I've been wanting to buy a half-face respirator for a while now.
I absolutely hate ending all fucked up after a day in dusty environments.
Is the brand and model really important, or does anything work?
The selection of filters seems to be really complex. Are there not filters that sort of cover everything?
Any tips or recommendations would be great
>>964812
>brand or model
not important as long as it fits (and certified)
>filters
an analogy here would be like shoes. You can ask, the selection of shoes seems really complicated, are there any shoes that are good for all purposes? the answer is, it depends on what shit are you walking on, or if you are walking at all, etc. But if you are at home, just slippers will be enough.
harbor freight has a $17 respirator that's rated P95 (95% of air particulates filtered). if you need biohazard shit it won't work, but anything /diy/ should be fine. it's cheep and meant to be disposable, so after you use it up you throw it away and get annudder. if you do a heavy or particularly messy painting job or a demo/cleanout you might have to buy one every day or two of work. but, it's so cheep who cares? i do light wheeling, polishing, and buffing, as well as some spray adhesive and spraypaint work and one of these would last me like a year.
>>964819
These doesn't have replaceable filters?
$17 sounds expensive if you can get a mask with replaceable filters for around the same price, then purchase like 10 filters for $5
I mainly need something to block out dust, but I'd also like for the filter to be able to filter out "common" chemicals for when that's needed.
>>964819
I use old wet t-shirts or pieces of towel if im really giving a damn doing anything you described.
>>964812
I use JSP press to check p3 filters for dust.
You need to consider is it just dust or vapours too?
If dust just go for the highest level of protection to cover all angles.
https://youtu.be/Xbrqz4ufL_o
>>964819
>>964812
the models are important as much as if they insulate the outside air from you, and the only air that enters gets only from the filter.
the most important part is the filter, and if you worry about dust, get dust filter, if you work with dangerous materials or harmful in general, use mixed filters (for evaporation and dust etc.)
Change the filter every 6 months, even if you didn't use it at all, as long as it's unpackaged it expires ~6 months, check the filter manufacture instructions for reference.
Keep the inside of the mask clean from dust and other harmful stuff. Store it in other room or in good storage place.
Don't give your mask to others, its yours.
>>964812
Bane?
>>964812
The uses for your respirator are the most important thing because it'll determine the kind of cartridges and filters you'll use.
I have a Honeywell 7700 for welding and while it was a fucking pain in the ass to wear at first it's actually become quite comfy. Looking back I'd probably get a 3M since filters are easier to come by but I don't regret getting mine.
>>964819
I have this, it's alright. It's a little heavy and breathing takes a mild amount of effort, but you get used to it. I've used better masks, but it'll do. Doesn't block the smell of farts. Pretty sure the filters are replaceable.
>>964819
>Trusting Harbor Freight with your health and/or life
>>966210
it's a dust filter. its not for spraying two pack
Heard good things about the 3m ones. I work in a refinery that where everyone uses them exclusively. I'm about to pick one up.
>>966597
which model exactly? 3m being what it is they have literally seventeen types of everything they make, and that's just under the 3m brand... not counting scotch, scotchbrite, nexguard, scotchguard, and 3 nexscotchbriteguard m.
>tl:dr; pic pls
![getimage.aspx.ID-137476[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/yVRr3LY.jpg "getimage.aspx.ID-137476[1].jpg")
Get a military gas mask.
http://agttactical.com/FM50-APR-System-SALE-71450.htm
>>966634
>>964957
Organic vapor cartridges will filter farts.
Just buy a fucking 3m one, with the disposable filters. They're cheap and are rated for particles of all sort.
>>966601
Google 3m half mask respirator sperg boy. Find the one for the price you want to pay with the features you like. There aren't 17, there are really only 3, 5000 series, 6000 series, 7000 series. 5000 is cheapest, 7000 is most expensive. 5000 is lower quality, 7000 is higher quality. It's 3m branded, if it wasn't I would have listed the brand it was produced under. Most people get along fine with the 6500. If it starts with a 6 but the last 3 numbers are different it means that it comes packaged with canisters, different number means different canisters. If you're only working with dust the pink filters should be good enough.
>>964844
Fuck off, electricity rarely goes out where I live, but when it does, it's out for days, stop acting like owning a generator is a bad thing, plus, the newer ones are so quiet you can barely even hear them.
Face mask filters need to be replaced every day, unless you pay for a really expensive hip-worn filter with protection against moisture and automatic sensors.
Haggling over some dollars instead of sufficiently protecting your vital breathing organs? Then you deserve your lung cancer, fungus overgrowth, bacterial inflamation and viral death. Coughing dirt and wasting away is not worth any job, not even saving lives.
Wanting a mostly-kinda-sorta-goodenough filter means wasting your health.
Do you work to live, or live to work? Don't be a slave, please.
