Post your Welding and Grinding respiratory safety gear..
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neonnblack
Well-known member
i dont use anything but safety glasses, the gasses havent bugged me... yet.
Jamesbbh
Well-known member
If I'm grinding rust or just grinding a lot in general (or cooking burgers at the same time) I have one of these, you can actually breathe easier through it than you can a paper mask. You can get one of these setups from lowes/HD for ~$30 and the replacement cartridges are like $15 IIRC.
safety glasses always. auto-darkening welding mask when tig mig and stick welding. dark shade for aluminum light shade for inconel and stainless. a bit darker for mild steel. long sleeves when doing any welding except tig. face shield when doing anything that will throw debris. been nailed in the face with too many steel wires, lit my hair on fire too many times with the metal cutoff saw sparks and dropped too much steel on my foot to not go in protected... lol
Jamesbbh
Well-known member
Oh I have a few of those stories as well haha. A little super glue in the wound when it stops bleeding and it's all good!
I think the OP was just looking for respiratory gear though.
I'm always wearing:
Closed toe leather shoes
pants
thermal long sleeve well fitting shirt (for welding burns/getting caught in whatever)
Leather work gloves
if needed:
Face mask (as pictured above)
disposable earplugs
face shield
safety goggles over my normal glasses
cotton beanie (sparks on the head)
cut resistant gloves
rubber bands around the end of welding gloves/ankles (random little pieces of hot pain shooting in there)
Thanks for the posts on safety gear. I am thinking about getting some disposable masks that are specifically designed for welding. 3m makes them as do Honeywell among others. They can fit right under the auto-darkening helmet nicely. I am not entirely sure if they are necessary however. I figure it can't hurt.
Anyway, continue to post. It will be interesting to hear what ZTFab and NASTYZEN use given they fabricate quite a lot of parts/pieces/projects.
Anyway, continue to post. It will be interesting to hear what ZTFab and NASTYZEN use given they fabricate quite a lot of parts/pieces/projects.
Get the 3M half face mask and the welding-specific filters. It's less than twenty bucks out the door, if I remember right. You definitely want to wear it when you're working with galvanized. It fits under a normal welding helmet.
With ordinary welding, I just run the attic fan I put in my roof. But any abrasive cutting disk or blade makes stuff that I don't feel good about breathing.
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Tom Hintz
Well-known member
I use a mask by 3M that is designed for welding. It has a one way check valve to help keep the air going through the filter on the way in and thorough the valve on the way out. see the link below for pictures and more on that filter. Not an expensive piece by any means either.
http://www.newmetalworker.com/weldbrthing.html
http://www.newmetalworker.com/weldbrthing.html
ZRX61
Well-known member
Those filters have a life of about 8-10 hours once you take them out of the bag. If you only wear it for 1 hour & leave it on the shelf in the garage overnight, it's done. Always remove & (ziplock) bag them again to extend the life.
Get the 3M half face mask and the welding-specific filters. It's less than twenty bucks out the door, if I remember right. You definitely want to wear it when you're working with galvanized. It fits under a normal welding helmet.
With ordinary welding, I just run the attic fan I put in my roof. But any abrasive cutting disk or blade makes stuff that I don't feel good about breathing.
illmatyk
Well-known member
I usually just use safety glasses when I'm grinding down metal or rust. I am going to investing in a face shield as I keep thinking about metal/rust going in my eyes( has happened to me before, 6 years ago. ).
I think I will also invest in a respirator this weekend.
I think I will also invest in a respirator this weekend.
Where did you hear that? There was a thread a while back on Welding Web where the consensus was they were good for at least a year. But if that's wrong, I'd like to know.
awdblazer
Well-known member
not true, if it is the charcoal one then yes, but the p100 i believe those ones are, are pretty much good until you cant breathe through them
To take a line from Stick "As with all things in PPE, the only correct answer is "It Depends"".
The particulate-only filters (just N95, P100, etc) are good until they clog up. There's no time limit, it's how much dust you **** into them.
Anything absorptive, however, has two time limits. 3M says that you can breath through it for 8 hours or you can let it set for 30 days on a shelf, whichever comes first. So the Organic Vapor or Acid Gas cartridges fall under that rule. However, so do the pink P100 With Nuisance Organic Vapor Relief discs pictured above.
