full face respirator with forced air

[toplessHO]

First...I have a full beard,a long full beard so I know I cant get a full seal,
hence why I want a forced air one.
This will be for grinding mostly as I know breathing metal dust isnt healthy.
I know I cant use compressed air from my compressor due to oil vapors
Please tell me if there is a way of using regular compressed air.
Im also looking at the small wearable electric pumps.
Input on this please

 

[rlitman]

I wouldn't breathe air that comes out of a compressor that's not made for breathing air.
Search for PAPR. That's what you're looking for. There are many options; some quite affordable.

 

[Wamsutta]

This will be for grinding mostly as I know breathing metal dust isnt healthy.

That's a new one on me. All the metal dust I manufacture is too heavy to be airborne.

Looks like a pile of coarse ground pepper all over my workbench.

 

[cgrutt]

Please don't do that!z ETA sorry misread OP thought you wanted to use compressed air my bad.

Need oil free rotary vane pump, special filtration and hose made specifically for breathable air. Oil from regular compressor can atomize and cause serious health issues.

That said I made my own forced air respirator for significantly less than commercial units and it works great. Still looking at over $1000 for correct parts.

 

[Dave455]

You have two options.

PAPR are Powered Air Purifying Respirators. These generally use a battery powered fan to force air through a filter and then to the mask. They are used for a number of reasons, but some folks simply find them more comfortable.

There are versions with big masks that work fine with beards, but if you've got a long beard I can see that causing problems.

“Air Supplied” respirators use air from a hose, typically from an oil free compressor with an inlet located in a clean environment. These are typically used when facing higher levels of contamination, e.g. Isocyanate paint.

PAPR‘s are quite reasonably priced now. Air Supplied tend to be expensive.

 

[PCustoms]

That's a new one on me. All the metal dust I manufacture is too heavy to be airborne.

Looks like a pile of coarse ground pepper all over my workbench.

When you blow your nose after, what color is the tissue?

Sanding or grinding makes dust.

 

[Wamsutta]

When you blow your nose after, what color is the tissue?

Sanding or grinding makes dust.

If I'm grinding clean steel all day with a grinding wheel, my nose mucous will be clear.

If I'm sanding rusty decks all day with a sanding disc onboard the USS Tripoli, my nose mucous will be black.

 

[PCustoms]

If I'm sanding rusty decks all day with a sanding disc onboard the USS Tripoli, my nose mucous will be black.

Believe it or not, some of us try to avoid breathing that in.

 

[Wamsutta]

Believe it or not, some of us try to avoid breathing that in.

Totally different environment than being in my backyard doing my welding hobby.

 

[SBAG]

You can get a seal with a beard. I do it with a CPAP and 3M masks. And I know what a proper seal feels like after 25 years of dealing with MOPP gear.

 

[scooby074]

Bite the bullet and go full PAPR welding mask like a 3m Speedglass 9100 Adflo Best of both worlds, good for grinding. Good for welding. Far from cheap though.

 

[Ing3018]

I like this one. My wife bought it for me several years ago when she noticed what I blew out of my nose after grinding. https://www.turbineproducts.com/breathecool-ii-supplied-air-respirator-system-w-fullface-mask/

 

[finn]

A used cpap machine might work. Look for one with auto set, and get a couple of long hoses. They connect together with common irrigation/ sprayer couplings available at TSC.

The filters aren’t very big, though, so that’s a problem.

 

[GeoBruin]

I like this one. My wife bought it for me several years ago when she noticed what I blew out of my nose after grinding. https://www.turbineproducts.com/breathecool-ii-supplied-air-respirator-system-w-fullface-mask/

That's... surprisingly affordable.

 

[cgrutt]

I made mine based on this



I bought a Gast Rotary Vane pump off ebay, the same Allegro filters and gauge used on Allegro system, a 3M breathable air rated hose and 3M regulator and mask. I have full face and half face masks for it. Works great.

 

[rlitman]

You can get a seal with a beard. I do it with a CPAP and 3M masks. And I know what a proper seal feels like after 25 years of dealing with MOPP gear.

A CPAP is positive pressure with an expected and controlled leak rate. That's a far cry from a negative pressure mask.

 

[PCustoms]

mods

 

[toplessHO]

That's a new one on me. All the metal dust I manufacture is too heavy to be airborne.

Looks like a pile of coarse ground pepper all over my workbench.

Surely you cant be serious

if you arent wearing any respirator,blow your nose and look at what comes out.

