Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Surgical Mask for dust protection?
Mike Rubes
>Hi all,
Has anyone considered using surgical masks for turning or when sanding? I'm thinking something along these lines:
http://store.yahoo.com/edlpmed-store/3-m1820.html
It claims greater than 91% .1 micron filtration.
Just curious if others have tried this and it didn't seem to work, did work, whatever?
Thanks,
Mike
Still working on the book case in Apex, NC
Re: Surgical Mask for dust protection?
Jorge Casta�eda ~ East Penobscot Bay
>Good morning Mike,
I never used one of those, but to me it looks like sawdust will come down by the sides of the nose, they are meant to trap microbes coming out of you, not dust coming at you, maybe I am wrong.
Dust masks interests me, I've never been able to find an economical mask that does the job well for me, a narrow face and a beard make it hard.
If you try them ket us know how they work.
Re: Surgical Mask for dust protection?
Bill Howatt
>I would have said wow! 91% 0.1 micron efficiency. However I read on a NIOSH website an article that said particles finer than 0.3 micron are easier to capture than the 0.3 even though it isn't what you would expect. This applies to Part 84 filter respirators (???). Below is the relevant passage.
1. How effective are the Part 84 filter respirators against particles smaller than 0.3 micrometer in diameter?
The 0.3-micrometer diameter used in the certification testing is approximately the most penetrating particle size for particulate filters. Although it seems contrary to expectation, smaller particles do not penetrate as readily as 0.3-micrometer particles. Therefore, these respirators will filter all other particle sizes at least as well as the certified efficiency level.
Anybody shed any more light on this?
Bill
Bingo! For patient protection more than surgeon
Andy in Raleigh
>They are designed to be in the path from the doctor's nose and mouth to the wound or operation site. The really soft masks tend to have larger particles stick rather than bounce (a slight exaggeration, but you get the point) and they clog sooner. But mostly they don't seal well.
Re: Surgical Mask for dust protection?
George Troy
>I have had trouble with all dust masks. The rubber bands would break and glasses would fog. I have been using Surgical Masks for about a year now. They don't stop all the the dust and neither did the others. The price is right a box of 50 cost me $7.50 from my local dentist. Use at your own use, I like them. You can talk through them when you are giving a demo or class. They are cheap enough I can furnish everybody a mask. GT
Re: Surgical Mask for dust protection?
Jim Pugh in Ohio
>That is the surgical mask that I use. There is an insert in one of the edges that allows you to bend the top of the mask to fit around your nose which helps seal it up. It hasn't fogged my glasses yet and catches way more dust then when I don't wear one.