a Shop Vac vacuum that has a 5 micron filter for chip collection. Then I leave the mask on until I exit the garage or several minutes have passed and let the the air cleaner run for at least a half hour after I stop producing dust. I also have a HEPA after filter for the vacuum, but I can hear the difference in strain on the motor and I am afraid it will burn up much sooner if I use it much.

-Andy

Re: Respirators?

Robert Simmons, Atlanta

>Your DC alone isn't going to get all of the very small dust that is generated. I've used the 3M (formerly known as the Racal Helmet) for a few years and it's OK most of the time. It gives good overall impact protection, but the filter is for nuisance dust only. I use a DC and still had problems with fine dust getting through the filter. The fan noise got to ge annoying after a few hours.

I bought a Triton a few months ago and really ike it. The filters are P2 (0.3 micron)and really do the job. There is a washable pre-filter that keeps the big stuff out. As an added benefit you get good impact protection, a ripstop nylon neck piece that keeps the chips out of your shirt and built in sound protection if you need it. Depending on how tall you are you will have to modify the length of the air hose - I'm 5 foot 7 and it was way too long for me and got kinked. Getting into/out of it isn't as easy as other types of gear.

Turning can be hazardous to your health if you aren't serious about safety. IMHO the Triton is better bang for the buck. I don't sell them, just wear one when I turn.

Robert

Astronauts storm woodworking convention !

Fred L. - North Carolina

>We need to wear all the gear to the shows ! Including dust and hearing protection, helmet, clean suits, and music and communications equipment with an antenna on the helmet.

Andy:

Thanks for the tip! I will look for the air cleaner, one is in my plans.

FredL

Problem with DC

Bill Howatt

>Dust collectors even with good bags still let very fine dust back into the shop unless they are vented outside or have a real good filter arrangement. The bad dust is the stuff under 1 micron since it gets way down into the crevices of your lungs and stays there. Larger particles can be exhaled but not this stuff.

Bill

Andy, I agree. I wear a mask

Alan Tolchinsky

>almost all the time I'm in the shop. Like you, I wear it when cutting on the lathe because you can still see the dust being generated. When sanding I use my DC but still wear a mask. No matter what you do, there will always be dust floating around. It's scary to think we are breathing all this in and what it may do to us down the road. My hat's off to Bill Pentz for opening my eyes. We owe him big time IMHO. Alan in Md.

Re: Respirators?

Darryl

>Search for Lyn Magiamelli's (sp) article on respirators. He gives considerable info on this topic. I use a 3M and stuff an additional bit of filter material above the normal filter. I also always use a DC while turning. Still get dust all over the shop. More is better in any case IMO

Re: Respirators?

Fog Tanner

>Ron,

I use both. I have the 3M PowerVisor right now, but they have been discontinued and along with that the parts (ie. filters, faceplates, etc). This will get replaced with the Triton unit - better unit for the same price and better much filtering.

I also use a dust collector. I have one that has the double bags (Jet) and they are no better than the Powervisor - nusiance dust only. I now have a two horsepower Onedia unit. It filters down in the .03 micron caompared to the 5 micron of the Jet and Delata. Metal ducting and drops at all the machines. The simplest pickup on the lathe is the one Russ uses - a cardboard box on the end of the hose. I have two pickups, on on the backside and one on the front (idea from Raffin's books). I am allergic to aromatic cedar and could not turn it without these. Actually almost any dust will give me a three day sinus headache - dpends on the phase of the moon I guess. The price of the Onedia is cheap compared to your lungs. And for what you get, its a better deal than the Jet or Delta units - you really need the CFMs at the lathe. But, even with that much volume, you still need some sort of respirator at your point of air intake.

Thats just my $.02 worth from a number of years making dust. 25 years ago, I had no problems, 10 years ago, I started noticing some problems (and bought the Jet). Today - some serious sinus and allergy problems. Its not if - just when and how bad..the machinery is cheap- your health isn't - end of soapbox...good luck in your turning and quest for continued free breathing..

Re: Respirators?

adrien

>Bob,

I think there's a newer filter: got this message from Island Woodcraft:

The filter you are referring to our #50-4034 are

the original airmate filters with a .05 micron filter rating. The 3M filter you are referring to is .03 micron filter rating which meets the new NIOSH rating. So in answer to your question they are not the same filter but would

fit the unit.Hope this helps.

Thanks

Steve O'Neil

Island Woodcraft Supplies,Comox B.C

Thanks All

Ron Sardo from PA

>I just ordered the Tritan setup. Amazon.com has it for $269 minus $25 coupon and free shipping.

FWIW - My dust collector has one micron bags from Penn State Industries and I spent allot of time closing up every possible leak, but, I know no system is perfect. It's weakest point is the cyclone (read that gargage can) I built, most of the leaks are in the lid.

Thanks millions for all your input folks!