Any opinions about TREND airshields?

Re: Any opinions about TREND airshields?

everette harmon

>Just bought the Trend on Saturday after beating myself up on which one to buy. So far, just one day of use, I'm happy with it. I have not used it enough to run the battery down. It fits well and I don't find it to be heavy. You do hear the fan running but I don�t find it to be distracting and I did buy the extra battery.

Everette

Re: Any opinions about TREND airshields?

Kevin Gerstenecker

>Dick, I have been using the Trend Airshield for about 6 months or so. I would buy it again in a minute. I find it to be lightweight, comfortable, it seals very well and is easy to maintain. I bought the extra battery, but only use one battery at a time so I always have a spare charged and ready to go. The air curtain that blows gently across your face is rather refreshing. I am a contact lens wearer, and I find no problems with the air movement drying my eyes. Once you have it on for about 2 minutes, you don't notice the fan noise and it is as comfortable as a regular face shield. The weight is a total non issue IMO. I think it is an excellent value for the money. Even with real dusty wood, like Mahogany, it filters very well, and I noticed no dust infiltration inside the unit. I love mine, I wouldn't turn or SAND without it. Good luck! (By the way, I purchased mine from Airware America......best price I found.)

Re: Any opinions about TREND airshields?

Dick Parr

>Dick I have to agree with Kevin. We got ours about the same time. I love mine and only wish I had gotten it sooner. I waited until I was diagnosed with asthma before I got. But now that I do have it I won't do any sanding cutting or turning without it on. Ya need the extra battery so that you can have one charged all the time. It's pricey but just about the best tool I have gotten.

Dick

Re: Any opinions about TREND airshields?

Jim McTavish

>Hi Dick,

I too didn't purchase one till I was diagnosed with asthma this past summer. I find myself wearing it for all types of woodworking. It only took a short time of wearing it for me not to notice the slight weight difference vs a std face shield. And I think you will like not having the hose of the airmate and it's beltpack.

Definately worth the money, I'd buy it again. I purchased mine from Air Ware America.

Jim McTavish

Re: Any opinions about TREND airshields?

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>HI Dick,

The two units really aren't in the same league. The Airmate is an industrial quality, NIOSH approved, long duty cycle, full helmeted power respirator. It will have longer useful life, has more filtration area, and provides total head protection. It's an excellent unit that, as you have found, can be refurbished occasionally for an indefinite life span. You've already bit the bullet on the original cost on this unit. IMO (based on my experience with its sibling the PowerStream), it is well worth the cost to refurbish it.

The Trend is a great unit, which much like the PowerVisor it is modeled on. It certainly is a better monetary value for the recreational user, and is more convenient to remove and replace in the course of intermittent woodturning. It is nice to have everything fully integrated into one head mounted unit. I have only examined a Trend, but haven't used one, but I imagine I will be replacing my PowerVisor (not my Airstream) when the PowerVisor finally is beyond refurbishing (which is coming closer every day because you can't get replacment parts any more and I've now used up my last neck seal and faceplate).

In the best of all possible worlds, it's nice to have one of each. One for intermittent work, the other when working for longer periods and when needing maximal head and face, as well as respiratory protection. But most will at best have only one, you already have one of the best positive pressure respirators ever made.

Woodcraft Offering FREE second battery!!

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>Hi Dick,

I'm going to pick one up next week at Woodcraft for $279.00...and I just received the monthly flyer and they are offering a second battery for free with a mail in rebate. The reason I'm going to buy from Woodcraft is because they have a one year return policy and if I find that it is just too heavy or that I don't like it for what ever reason, I know I can return it. My face shield is off and on frequently. While it's usually on my head all the time, I'm always flipping it up and out of the way, or going to into the house for something with it on and I just feel like if I had the beltpack and full helmet I'd be annoyed with it and not wear it at all. I know it's better filtration...but if I wouldn't wear it....it wouldn't be. Anyway, I'm going to try the Trend...and get a spare battery to boot. I'm also going to look into the peel off lens protectors. I can't tell you how many shields I've ruined with CA glue splatters. They sell them for the Trend, but I'm going to wait and see if I can find them cheaper at a motorcycle store first. I've heard they are much cheaper there?

Jennifer

Re: Any opinions about TREND airshields?

Peter Teubel

>I have one and I like it very much.

BUT....before you ditch the Airmate 3 (I had one of those also, but the motor died), consider rebuilding the battery pack yourself (I did). Simply take apart the battery pack (you might have to hot-knife the cover off), replace the cells with Lithium Ion or NiCd D cells (soldering connectors and wires as they are on the old cells). CA glue the cover back on and you'll have a battery pack that will last FAR longer than even a new stock battery pack (assuming you use the LiON cells).

Hey, the pack is dead anyways...what have you got to lose?

Re: Any opinions about TREND airshields?

dick mcneill

>Thank you all for the positive input re: Trend airshield. I went ahead & ordered one from Airware America. com. The owner is a very pleasant fellow who said "try it, if you don't like it I'll refund your money".