What's the best type of respirator to use for glassing & sanding?

General Discussion
1

I’m sure this has been discussed several times before on Swaylocks, but…

I’ve shaped one board so far and now that I have my very own garage, I’m getting my shop set up.

I want to know from people (hobbyists and industry people alike) what is the best type of respirator to use for glassing and sanding.

Are the 3M 6000 and 7000 models the best? Are any of the respirators that are sold at Sears or Home Depot any good?

And while we’re at it, what’s the best type of eye protection to use for shaping, glassing, and sanding?

Thanks.

2

Yes…Home Depot sells the 3M respirator with filters for about $30.

They filter out all the nasty VOCs in PE resin. Read the instructions

for use and perform the seal test before every use…if you can smell

the resin its not working properly.

3

Where I work we’re all issued personally fitted respirators (though I only use mine to shape and glass). We’re fit tested too…

The best respirator is the one you’ll wear, and the one you’ll wear should be the one that fits. That said, here’s something to look for in respirator construction: it must not leak; it’s light; it has a double seal where it bears on your face; the straps are easily adjustable; elastic straps are replaceable. And it must not leak.

It won’t be cheap, unless you think 30 clams is cheap.

Now, the respirator is only part of it, the cartridges (filters) are where the rubber hits the road. For dusty work you GOTTA have a HEPA rated filter cartridge. This should be an N-100, P-100 or R-100 rated filter, and it will have a magenta band on it. Don’t use a -95 or lesser filter. The filters last a LONG time and actually get more efficient with time, though they do load up a little, which slightly increases inhalation effort. To minimize this, keep the filters dry.

Activated charcoal is the filter of choice for glassing and volatile materials, these are not rated. As mentioned above, when you smell the stuff through the respirator, the filter is done. Charcoal filters theoretically can be regenerated by high heat but no one actually does.

Clean your respirator occasionally using a little alchohol swab or just warm soapy water. The interior will have lots of “stuff” from condensation of your exhalation. I can tell you that such a respirator is like candy to a rat… lost one once that way.

Fit testing should be done at point of purchase. Put it on, cover the exhalation valve(s), try blow out, feel for leaks. There should be none. Similarly, cover the filter and try to inhale. If there are leaks put it back on the shelf and try another model or brand. Some people’s faces just don’t easily fit most readily available respirators, and you gotta have the right one.

Better than the negative pressure air purifying respirators discussed above are powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) and supplied air systems (where the user wears a hood and clean air is pumped in). But these are cumbersome at best and no one I have seen wears them, for shaping and/or glassing.

4

I just got hooked up with the new 3M 7500 half mask and let me tell you – it’s awesome. It’s way better than my older model 3M 7000 series charcoal respirator with the particulate pre-filter – the one with the circular screw-in type filters.

The faces piece is like jelly, and fits like a glove (well, for me). I got the pink p-100 particulate filters for sanding, and it feels like you’re not wearing anything. It’s superlight. Also, going from the round protruding charcoal filters to the low-profile rectangular ones is like night and day. The field of vision is way better. And I can switch between the particulates and the charcoals instantly. I got a whole bag of goodies last week from northernsafety.com. Way more comfortable now with a new setup.

5

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I tried one of the 3M 7000 series a few weeks ago when I went to work w/ my brother and I liked it.

I’ll probably have to order one online b/c I can’t find 3M respirators anywhere. Neither Lowes or Home Depot carry them. HD carries MSA respirators which seem pretty decent.

I’ll spend up to $50 for a half-mask respirator, so I’ll probably find a decent one.

6
Quote:
I just got hooked up with the new 3M 7500 half mask and let me tell you -- it's awesome. It's way better than my older model 3M 7000 series charcoal respirator with the particulate pre-filter -- the one with the circular screw-in type filters.

The faces piece is like jelly, and fits like a glove (well, for me). I got the pink p-100 particulate filters for sanding, and it feels like you’re not wearing anything. It’s superlight. Also, going from the round protruding charcoal filters to the low-profile rectangular ones is like night and day. The field of vision is way better. And I can switch between the particulates and the charcoals instantly. I got a whole bag of goodies last week from northernsafety.com. Way more comfortable now with a new setup.

did the 7500 come with a cartridge?

Which cartridge did you end up buying, and how much did you spend?

It looks like I might be spending a little more than $50.

7

No, the mask doesn’t come with anything.

I got the p100 particulate filters and the 3M organic vapor charcoal filters. P100s are about $6 a pair and Organics are about $10 a pair. Mask is about $25. Got it all at Northern Safety.

8

Sorry for jumping in with a sort of OT question,

What would you recommend for shaping with a vacuum system? Would this 3M 7500 mask be overkill? I know the topic was glassing and sanding.

Can you get away with the disposable ones, and what brand, model would you recommend?

9
Quote:
Sorry for jumping in with a sort of OT question,

What would you recommend for shaping with a vacuum system? Would this 3M 7500 mask be overkill? I know the topic was glassing and sanding.

Can you get away with the disposable ones, and what brand, model would you recommend?

you’re not off topic at all. my original post was meant to be all-inclusive. shaping generates plenty of particulates which probably fit nicely in the alveoli, so when I shape my next boards I’ll wear a respirator or at least a higher-end dust mask.

10

I’ve rotated between AO and 3M over the last 25 years. I just picked up a new AO a few weeks ago from a Sherwin Williams store. It has some real nice new features like nylon head straps (dont stretch out) and a flip lever to release the mask to hang. It came with organic filters and dust filter pads. Basically everything you would need. Also, I picked up the lead and asbestos abatement filters (pink: super fine particle) You can use them w/o the carbon filter if you just want dust protection w/o using up your activated carbon. The were a cheap addition at about $8. The whole setup was about $40. That’s a lot cheaper than new lungs.

Only breath the good stuff!

11

Industrial medicine clinics do professional respirator fitting/testing using one of these…

http://www.websoft-solutions.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=3M-FT-20

The user puts on the respirator and a respiratory tech covers the users head with the hood. Sample scents (wintergreen oil, etc.) are applied to the hood and if the respirator fits properly, the user can’t detect the odors.

In case of terrorist attack while glassing, get some of these too…

http://www.websoft-solutions.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=40NBC

12

“Breath deep the gathering gloom.” I will admitt in public what few do behind closed doors. I do not use a respirator when I sand. I use a simple OSHA approved particle mask. The type with two yellow rubber bands. I have also used the single baffle rubber masks that are similar to respirators. Aside from these percautions I absolutly insist on good ventilation and some sort of fan or extraction system. I have also done quite a bit of sanding outside letting the Trades take it where they may. When I Lam I also want air and fume extraction in my lam. room. I like those gable fans and the whole house fans they sell at the Depot. I use a Binks Respirator with charcoal filters. I have used these for years. They are not as well made as they used to be, but are still the best over the counter. All the paint stores used to carry them. Automotive paint supply shops still do. Painters, cabinet finishers(lacquer), auto body shops consider the Binks respirator to be the industry standard. There are better and more exspensive, but for the money it’s Binks. One tip though, change those charcoal filters once in awhile. If they smell like resin, they’re past due. McDing