 

[metlmunchr]

Hobbyair makes a turbine type system that comes with either a half or full face mask or an air supplied hood. With the hood and 60 ft of hose, it's around $600. I use one with the hood for painting and find it much less restrictive than a face mask. The constant flow of air thru the hood also keeps your head cool.

You can buy coalescing oil removing filters and charcoal filters for use on normal air compressors to get breathable air, but the cost for quality filters plus breathing hose is near as much as just buying the breathing system like the Hobbyair.

 

[toplessHO]

any feedback on the small belt worn electric units?
I agree on the 3M mask

 

[PCustoms]

any feedback on the small belt worn electric units?
I agree on the 3M mask

Got an example?

I used them years ago, great for an industrial environment as there's minimal training and no medical needed.

Filters can get pricey

 

[mike93lx]

At one of our manufacturing plants, we have a good number of folks running 3M Versaflow TR600's with great feedback. There is often some hesitation to move to one, but once they do, they're very happy with them. They use them for fiberglass exposure.

They are $3k though.

 

[toplessHO]

At one of our manufacturing plants, we have a good number of folks running 3M Versaflow TR600's with great feedback. There is often some hesitation to move to one, but once they do, they're very happy with them. They use them for fiberglass exposure.

They are $3k though.

Im guessing the company foots the bill

 

[mike93lx]

Im guessing the company foots the bill

Up front, but we put the guys on an 12 month installment plan at libor + 5%. Any damage is deducted from paychecks with a 9.95 admin fee






J/k, yeah, we provide them to anyone working in the exposure areas. I think the battery pack is shared between shift mates but everyone has their own hood/hose

 

[oldschoolcraft]

A used cpap machine might work. Look for one with auto set, and get a couple of long hoses. They connect together with common irrigation/ sprayer couplings available at TSC.

The filters aren’t very big, though, so that’s a problem.

I dont know about that, I guess it's possible but I wouldn't mess with it given the low cost of PAPRs.

 

[Rockable]

A cpap has a small, thin filter and is an air pump designed to flow air through minimum restriction. It is also designed to supply air to you when you sleep, which is when you consume less oxygen and breathe less. I'm pretty sure mine couldn't keep up when I am working, plus added filtration would reduce ouput. As a long time cpap user, I would not try this option.

 

[strength_and_power]

I had an Optrel PAPR and loved it. Lost it in a fire and it was one of the first things I replaced. I bought the kit with a welding hood and then purchased the full face grinding mask. It’s easy to swap the hose between units. Battery life is good and replacement filters aren’t horribly expensive

 

[danielbuck]

there are masks that wood-turners and wood workers use, "Powercap Active" is one of them, an all-in-one unit that doesn't have hoses.

I haven't used one, but it's on my some-day wish list, it would be very nice when when I'm doing lots of sanding and wood turning. Probably alot more comfortable than a face shield, glasses and filter mask. It has the filters and such on top of your head, which I guess gives you a bit more visibility without having the filters down by your mouth.

I don't know if the face shield would be strong enough to stop a cutoff wheel though, or how the filters would handle sparks.

Powercap Active IP Respirator

Lightweight and more balanced on the head than its competitors. The Powercap Active IP is the lightest head mounted PAPR in the World with over 8,000 systems sold in the USA.This PAPR is the go to product for professional woodturners and hobbyists, chimney sweeps, allergy sufferers, and others th...

pekesafety.com

 

[Steve_P]

You can get a seal with a beard. I do it with a CPAP and 3M masks. And I know what a proper seal feels like after 25 years of dealing with MOPP gear.

I won't argue this other than to say where I work, they will not allow you to have a beard and wear a respirator. It's not CPAP, it's not a body shop, it's dealing with airborne radioactive contamination and no beards are allowed because they adversely affect the seal. We do individual fit tests, etc. Regardless, the proper way to test for a "proper seal" is with a high strength fragrance and not "by feel"; the one we use smells like bananas times a million.

I'm sure you'll argue, but I won't other than the above. YMMV.

At home for painting I have a system similar to the Hobby Air. I've had it 20+ years, and but the company seems to be out of business- unless I've forgotten the name and got it wrong.

 

[mike93lx]

I won't argue this other than to say where I work, they will not allow you to have a beard and wear a respirator. It's not CPAP, it's not a body shop, it's dealing with airborne radioactive contamination and no beards are allowed because they adversely affect the seal. We do individual fit tests, etc. Regardless, the proper way to test for a "proper seal" is with a high strength fragrance and not "by feel"; the one we use smells like bananas times a million.

I'm sure you'll argue, but I won't other than the above. YMMV.

At home for painting I have a system similar to the Hobby Air. I've had it 20+ years, and but the company seems to be out of business- unless I've forgotten the name and got it wrong.

