3M Half Face Respirator Recommended!

[pellcorp]

Hi,

I watched an episode of the Wood Whisperer (Ep 87 - Dust In Time) and he was talking about his Respirator.
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I really hate the rather expensive one ($50) from bunnings I have.

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So I ordered the 3M 7503 + 3 pairs of the pink particulate filters (model 2097). It costs me $80 AUD including expedited postage!

And it is so comfortable to wear. They have some pretty interesting features including a very comfortable head strap. In addition I can just remove it from my head but leave it around my neck. The Protector brand one I purchased previously from bunnings allows you to do this too, but it almost chokes you and even when wearing it it usually slips.

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It works with my glasses and hearing protection too. Very comfortable.

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The mask

Amazon.com: 3M #7503 Large Half Mask Facepiece: Home Improvement


The PINK P100 particular filters with nuisance organic vapour relief

Amazon.com: 3M #2097 PR P100 Filter/Relief: Office Products


Not sure what anyone else is using. I only have a 30 micron bag on my JET dust collector. So I will probably wear this most of the time in the shed when making dust.

Cheers
Jason

[Master Splinter]

I just got one of these, less than AU$50 delivered, 6 day shipping. Need to go to the local safety store and get a thread adaptor to fit my Sundstrom cartridge to it and it's good to go.

(search ebay.com.au for full face respirator - the guy seems to have lots of them)

Bonus - I got a mic/amp for it from the same guy - now I can really improve my Darth Vader impressions!

[Batpig]

Dear Pellcorp,

Nice little heads-up :2tsup:. I recently did a mini-lookaround at Full-Face units in the Safety shops, because my Brother's glasses don't sit very well on the bridge of his nose when he's wearing his Half-Face Protecta (which is the same model as your old one). I personally don't mind the Protecta because the Filter Cartridges are cheap enough, and are a perfect fit on the exhaust outlet of my Wet & Dry Vac if you want to blow them out anyway. However, it's not quite a perfect seal on my face, and I think the Silicon ones are probably more comfortable and compliant, going by the couple I tried on in the shops.

Your comment about being able to wear glasses quite comfortably with your new 3M has really got me interested for my Brother's sake, however. Would you rate it as a big improvement over the Protecta in that regard? By way of comparison, what scores would you give them each out of 10 for that one attribute alone? (ie. Glasses wearability...)

I'm taking it from the links you posted that you bought it through Amazon, because I certainly didn't see it in any of the shops when I was having my look. It's "Out There" enough to have stuck in my mind if I saw it...:D

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

[pellcorp]

Would you rate it as a big improvement over the Protecta in that regard? By way of comparison, what scores would you give them each out of 10 for that one attribute alone? (ie. Glasses wearability...)

I'm taking it from the links you posted that you bought it through Amazon, because I certainly didn't see it in any of the shops when I was having my look. It's "Out There" enough to have stuck in my mind if I saw it...:D

Comfort wise its absolutely brilliant. The protecta does not work that well and I have tried both the medium and the large. In addition the design of the head strap means it difficult to put on / remove without pain as I usually end up getting it tangled in my hair. And it always slips.

I have found wearing safety glasses quite comfortable, however my Protecta brand glasses are also adjustable (I can adjust the angle of the eye part to the ear parts) so that should be considered as part of the equation.

As far as glasses wearability the Protecta and 3M are probably similar. However the 3M craps all over the Protecta in every other dept including just general comfort. I can never wear the Protecta for more than a short while before I get a headache, either from lack of air or because of how tight I have to have it to seal - I can't tell.

You can buy in OZ but it costs heaps more - about $80 for the mask alone, I think it was $25 per pair of filters or something ridiculous. The pink filters are not OZ standard, so they have some equivalent filter available that is OZ standard, perhaps why they cost so much. :(

Keep in mind too that I chose expedited shipping so my postage was $40 AUD. If you don't need it straight away you could save probably another $20 or something.

[pellcorp]

I just got one of these, less than AU$50 delivered, 6 day shipping. Need to go to the local safety store and get a thread adaptor to fit my Sundstrom cartridge to it and it's good to go.

(search ebay.com.au for full face respirator - the guy seems to have lots of them)

Bonus - I got a mic/amp for it from the same guy - now I can really improve my Darth Vader impressions!

I don't think I would like the full face variety too claustrophobic

[Batpig]

Thanks Pellcorp!

Will definitely keep my eyes peeled for that one in the shops next time I get the bit between my teeth.

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

[pellcorp]

Thanks Pellcorp!

Will definitely keep my eyes peeled for that one in the shops next time I get the bit between my teeth.

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

Boc Safety and Blackwoods both stock them.

[pellcorp]

Thought I would post an update on my experience with my face mask since I purchased it. I wear it all the time. I have even started wearing it while mowing, wipper snippering, dusting and vacuuming in the house. The nuisance organic filter is a real bonus when using cleaning products too and emptying the compost :2tsup:

I wear the mask for sometimes hours at a time and it is very comfortable. The only thing I would comment on is you need to keep up the razor as facial hair is a problem for the mask having a good seal.

I don't know how I did without it and I definitely don't cough the way I used to when coming in from the shed.

A real bargain (if you buy direct from US) and a must for safety in the shed if you don't have a pleated filter or an outside dust collector or even if you do!

[seanz]

Swapped to a resurected (we must get proper cartriges for that one day...and finally we did) 3M mask recently........soooo much better than paper masks.

Safety glasses no longer fog immediately......highly recommended!

[Dengue]

hey pellcorp, please don't wear it in the bank or other shops. :wink:

Do you wear it to bed too? On a motor bike in lieu of a face mask?

[pellcorp]

hey pellcorp, please don't wear it in the bank or other shops. :wink:

Do you wear it to bed too? On a motor bike in lieu of a face mask?

Funny! :rolleyes:

[Poppa]

What about one of these? Anyone got one? Bit more expensive, but looks to be industrial quality...

3M | Personal Protection Equipment | Respiratory Protection | Non Maintained Masks and Filters | Low Maintenance Full Face Mask |6900S (http://australia.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=2867164)

[Vernonv]

What about one of these? Anyone got one? Bit more expensive, but looks to be industrial quality...

3M | Personal Protection Equipment | Respiratory Protection | Non Maintained Masks and Filters | Low Maintenance Full Face Mask |6900S (http://australia.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=2867164)I bought a powered one of those (same mask but filters are on the blower) from the US for around A$250 delivered. Great mask, very comfortable. The blower certainly aids in eliminating that stuffy feeling (and no fogging).

[Paddy]

Hi Vernon ... long time since the last post! however could you give info on where you bought the powered version ex US, just what i am looking for.

[Vernonv]

Hi Paddy,
I purchased the mask off ebay from a bloke in the US. I checked and he isn't selling any at the moment. The best I can suggest is that you do an ebay search for "powered respirator", or something similar and include international sellers ... maybe something will come up.

I've used the respirator a lot since I purchased it (when cutting, shaping and sanding timber/chipboard/MDF, as well as for spray painting) and I must say, that it is a great bit of gear and very comfortable to wear, even for extended periods.

[Paddy]

Thanks.. will follow up