Greetings from fire brigade anon.
I'm looking for the same
half mask, organic vapor filter
I'm an artist and I work with spray-paint
not sure if a chinese knock off with regulation filters would do the job or not
I'm not working with anything really nasty so as long as I'm protected from the wors of it
also not sure about how often I need to change the filters, regulations say daily but that's an enormous cost and I'm not sure if there is science behind it
some peopel say their filters will last a year for light spray paint vapour, but I'm not sure if they are right
in australia the US made masks cost a shitload, so I have to weigh up my options
Like a few others said get a 3M one for the disposable filters try ones that are FFP2 first if you find these are not adequate go up to FFP3
>>966926
they dont need to be replaced everyday mate
>>966926
You replace them everyday even when not in use?
>>967239
I used 3M P100 for organic vapors when I spray painted a lot.
>>967276
I was going to get that exact one
but they run at $50 here, or $27 for chinese copies
>>967281
update:
turns out the chinese ones are all fake
millions were made and sent to africa to help chinese companies dodge OH+S
apparently the masks were next to useless
>>967281
Never get fake filters dude what are you thinking
>>967287
well I was thinking about getting a fake mask that is comparable with real filters
the mask either makes a seal or it doesn't, I think part of the reason the masks are so expensive is because they are made to withstand a full range of chemicals; which for me wouldn't be an issue
>>966634
enjoy your asbestos
OP here.
Purchased this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171852902505?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Along with these filters:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252316693934?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Really unsure about the filters though, but I'll give it a try.
something like this. i think this is the small. i myself use large. i don't know about the regular cartridge filters but i do use the pancake ones to fit under my welding hood. i replace my filter every 3-4 months or if they damaged by spatter. if you are concerned about breathing bullshit then trust me and make the purchase. it was the best move i made after starting my welding career.
>>967808
>replace my filter every 3 months
they're only good for about 20 minutes nigger
>>967822
This isn't metro 2033
>>967822
Do you have power plant stacks blowing into your face at all times?
>>967808
Did you try on different sizes before buying the mask?
I hear some saying that medium will fit just about 90% of people, but others are saying that's complete BS and that Large is the way to go
>>967422
only communist surplus masks have asbestos in them.
you can't even breath in asbestos unless the filter was damaged.
>>967829
3M's guidelines say organic vapor cartridges shouldnt be used for more than a single shift. so for welding, you're going to have an organic vapor cartridge. unless he thought a particulate filter was going to cut it. but I dont think vaporized metal works that way.
>>967891
>The ANSI Z88.2-1992 American National Standard for Respiratory Protection recommends that organic vapor cartridges be changed daily unless desorption studies support longer use.
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/565206O/3m-cartridge-and-filter-replacement-faqs.pdf
but well, workplaces prefer that you feel safe. it really doesnt matter to them if you get sick in 20 years from chemical exposure if they're saving 10$/day per worker on cartridges.
>>967891
>implying a single shift is 20 minutes
>>967891
P100 filters work just fine for welding. They used to be known as Dust/Fume/Mist filters (AKA HEPA filters) before NIOSH changed the nomenclature. Org vapor cartridges are useless against welding fumes, because metal fumes aren't organic. Org vapor cartridges are for anything that's petroleum based, plus anything else carbon based.
The best way to figure out which cartridge to use is to either go to the manufacturer's website, or use the spec sheet that comes in every package of cartridges. Use a magnifying glass if you go that route, they dense pack the print in 4 point type on both sides of an 11X17 sheet.
>>967851
I feel like I have a regular sized head and got a Large one these. If anything it's a bit too tight. I'd say M and S are for women and children mostly. It could depend on the model/brand too but I'd say go for a large if your an average grown man.
>>968113
Well fuck.
>>968404
Medium will still probably fit nicely too. You'll still get the straps around your head and a good seal on the mouth area either way which all that matters really.
>>964812
>having to buy your own respirator
'Merica everyone.
just get a standard 3m cartage filter. half mask.
lowes and hd both sell them, medium is the right choice for 99% of the population.
I am a big guy and a medium is what our fit testing shows i need to achieve a 0.001%
if you have a beard... your sol.
for the best of the best and about $1500 get a hood PAPR
>>964812
Op, what are you handling? Are you doing drywall work? Working with fuming liquids?
>>968629
in socialist land we give u free respirators for your independent contractor job/homeprojects. just come down to the free mask center, because the governments job is to give you free things.
>>968629
What country gives free respirators to the average Joe for free? Seriously
>>966926
>replacing things like carbon reactive filters every day
>when they're good for a year
I can't believe I pay a portion of your salary.
>>969005
Didn't realize we where talking exclusively about work. I'm a hobbyist woodworker so nobody's going to issue me my PPE other than myself.
