Red neck fresh air supply

[john11139]

Was wondering if any one has ever made a cheap effective fresh air supply? Over the years in in my job I have done things I would never ask a employee to do. Maybe unsafe etc. On occasion I have worked on leaks (welding) inside pumper septic tanks on trucks. Normal procedure is wash them out good, open rear hatch and top hatch, put a high powered fan and air them out good for a hour or so till dried. I would crawl through the hatch with a rope around my feet, have fresh air blowing in. Start welding and have a employee stand by and I would tap the inside of the tank every 30 seconds and tell him if he didn't hear me tap to start pulling on the rope. I have never smelled any fumes or had any problems. But I have another job coming up and wonder about a cheap air supply. Here is my thought. Get a divers mask, I have about 30ft of the flexable drain hose like they use to drain swimming pools, hook it to a hair drier. I think this might provide a little more safety. I know you are asking how I will weld with a divers mask on. Actually on this job I wont be welding but they want me to totally seal (paint)the inside with a sealer like you use on a basement under ground. It is a latex based so no explosive fumes. I will still have a good fan blowing fresh air inside too. I know you can buy a fresh air supply like the fire fighters wear but I think this would be too cumbersome to move around inside a tank. (and very expensive)

 

[Jere]

Some small shop vacs have an in and an out, maybe get a new one for $20, then run hose to a gas mask that has a hose. You could slow down the air pressure with some plumbing ballvalves if need be too.

 

[CNGsaves]

Electric leaf blower would likely be the cheapest redneck air supply I can think of !!

However, you do know that methane is natural byproduct of sewer . . . . AND . . . is flammable that your welding might ignite??

Don't skimp on safety if any of this is borderline.

 

[Sureshot]

They sell masks like the firefighters use but are supplied from remote bottles so as not to be cumbersome. Go to a local industrial safety supplier and get some real info before spending a bunch of time trying to reinvent the wheel.

I am no safety cop but how much are you going to make on this job? Is it enough to justify plugging yourself with "just" latex fumes and overspray? Get the right stuff and charge the job accordingly.

 

[Randy in Maine]

Been here?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xcel_Energy_Cabin_Creek_Fire,_Georgetown_Colorado

 

[brownbagg]

go to eastwood and look at the painting mask

 

[Angelfire]

Personally I don't think I'd try the hair dryer or any redneck solution when it comes to breathing safety.

Look into these: http://www.turbineproducts.com/fresh-air-respirators.html

They've gotten good reviews on some of the painting sites I've frequented. Can also set it up with a welding mask.

 

[john11139]

It will not be sprayed on. I will use a roller and brush so no vapors. I did one a few years ago but as I get older I am a little more cautious. I think rather than using a hair dryer to supply fresh air I will build a box, hook the hose to the box and lay a fan down on it. I think I could control air flow better that way. Believe it or not I have of guys who own pumper trucks washing them out drying them and then crawling in there and coating them with roofing tar. I know over the years I have done my share of Wile E. Coyote brain storm ideas but no tar. I talked to one company who does "Rhino" bed liners tell me that have a guy that will spray the inside with "Rhino". I wonder how much his insurance costs. "when I was young and bold and had no sense, I'd pee on a electric fence, but now I am wise and old, I am not quite so bold".

 

[Cobra5150]

Don't think the dryer will have enough pressure to overcome the resistance of the tube. The longer the tube the more resistance you'll get. Breathing through a snorkle is easy, make it 10' long, not so much. The resistance acts as a spring or cushion, that's how ported speaker cabinets work.

 

[ozyborn]

So a small air compressor and holding that hose in your mouth while it runs is a bad idea? NOW you tell me...

 

[Jere]

They make masks for air compressor air supplies,get one of those. Just dont use a belt driven compressor or a line that has an oiler on it ha

 

[machine_punk]

This sounds a lot like a 'confined space...' and I am pretty sure OSHA has sorted out the procedures for working in those.

All I can say is, dude...whatever you are doing is not worth your life. This is the United States in 2013, not a third-world country. Find out what the proper safety procedures are for working where you are, get the proper equipment to do that, and go home to your family and friends each night.

There is no 'filter mask' which will EVER supply you with oxygen. If you are in a confined space and there is less than 19% oxygen, you need a source of clean air to be working in that space.

