I have been getting horrid headaches after using my sander. Being from the old school of thought, a respirator was what was used for painting, solvents etc... Is there a respirator out there that won't fog my glasses or be an absolute pain in the face to wear? I am not thrilled about the thought in the first place but it is better the the pain I get after a couple of hours of sanding. Any thoughts or comments???
EPI
On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 07:28:52 -0700, the inscrutable "Hansen" spake:
If you're referring to the white fiber respirators, toss 'em. Even the good types don't seal well at all.
Try a supplied-air or full face mask if the silicone rubber half-face respirators don't seal. And don't forget those safety ear plugs (or muffs.) Sound could be another potential cause of those headaches.
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When I'm sanding I have a 20" box fan setup on my bench with 2 filters. I have the good 3m filter (forget how small a micron it filters but it gets pretty fine). then I have a cheap fiberglass filter outside of it. I made like a J-channel for them to sit in then tape the edges to keep it sealed. Does a pretty good job.
Probably gritting your teeth.
However, unless the extractives in the wood you're sanding have a noticeable odor, all you need is a dust mask and distance from the work. You can get into problems if you get a mask which restricts airflow severely. We have to go through lung function tests before we're certified for the HEPA masks we wear as contagion prevention, and some are prohibited from using them.
I've got Bosch sanders with good dust recovery, and a downdraft (pegboard) box for small stuff where the hoses get in the way.
On Sat 22 Jan 2005 08:28:52a, "Hansen" wrote in news:k8adnUMof7q1_m snipped-for-privacy@bresnan.com:
I use a mid-line cannister-type respirator. It seals good and I bought cannisters for dust and chemical fumes. SWMBO is a lot more sensitive to that stuff than I am, so her experience is probably a better indicator; for her there isn't any difference at all between those paper doctor's masks and wearing nothing. She got headaches just as bad.
With the cannister type, she's fine. We clean 'em pretty regularly and change the cannisters often. They're kinda bulky, and you look like something out of a sci fi movie but they don't fog the glasses and with those little claptrap valves for outgoing air, you can breathe much easier than the paper ones. Especially if you change the cannisters often. She wears hers when she trims the dogs' toenails with a little dremel tool.
I bought mine at a safety supply place here in town so I'd have a ready supply of cannisters. I see the Borg has some that look pretty much like the ones we own, but I haven't tried them on to see how they feel. Ours are nice and comfortable, and whatever they're made of, the seal stays flexible and doesn't get all sweaty. I've forgotten mine was on a couple times and got a surprise when I went to scratch my nose. :-)
Dan
On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 15:16:55 GMT, the inscrutable "Mike S." spake:
I tried that with a 20" box fan and one paper filter. Airflow reduction was about 80-90% with the single filter as judged by the hairs on the back of my hand 8" from the pack of the filter area. Perhaps the Filtrete filters are less restrictive, but my test failed.
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Thanks George. I too have gone through the Pulmanary Funtion testing ( I am former firefighter). I was thinking about a down draft table, however, I dont have the room in my garage (where I do my wood working) for too much else. I have a Dewalt finish sander that I use quite a bit and I seem to get quite a bit of dust in the collection bag. Whether it is good or bad at it, I don't know, as I don't have anything else for comparison. I am looking for a "magic pill" ie: quick fix, cheap small, perfect, all purpose solve all. Sorry medication seems to be wearing off, At the moment I am hoping that everyone will give me an opinion or an idea and one or two of them will fit my need or whatever. Thanks for the imput.
That sounds like what I am looking for. Comfey and easy (call it age). Do you by chance know the brand of your respirator? How "cheap" are your canisters? One last question, does it have one or two straps that go over your head. I had the 1 strap and it sucked!!!
On a side note what is "SWMBO" ?!?!?!
first get a sander with dust collection and one of the new high efficiency vacuums to attach to it. not only will this catch *almost* all of the dust, it'll make cleaning up a whole lot easier.
then, if you still need a mask, look into a supplied air unit.
What do you call a downdraft table with a sheet of MDO fitted over it? A work table.
Don't waste the space below, and it's a work cabinet to hold your sanders.
On Sat 22 Jan 2005 11:51:36a, "Hansen" wrote in news:79idnasjvOwxD2 snipped-for-privacy@bresnan.com:
I can't remember. I just went looking for it and it looks like they're both out in the garage. I just spent the last three hours or so shoveling snow, it's about 15 degrees and blowing, and I'm in my slippers with a hot chocolate. The garage isn't attached. Sorry, not going out to look just yet. I remember it was under twenty bucks, though. Walked into the front office and told the guy at the counter I wanted something comfortable, trustworthy, and cheap. He pointed me at those things. But what's around me here in Wisconsin may not be what you've got locally, and I think it's better to buy this kind of stuff locally so you won't have to keep mailing out for cannisters.
The particulate catchers aren't much. Under five bucks, I think. Bought a supply of 'em when I bought the masks a couple years ago and haven't checked prices since. The ones for fumes are more expensive. Ya got yer basic fume cannisters, and then ya got yer... hm. Something else. Jeez, just three or four hours of shoveling snow in a blizzard and my mind just shuts down. There's two or three kinds of fume cannisters. I got all of 'em except the biohazard nuclear apocalypse ones.
It's got two straps. Kinda like this one:
She Who Must Be Obeyed. :-) It's a Wreck thing.
Half-face respirator made of silicone for comfort. The nose cup keeps glasses from fogging. You can probably use the simplest HEPA filter cartridges. I use the organic vapor / acid vapor / HEPA combo so I can use my mask for stripping, sanding, and finishing.
Good Luck.
Take a look at the 3M 8511 N95 (eBay has some great deals on them)
I wear one every single day in the shop except when spraying, then I wear a respirator with a charcoal filter.
Hope this helps! Ed Boston Accent Furniture
If all you need is a dust mask, I'd suggest the Dustfoe 66. They do a good job and they don't fog my glasses. About $25 from Woodcraft, etc.
--RC "Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells 'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets fly with a club. -- John W. Cambell Jr.
AAAALLLLL RRRIIIIGGGHHHT then. I like that SWMBO. Wife got a kick out of it too... Thank you for all your help. I live in Wyoming and I understand the whole slippers / hot chocolate / snow thing. I called a place here in town an industrial supply outfit and they have 10 different respirators. 3 with gel type masks and a nose cup so I won't fog my glasses. They even carry all the different filters for all of them. The prices are anywhere from reasonable to 2nd morgage. I guess I will be making a trip down there here in the near future. Thanks again for all the help from everybody that contributed. Stay warm and safe.
Thank you for all of your responces... I contacted a local industrial supplier and from what all of you have replied with I am well on my way to living a full and happy life. Or at least I will not be crabby with a headache. Thanks to all.
I built a table with a peg hole top and tubes inside then hooked it to my shop vac (outside) and I have little to know problem with saw dust. I do also keep a fan on to move the air through my shop. Maybe it would work for you. Got the idea off a show that used to be on diy with a guy in Canada. (not John Eeks)
-- Log
On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 08:18:09 -0700, the inscrutable "Hansen" spake:
I have the $20 twin-cartridge 3M respirator from Lee Valley. It has a separate exhale valve and works well. The newer styles have an even larger exhale valve for even less restriction and fogging. The twin works pretty well for me, but it could seal a bit better. I haven't sprung the crowbar for a full-face respirator yet, but if I'm going to be working with ammonia, I may do that. It gets to your eyes just like tear gas.
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