Thread: 3M Half Face Respirator Recommended!

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!

Dear Pellcorp,

Nice little heads-up . 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...

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

Originally Posted by Batpig

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...

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.

Originally Posted by 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!

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

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

Boc Safety and Blackwoods both stock them.

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

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!

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!

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

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

Originally Posted by JillB

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

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

Funny!

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

Originally Posted by 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

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).

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.

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.