quick question....
I have a 3m half face respirator that I've used for a long time. A little while ago, I noticed that one of the one way valve flaps on the inside of the mask doesn't seal the valve hole all the way like the other ones. Any way to fix this so I can get this flap to rest against the valve hole like it's supposed to?
I hope this explanation makes sense, as well as my respirator terminology, thanks.
HEY, go get a new one, those things are not meant to last forever. Save the parts, and change your filters regularly. Pretty good sign that the respirator is toast if the valve has crumpled and deteriorated. I bet the straps have lost its elasticity also.
Hi -
Ghettorat might be right on the need for a replacement but if the rest of the respirator is OK, the inhalation/exhalation valves are cheap and easy to replace. Get a couple of extra organic vapor cartridges and pre-filters while you're at it...
I change my Organic Vapor cartridges religiously. The mask I am talking about, I use for shaping, with the pink particulate filters attached. I'll check in to getting the little flaps replaced, thanks for the responses.
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I change my Organic Vapor cartridges religiously. The mask I am talking about, I use for shaping, with the pink particulate filters attached. I'll check in to getting the little flaps replaced, thanks for the responses.
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I also use the pink filters on my 3M respirator. I'm curious about how often people replace their filters. They don't seem to get visually clogged up with dust like other fluffier filters. I'm not sure what's happening down at the microscopic level, though. I sanded some G10 a while ago, which has a distinctive smell. The smell floated right though the pink filters while I was working. The next day I put the respirator back on and smelled G10 again. The filters looked clean, but I knew their was something in there, because it still stunk. Is there a different filter that is recommended for sanding fiberglass & epoxy products like G10?
hey swied,
I don’t change the pink filters cause I only use them to shape in, and I highly doubt foam dust gets clogged up in them(coud be wrong though).
I don’t sand my hot coats and gloss coats in them though, but instead I use organic vapor cartridges with filters over top. you can get all this at your local paint shop. make sure the filters protect against super fine dust. I think the fineness of the dust depends on what grit you’re sanding with, but you can probably check the archives for a specific micron size.