The further complicating factor is that you should NOT be using the pink P100 w/OG discs any time that the gasses are actually a health concern. The pink discs are ONLY so that you don't have to smell things. That's what "Nuisance Level" means. So you can a little rattle-can spray paint, use a little brake cleaner, etc, without having to smell it. As soon as the level of toxic gasses rise to the point that they're a health threat, you must switch to the full-sized cartridges.
The particulate-only filters (just N95, P100, etc) are good until they clog up. There's no time limit, it's how much dust you **** into them.
Anything absorptive, however, has two time limits. 3M says that you can breath through it for 8 hours or you can let it set for 30 days on a shelf, whichever comes first. So the Organic Vapor or Acid Gas cartridges fall under that rule. However, so do the pink P100 With Nuisance Organic Vapor Relief discs pictured above.
The further complicating factor is that you should NOT be using the pink P100 w/OG discs any time that the gasses are actually a health concern. The pink discs are ONLY so that you don't have to smell things. That's what "Nuisance Level" means. So you can a little rattle-can spray paint, use a little brake cleaner, etc, without having to smell it. As soon as the level of toxic gasses rise to the point that they're a health threat, you must switch to the full-sized cartridges.
plinker
Well-known member
The p100 filters have no shelf life (3m 2091/2097), The organic vapor filters I bought a few months ago have an unopened shelf life to 2016. Less once opened I'm guessing.
FWIW, I have the one in Jacks picture, 3M 6000 series.
I have found wearing the respirator does help when using my welder (and plasma cutter at work), I dont usually wear it for grinding though (porbably should). The welding helmet I use is my Dads auto dark not sure of the make. I want to get a 3M when funds permit.
I always have muffs on when doing anything with noise ( I like Peltor "shotgunner" low profile muffs), and have gotten in the habit of using saftey glasses.
Gloves are always used too. Nitirle coated for general use and leather for welding & grinding. I like deer skin (or thin leather) when using my Mig welder, they are more sensitive and not bulky feeling. (I found the nylon shell of the nitirle gloves melt when using a cut-off wheel.)
FWIW, I have the one in Jacks picture, 3M 6000 series.
I have found wearing the respirator does help when using my welder (and plasma cutter at work), I dont usually wear it for grinding though (porbably should). The welding helmet I use is my Dads auto dark not sure of the make. I want to get a 3M when funds permit.
I always have muffs on when doing anything with noise ( I like Peltor "shotgunner" low profile muffs), and have gotten in the habit of using saftey glasses.
Gloves are always used too. Nitirle coated for general use and leather for welding & grinding. I like deer skin (or thin leather) when using my Mig welder, they are more sensitive and not bulky feeling. (I found the nylon shell of the nitirle gloves melt when using a cut-off wheel.)
I did a little research. 3M's web site lists the expiration date on the packaging as the end of the lifespan on both particle and vapor filters. They suggest you write the date on the filter or mask once you throw the packaging away. I didn't see any cautions about any filters only lasting 8-10 hours. Opened or closed, they referenced the printed expiration date.
Innov8tive1
Well-known member
Mine is similar to this one pictured except the cartridges are a pink color. Not sure what series it is but it is a 3M mask.
I use it for grinding, sanding (wood, body filler, drywall mud), cutting pretty much anything on the table saw, if ever I have to get up in the attic and disturb the insulation. The coughing and blowing out of black boogers for days afterwards (not to mention all the other long term effects) make it a VERY attractive item to have and actually use. I know many people don't bother with 'em for many "small jobs" but the long term health effects are cumulative in nature so it is worth wearing every time. It doesn't fit under my welding mask although I'm guessing that's why the ones in Jack's pic. are lower profile. I should look into one of those too.
I'm also a volunteer firefighter so I wear an SCBA when necessary. More often it is worn in practice as we don't seem to get a lot of calls in our municipality which is a good thing.
I use it for grinding, sanding (wood, body filler, drywall mud), cutting pretty much anything on the table saw, if ever I have to get up in the attic and disturb the insulation. The coughing and blowing out of black boogers for days afterwards (not to mention all the other long term effects) make it a VERY attractive item to have and actually use. I know many people don't bother with 'em for many "small jobs" but the long term health effects are cumulative in nature so it is worth wearing every time. It doesn't fit under my welding mask although I'm guessing that's why the ones in Jack's pic. are lower profile. I should look into one of those too.
I'm also a volunteer firefighter so I wear an SCBA when necessary. More often it is worn in practice as we don't seem to get a lot of calls in our municipality which is a good thing.