This. Fit testing and wearing a respirator requires being clean shaven.

Choosing a beard over your lungs is nuts

The best "fit test" I ever did was a sewer backup cleanup... I love my 3m 6700

 

[ocelotltum]

First...I have a full beard,a long full beard so I know I cant get a full seal,
hence why I want a forced air one.
This will be for grinding mostly as I know breathing metal dust isnt healthy.
I know I cant use compressed air from my compressor due to oil vapors
Please tell me if there is a way of using regular compressed air.
Im also looking at the small wearable electric pumps.
Input on this please

SCUBA divers and firefighters (SCBA) use backpack compressed air tanks through regulators, but in your situation perhaps you could gin up a connection between one of theirs and yours. There was a change from on-demand to pressure-supplied SCBA and some departments may have replaced units available cheap.

 

[Etchase]

Sure seemed to be a high failure rate on the first go round of seals on the banana test even amongst the most experienced employees. Facial hair was prohibited. Frequently equipment designed for a specific purpose is the way to go. Tough application to know if a cobbled together system is working without test equipment.

 

[Wamsutta]

Surely you cant be serious

if you arent wearing any respirator,blow your nose and look at what comes out.

I can see using a supplied air hood for something like body filler dust, but for metal? Even if it's rusty metal, the stuff isn't that bad really.

 

[PCustoms]

I can see using a supplied air hood for something like body filler dust, but for metal? Even if it's rusty metal, the stuff isn't that bad really.

To each their own, but you might want to do a little research.

I'm assuming it's too late for you, the rest of us still choose to protect our lungs.

 

[Wamsutta]

To each their own, but you might want to donate little research.

I'm assuming it's too late for you, the rest of us still choose to protect our lungs.

I breathed in massive amounts of airborne rust dust when I was living on the Warship USS Tripoli. I used to hack up black loogies and sneeze black snot. That was 30 years ago. I'm still alive today and enjoy the aroma of rust dust and burning resin from the abrasives whenever I get a chance.

 

[danielbuck]

I can see using a supplied air hood for something like body filler dust, but for metal? Even if it's rusty metal, the stuff isn't that bad really.

I do most of my work in a carport that is open on 3 sides. Even after a moderate amount of grinding (flap wheels, stones, whatever), there is quite a lot of dust that has settled on the ground. I blow out the dust every evening when I'm done, there's a surprising amount.

Is it as bad as super fine wood sanding dust? I don't think so, as wood sanding dust floats around and lingers quite a bit, but there's definitely dust when grinding metal. I generally don't wear a respirator when grinding metal, unless I'm going to be there grinding for more than a few minutes at a time.

 

[Wamsutta]

I do most of my work in a carport that is open on 3 sides. Even after a moderate amount of grinding (flap wheels, stones, whatever), there is quite a lot of dust that has settled on the ground. I blow out the dust every evening when I'm done, there's a surprising amount.

Is it as bad as super fine wood sanding dust? I don't think so, as wood sanding dust floats around and lingers quite a bit, but there's definitely dust when grinding metal. I generally don't wear a respirator when grinding metal, unless I'm going to be there grinding for more than a few minutes at a time.

If the substance is organic like rust or dirt is, it's not going to hurt your lungs.

A good rule of thumb is : if it makes you cough, it's not good to breathe.

Caustic cleaners or acids used in a spray bottle will make you cough and will require a respirator.

Polyurethane paint will require a respirator for sure.

The kind of dust that plasterers are around are very bad to breathe.

Concrete dust is supposed to be safe but I don't think so.

 

[danielbuck]

If the substance is organic like rust or dirt is, it's not going to hurt your lungs.

what? LOL What does organic have anything to do with it? Wood is organic, and fine wood dust will definitely hurt your lungs. you sound like an AI bot, lol

I'm pretty sure rust isn't organic either. lol

 

[Wamsutta]

what? LOL What does organic have anything to do with it? Wood is organic, and fine wood dust will definitely hurt your lungs. you sound like an AI bot, lol

I'm pretty sure rust isn't organic either. lol

Wood dust makes me sneeze almost instantly. I have to carry a blow rag around with me everywhere I go.

What you have to watch out for is the particle board saw dust. That stuff is full of glue and you don't want that in your lungs.

As far as being an AI bot. I just got temporarily banned from Google a little while ago because they thought I was a bot.

Google can't keep up with my searches. It wants me to prove that I'm human.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm pretty sure rust isn't organic either. lol

Rust is organic. It's plant matter. Little plants growing on the steel.