Whether that is an open pit where a heavier-than-air gas has settled, or the fuel tank of an airliner, if you are getting paid to work in a confined space, it is your supervisor's job to make sure you know how to operate safely in that confined space and to provide you with the equipment to do so. If you are the supervisor (self employed), then it is your job to figure this out.

Also, HF sells the same sort of 'mini barrel' ventilation fan which is used by the folks who work underground in the sewers and pipes.
Kev

 

[motorcycle79]

I sure hope u have a gas meter... I'm inside vessels quite a bit always have air moving and a gas meter inside. . About 5 years ago three or four people died in a landfill pit by me. H2s gas is bad stuff

 

[kbs2244]

Wow...
I am a big fan of homebrew stuff……..
But,

Put off the job until you can check out your local gov surplus equipment auctions.

The fire departments are getting rid of their air suppluy stuff all the time because it is over 10 years old and the insurance co.s wont cover it anymore.

It is "professional grade" and better than anything you could homebrew.

 

[Mike Miller]

Last year I saw a post on the HAMB where a guy built one using a shop vac but this seems cheap enough.
http://autobodystore.net/Merchant2/...e_Code=ABS&Product_Code=HB01&Category_Code=HP

 

[Fizbin]

Was wondering if any one has ever made a cheap effective fresh air supply?

Interesting... can I inherit all your stuff after you're gone?

 

[Greatbear]

Not a way I'd want to cast off this mortal coil, IMO.

 

[01ss]

We had an outside sand blasting apparatus that required a fresh air mask. We had a pull over hood and it had an air chuck on the back (I presume it was regulated down in psi) and we would hook it up and anytime the blaster had air, the supply line for the hood did too. Worked great even kept the inside of the mask from fogging up.

 

[pepi]

How about one of these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLIGHT-HELM...822?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8759d606

read more here
http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=217.msg250086#new

 

[PetesPonies]

I have a fresh air system that used a vacuum cleaner motor to blow the air. You need a good strong air supply to go through many feet of hose.

 

[texasOFT]

Several years ago a welder steamed out a water truck that had been hauling produced water with some trace oil in it that developed a leak. Steamed it for several hours. Did not test the air inside. Struck an arc and blew the end of the tank off killing the welder. May look clean and not have an strong odor.

 

[ADSR]

What about this one???

 

[yetibiker]

Just buy the right equipment. Don't mess around with safety in a confined space. This is what you call a cost of doing business. Mark it up some, figure it into your prices, and write it off on your taxes. Your occupation is not supposed to be a death defying stunt unless you do death defying stunts for a living. Then it is all about ticket sales.

 

[jpearson]

I have one of the Breathe-Cool systems. I think it was $300 dollars and it works great. People are always looking for these so I bet you could sell it at not much of a loss after you're done with it.

 

[rburke65]

Wow.....it's hard to believe that in this day and age, one would even give a second thought about doing this without an approved air supply. Figure it into the cost of the job and charge accordingly, and then you will be around for your family come Christmas. Not being a smart ***, but you read of these accidents often. Stay safe.

 

[TheDFP]

A couple of things to think about.
1. The only way to know if the atmosphere inside the vessel is explosive or oxygen deficient is to test it with a properly calibrated multigas meter.
2. The work you will be doing will be introducing something into the air when it dries. Get a MSDS sheet for the sealer and read it to identify what potential hazards it presents.
3. If something goes wrong in the space, how will you get out? They make specialized rescue tripods/hoists to perform non entry rescues.
4. THINK ABOUT THIS: If you go down in the tank due to lack of oxygen and your coworker does not hear you knocking, what is he going to do? If he enters to rescue you, there will be two bodies recovered and not rescued. Don't think that someone can simply pull you out with a rope.
4. The ventilation required to adequately protect you is based on a number of factors. Size of space, how fast the airborne contaminant is being generated/released, roll on vs spray on.....

There are inherent risks associated with working in confined spaces. You need to fully understand them all to protect yourself and others working with you. For your family's sake, make sure you understand what the risk of doing this job are and ask if you can safely do this type of work.

 

[dbabicky]

Just get a forced air hood and the fresh air pump and hose. We used to crawl inside aircraft fuel cells to do repairs with that set-up all the time.