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bad_idea
Well-known member
i use the same one Jack listed at work. the p100s do not have a 8-10 hour life. they are a hepa filter. use them till it's hard to breath through them.
The P100 filters alone do not have the 8-hour usage lifespan.
However, the moment you combine them with an absorptive filter such as the P100+nuisance organic vapor "pink discs", the filters have the 8-hours/30-days limitation. After the expiry, the particulate filtration still works just fine. However, there is no more absorptive action protecting you from organic vapors, acid gasses, etc.
Also, this drives me freaking nuts that people say this all the time, they are NOT a HEPA filter. A single filter element does not a "HEPA filter" make. HEPA certification is awarded ONLY to filter systems. So that means a filter element that can meet the filtration requirements for the certification plus a filter housing that provably prevents any and all bypass down to a lower particulate size than the filtration.
So taking your shopvac and dropping in a "HEPA filter" from Sears, Lowes, or Home Depot does NOT get you something that meets the requirements for HEPA certification. This is why a setup like that is NOT legal for mold, lead, or asbestos remediation. You have to have a filter housing (read: vacuum) and a filter element that together have been awarded HEPA certification in order to end up with adequate filtration.
machine_punk
Well-known member
I don't weld (well, at home...I don't have the equipment to weld at home), so I cannot help you there (other than point you at the 3M site, which has the grid for picking filters for different tasks).
Grinding and sanding aluminum: I use these. 3M 8511. The disposable 3M N95 mask, with an exhalation valve. These go for about $20 for 10 masks at Home Depot (in the paint department). The exhalation valve significantly improves the mask-wearing experience. As a bonus, this more-expensive model also has a MUCH-improved nose clip, which makes it far easier to form a seal around your nose (significantly reduces fogging of your safety glasses)...
View media item 12635
Here is a comparison. The mask on the left is after about 8 hours of sanding and grinding aluminum. The mask on the right is fresh. I'm glad I chose to wear a mask while grinding and sanding...
View media item 12633
Grinding and sanding aluminum: I use these. 3M 8511. The disposable 3M N95 mask, with an exhalation valve. These go for about $20 for 10 masks at Home Depot (in the paint department). The exhalation valve significantly improves the mask-wearing experience. As a bonus, this more-expensive model also has a MUCH-improved nose clip, which makes it far easier to form a seal around your nose (significantly reduces fogging of your safety glasses)...
View media item 12635
Here is a comparison. The mask on the left is after about 8 hours of sanding and grinding aluminum. The mask on the right is fresh. I'm glad I chose to wear a mask while grinding and sanding...
View media item 12633
b-body-bob
Well-known member
I never wore respiration gear before, but the last time I had my car outside to grind before welding, I used one of those HF fiberglass welding blankets to keep the sparks where I wanted them. When I finished I shook it out in the sun, and could see a ton of floating junk coming off that thing. Has to be fiberglass, so I'm not touching those things again in an enclosed space without a mask on.
Jzytaruk
Active member
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/welding_protection/filtration/papr/#load-panel-titanium
for welding
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...ES9MG812H2000000_nid=9WCT6KC8GRbeF3RH7CD92Ngl
for grinding without helmet on, 3m 7500 series gelmask.
for welding
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...ES9MG812H2000000_nid=9WCT6KC8GRbeF3RH7CD92Ngl
for grinding without helmet on, 3m 7500 series gelmask.
sevt_chevelle
Well-known member
I use something similar, made by 3M. I wear it all the time, welding, grinding, sanding what ever.
The fresh air system is my first choice, but also wear 3M half mask with the pink filters when doing any type of activity that produces a dust. Fits under my NEXgen Jackson welding helmet no problem.
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rlitman
Well-known member
NO! Read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HEPA
"To qualify as HEPA by government standards, an air filter must remove 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometer from the air that passes through"
N100 and P100 filters (the pink 3m disc filters are P100) remove 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometer from the air that passes through.
That's how N100 and P100 are defined.
The difference, is that N series filters are not resistant to solvent particulates in the air, whereas P series are.
read this:
http://www.csao.org/uploadfiles/magazine/vol9no1/91filter.htm
This even states:
"The P100 filter is the same as a HEPA filter and is likewise coloured magenta."
Oh, and I too use the same mask that Jack posted higher up this thread.
