Thread: Dust Protection & Glasses

forget paper masks for a start. You either have to invest in a decent mask that will provide for glasses to be worn or get a powered mask [big dollars] these don't fog up and I find the powered ones best for summer.

Originally Posted by Fonix

Hi Guys,
Getting back in to some serious woodwork, and I am now wearing glasses pretty full time.
The paper dust masks I can't wear because of they fog up the specs - what do people do to overcome this?
Is there a trick I'm missing?
Chers

The trick is proper dust extraction and ventilation so you don't have to wear a mask in the first place. Masks are the last form of dust protection that should be employed after all other forms of wood dust removal have been considered. Don't buy the powered masks first instead spend the money on dust extraction.

I appreciate the rationale of reducing/eliminating dust at the source, but there are times/situations where this cannot happen.

In the interests of full disclosure, I wear glasses and have a full full beard.

So the question is, what are the options in regards to powered masks, and where can they be sourced?

Originally Posted by Fonix

Hi Guys,
Getting back in to some serious woodwork, and I am now wearing glasses pretty full time.
The paper dust masks I can't wear because of they fog up the specs - what do people do to overcome this?
Is there a trick I'm missing?
Chers

One thing I do if Im not collecting the dust is use one of those big industrial fans on a stand that's on castors as well . With the doors open at each end of the workshop I can get the fine stuff moving sideways off the work in what ever direction I like, and out the door it goes. Or I place the fan in the doorway and suck it from where I'm working . This is good when using specs and masks as well .

Rob

Originally Posted by Fonix

Hi Guys,
Getting back in to some serious woodwork, and I am now wearing glasses pretty full time.
The paper dust masks I can't wear because of they fog up the specs - what do people do to overcome this?
Is there a trick I'm missing?
Chers

I wear glasses and use the 3M 7500 series respirator and don't have any fogging issues. It has good ventilation

https://www.seton.net.au/3m-half-fac...hoC--QQAvD_BwE

I have a goatee and I wear glasses. I use a mask very similar to the one Barri linked to and I have no problems with fogging up.
As to the philosophy of “put a collection system in that removes all the dust so you don’t have to wear a mask” - as a hobbyist, I’ve spent as much as I want to spend on a dust collection system - a fully modified 2hp system with 150mm pipes plus a 50 mm hose from a Shop Vac for my fences and a 32mm line from a cyclonic vacuum for my hand tools and a large wall fan to blow dust out the windows and door. I STILL wear a face mask when cutting, routing, sanding timber because there is ALWAYS dust.
JMT

Originally Posted by Lappa

I have a goatee and I wear glasses. I use a mask very similar to the one Barri linked to and I have no problems with fogging up.
As to the philosophy of “put a collection system in that removes all the dust so you don’t have to wear a mask” - as a hobbyist, I’ve spent as much as I want to spend on a dust collection system - a fully modified 2hp system with 150mm pipes plus a 50 mm hose from a Shop Vac for my fences and a 32mm line from a cyclonic vacuum for my hand tools and a large wall fan to blow dust out the windows and door. I STILL wear a face mask when cutting, routing, sanding timber because there is ALWAYS dust.
JMT

Sure, but you have put considerable effort into some sort of a dust extraction system and then made the decision to still wear a dust mask after that which is the recommended way of doing things.

I'm also fully bearded and with glasses I find all masks hot and uncomfortable especially those that just suck down onto the front of my face which I just don't trust and is why I put more effort than most into making my workshop as dust free as possible so I would not have to wear a mask. I do have a Triton powered full head air mask that I use every couple of months, nearly always outside the workshop, when using things like the Arbortech, chainsawing dry wood, and fighting the wasps in the dreaded bougainvillea.

It also depends on the dust, the dustiest woody thing I do is turning, but while there are shed loads of chips everywhere the fine dust levels are the same as outside the shed so I feel quite comfortable turning without a mask. The dustiest things I do are now all in the metal working end of the shed. Welding, even TIG, generates a lot of fine dust as does sanding metal. Funny how metal workers don't seem to worry about this. One advantage of the MW dust is it falls out of the air between 3 and 8 times faster than wood.

BTW Not sure about your wall fan set up, but most large axial wall fans just stir up and recirculate more fine dust that they exhausts. It's much better to use an exhausting fan that completely removes fine dust.

Exhaust fans don’t keep me cool in the middle of summer.

It blows air right across the workshop and sends it out a door and two windows. No clear wall space to fit an exhaust fan.
.

I also have a beard and I don't find the mask uncomfortable at all, in fact I forget that's its even on, sometimes for an hour or more. The 3M ones are some of the most comfortable out there but the beard doesn't help with providing a perfect seal to keep out really pungent odors like lacquer but it definitely does help. I read about and have tried vaseline on the beard to provide that perfect seal and it does work but its makes cleaning the mask and my beard at the end of the day a real pain.

I cant handle hydrocarbon fumes anymore, and i know that fine particles are just as bad. I'll be trying the options raised, and trying to find a good pption. Excellent thread, safety first, always.

For ultimate dust protection (works well with glasses and a beard) is the Trend Airshield.
Not the cheapest thing around, but offers both dust and full head protection.
I know Trend Timbers stock them
trendtimbers.com.au

Thanks for the info guys.
My current set up is a single car garage 6x3 metres, I have a Makita table saw to which I have connected a Carbatec 1hp (the twin bag verson) dust extractor which was all I could afford.
I also have hand power tools including a sander & router which I use - it's not ideal but I'm unable to work due to health issues so it's the best I can afford.
I shall get a fan and a mask and see how it goes.

Sorry to be so blunt, but all you're gonna get with a 1hp dusty is more health issues...

Over time I have used almost everything that has been suggested, comfort equals willingness to use. The most comfortable system I have used is what I now have, the JSP Powercap IP powered safety mask. I run mine permanently with a tear off, which keeps the base screen clean and scratch free. As for the filters, the primary filter, which is on the outside of the pleated one, collects incredible amounts of dust in what I call a normal place, they really collect stuff when it is a dusty environment. I vacuum these and keep on re-using them until they start to have that dusty look on the inner; then I change them.

The top which goes over your skull is a safety top, meaning if you do some wood turning and a piece of timber flies up and lands on your noggin. You should, within reason get out unscathed. The front is impact tested to industrial standards and I found out that one of my nephews is required to wear one of these 100% of the time in his job. The battery is rated to last 8 hours, according to my nephew they do, but after around 7 hours straight they start to slow down. I don't think I will ever have that problem.

It is light in weight, easy as anything to get on and off with glasses and a full beard, which I have. Most importantly, it is cool(ish) in hot weather, so nice in fact that I have gotten around to leaving it on for longer than necessary as it cools the face with air running downwards. The only negative is the requirement to use a chap stick or something like that to keep the lips from drying up.

Woodworking Supplies S/E QLD - JSP Powercap Active IP

Available in Australia from there, received mine in about three days via Australia Post.

From this at the top of the tree, the only way is down; the choice is yours.

Mick.