3M dust mask with wrong filter

[Gerhard Gerber]

I've been sowing the seeds of my own destruction by grinding using a buff or a cigarette to filter the air, my snot tells me both work equally well, the buff just makes me sweat more....

There's one shop selling 3M masks, all I've been able to find that remotely looks quality enough to seal and actually be effective, but they only stock the chemical filters which I understand is meant for painters, no particle filters in sight.

My new grinder in hollow grind configuration will throw all the grinding dust directly at me, so I was thinking of forking out for the 3M even if the filter isn't 100%

 

Waste of time and money, or better than nothing?

[Brian Dougherty]

A lot of the 3M filters have a particle filter before the chemical scrubbing media.  You might get lucky and find one that does both.  In my part of the world, the media is color coded and a purple stripe on the cartridge indicates it includes a particle filter.  (IIRC)

 

I'm hesitant to give uninformed advice on protecting your lungs, but I think even an organic solvent cartridge would be better than nothing.  If nothing else, it keeps the cigarette out of your mouth for a little while  

Edited February 2 by Brian Dougherty

[John Page]

I've been using the 3M versaflow for a few years now because of sealing issues with beard that are encountered via normal respirators and absolutely love it. The positive air flow is nice but mainly because the full face seal so there is a 0% chance of debris entering the eyes as well as the lungs. The filter sits behind the back so it's not in the line of fire for the majority of airborne dust anyway but the air quality seems great regardless. I believe they also make a model designed for filtering out welding fumes so whatever that cartridge is must do some serious filtration. It's a bit of a high dollar item but being able to add ear protection onto it, while I'm wearing the thing it covers every safety concern I have while grinding. Much better than the respirator only filters for my situation, at that!

[Gerhard Gerber]

@Brian Dougherty my feeling as well, probably better than nothing.  Maybe once I've bought the mask I can pressure them to order the right filters.
Need to get that monkey off my back for good, maybe the visit to the cardiologist in Tuesday will do the trick 

@John Page the beard is a problem for sure.  Unfortunately the closest I can get to that Versaflow is Youtube.

[Gerhard Gerber]

@John Page I have to eat my words, went to the shop Saturday and they had a whole wall display with 3M products, including two full-face models.
Excuse me for not knowing which models, because I started choking when I saw the price.......

I did however buy a normal mask, only filters the have are for "organic vapours & acid gasses", but whatever it made a difference for sure.

[Alan Longmire]

Yeah, the full-face forced air ones are unbelievably expensive. The cheap way is to download the manual for the one you want and buy individual components on ebay over the course of a few months.  That can cut the price by 2/3.

[HSJackson]

Can you use those full face ones with glasses?  I got old man eyes and need my readers to do anything in the shop. 

[Gerhard Gerber]

3 hours ago, HSJackson said:

Can you use those full face ones with glasses?  I got old man eyes and need my readers to do anything in the shop. 

I didn't mention this, but I had a bit of a flop on Saturday....last job I wanted to do was cut enough steel from a sawblade for a cleaver somebody is waiting for, long story, anyway...
Dutifully put on the new mask and start cutting with the grinder, something was bothering me but couldn't figure it out.......1X readers weren't on my face. Lucky not to get anything in my eye, and I have to say the glasses don't go great with the mask.
I'm wearing 2x readers most of the time in the shop now, and for fine work 1X with the optivisor.

[Alan Longmire]

12 hours ago, HSJackson said:

Can you use those full face ones with glasses?  I got old man eyes and need my readers to do anything in the shop. 

 

I have no problem using mine with glasses.  The big side-shield safety glasses are a tight fit, but my regular wire rims are fine.  The only issue I have with glasses is that I forget I can't just push 'em up my nose if they start to slide down.  

 

My biggest issue is that I have to remember to trim my beard short at the point of my jaw right under my ears, or those rubber straps will do it for me.

[Will Robertson]

On 2/8/2023 at 12:00 AM, Alan Longmire said:

Yeah, the full-face forced air ones are unbelievably expensive. The cheap way is to download the manual for the one you want and buy individual components on ebay over the course of a few months.  That can cut the price by 2/3.

I've noticed some manufacturers in Asia making positive pressure / forced air respirators that are intended to be compatible with 3M so it may be possible to buy the respirator from Asia and the filters from a reliable local supplier - that may be one way to save money - I haven't tried one so I can't be sure.

Another option is to use a positive pressure / forced air respirator that's fed by a supply of air carried in by a hose from an air compressor somewhere where the air is clean - my guess is that an oil free air compressor would be used for that - that avoids the expensive filters and fan unit but involves an expensive air compressor and the potential trip hazard of an air hose - these are used in the most hazardous environments - for example where there's a risk of a biohazard aerosol in the air.

In British armed forces our respirators could have built-in prescription lenses to use instead of glasses - I haven't seen that on commercial respirators but it should be possible.

I buy health and safety equipment for work - most companies that stock 3M filters only stock 1 or 2 filter types because of their limited use-by dates but they can usually order the other filter types - the cheap dust filters pre-filter the air and protect the much more expensive chemical filters from getting blocked by dust - the right choice of chemical filter protects from chemical contaminants.

[Gerhard Gerber]

I was chatting to a colleague last week and she mentioned she'd bought her girlfriend a full face mask on aliexpress, waited quite a while, but they were so impressed she ordered one for herself, she does woodwork.

Fellow maker ordered bolts with quick release handles so he doesn't need to use a spanner to change attachments on his new grinder, I bought the same grinder and have the same need.

Locally two of those cost 700 monopoly bucks, he got four for 180 from overseas.

I might be stupid, and many other things, but I can't get myself to order from there.  Apart from the occasional risk of not receiving orders, I prefer to buy and support local, or live without.
I'll just get a dedicated spanner for the new grinder