I like it, because it is very light, and fits close to my face. Also, I wear glasses, and nuisance filters don't seal well on my face (even with the exhaust valve), so when I exhale, they fog my glasses. But truth be told, I really only TIG weld, so I only use it for grinding and sanding
The pink filters I have for it do not have any activated carbon, and can be used until it is difficult to breathe. There is no expiration, BUT if you get them damp, they can grow mold.
I keep thinking of making some sort of PAPR setup using spare parts from my CPAP supplies, but my first attempts didn't work out too well, and a true PAPR is out of my budget.
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Those are the base filtration requirements. Simply having a filter that meets those requirements does NOT automatically make it a HEPA filter. The filtration efficacy must be certified AND the housing plus filter must be tested to ensure that it's not possible for any air to bypass the filter element. You can have the best filter element in the world and it won't keep you alive if the air can go around the filter because of the crappy fit between the filter and the housing.
Sadly, "HEPA" has become shorthand for "any random filter element that filters above the guidelines for an actual HEPA certified filter system". It's just marketing BS.
Exactly, those are the certification requirements for NIOSH *95 and *100 filters. Being a NIOSH-certified filter does NOT automatically make it a HEPA-certified filter.
Nope, got this wrong as well.
NIOSH N* filters are not resistant to anything
NIOSH R* filters are resistant to oils
NIOSH P* filters are proof against oils
Not all oils are solvents and not all solvents are oils. Your statement is not equal to the factual truth.
Yeah, they're wrong or at least their command of the English language *****.
If they said "NIOSH *100 filters have equivalent filtration to a HEPA filter element", they'd have made a factually correct statement. As it stands, they were either sloppy or wrong.
BMEP
Well-known member
Now, THAT is funny!! I guess he's (somewhat) carefully selecting the polutants that he inhales.
-->
Well-known member
I use something similar, made by 3M. I wear it all the time, welding, grinding, sanding what ever.
The fresh air system is my first choice, but also wear 3M half mask with the pink filters when doing any type of activity that produces a dust. Fits under my NEXgen Jackson welding helmet no problem.
I was actually told in my most recent welding class that those are no longer osha compliant. The new thing is a paper mask...... seriously....
z28snksknr
Well-known member
Get the 3M half face mask and the welding-specific filters. It's less than twenty bucks out the door, if I remember right. You definitely want to wear it when you're working with galvanized. It fits under a normal welding helmet.
With ordinary welding, I just run the attic fan I put in my roof. But any abrasive cutting disk or blade makes stuff that I don't feel good about breathing.
I have this same setup and I love it. No more black "Hitler dirt-stache" under my nose when I come inside, and I'm not getting nosebleeds from all the caked grinding dust in my sinuses.
Although when I'm all dressed out in my safety glasses, respirator, welding helmet, welding jacket, leather apron (for when I'm grinding), mechanics gloves, and leather welding gloves, my wife somehow knows to pop in and ask me something useless, requiring me to remove half of it to answer her over the noise of the radio.
gmwelder86
Well-known member
typically its just a long sleeve twill shirt with extra starch- alot better than welding leathers. A welding cap, gloves and my hood. I do carry a respirator in my truch incase the forman decides its time to weld some galvy. Typically in my line of work all welding is done outside so most of the smoke is carried off with the breeze. Also typically try not to grind to much, its must faster to put in a good weld than it is to grind down a bad one.
The hood,
I also use a gold shadded lense for cutting and OA welding. These are well worth the extra few bucks as it allows you to see the flame as though you were not wearing anything.
The hood,
I also use a gold shadded lense for cutting and OA welding. These are well worth the extra few bucks as it allows you to see the flame as though you were not wearing anything.
superspec
Well-known member
was it determined that the p100 filters last until clogged? im ready to pull the trigger on a mask and extra filters but want to make sure i get what i want.
New to the site,greetings all. when I weld I use my helmet only. If im lightly sanding or grinding I don't wear anything, or maybe one of those little white mask.If im sanding or grinding on some nasty stuff or im gonna be doing it a while ill throw on the full face mask with the charcoal filters.
Stockblock
Member
Funny this should come up, I'm just finishing up a frame repair on a jeep and had to grind alot of rust/ metal. I'm now on day two of one of the worst sore throats I've ever had after a long night of grinding. I'll be picking up a 3M mask before the next job for sure...
1967lemans
Well-known member
I have a 3M 6000 series that I never use. (wont fit under my hood) Just been using the disposable N95's.