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Thread: Dust masks

  1. #1
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    Default Dust masks

    I am looking for a dust mask to suit a bloke with a beard, can anyone point me to where I can buy one.


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  3. #2
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    Default

    Basically, there aren't any... scientific UK based evidence referenced here: Respirators and Dust Masks for Beards - Dust Masks Direct

    This is because you can't get a proper seal. It's one of the reasons we had to shave religiously in the UK military when the cold war was at its height.

    That said, the alternative is one of the positive flow full face 'helmet'/face shield style powered things with a filtered airstream being blown down and out of the bottom. Big bucks, but safe lungs. I'd shave, because I'm a cheapskate who values his lungs, and because they add a different set of problems, and you look like an extra in a pandemic film...

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  4. #3
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    I have a Trend Air Shield pro I use for wood turning.
    That is OK working on the lathe, but with the battery in the helmet it’s no good on your neck when you are bending over.
    I have two rooms I have to remove the old render, it just crumbles to dust when you try remove it.


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  5. #4
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    Default

    With a beard I think the only solution is something like a 3M versaflo

  6. #5
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    Default

    Full face, positive pressure is the go.

  7. #6
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    The general wisdom is that a respirator wont seal properly with a beard so you need positive pressure solutions etc.

    But here is a funny anecdote from my experience.
    I have a beard use a 3M 6000 series half-face respirator with the pink P100 filters. I was using my underpowered 18V cordless circular saw to make some long rip cuts in some timber beams. It was the wrong tool for the job, it was struggling... but I was almost finished so i kept going. Then my friend/neighbour comes running over from next door to stop me and see what the burning smell was. I couldn't smell anything until I took my mask off and smelt the stench of my saws motor burning out. It stank. RIP my cordless saw
    Even though it was right in front of me, I couldn't smell it with the mask on so it must seal fairly well, even with a beard.

    My friend (a tradie with a light beard) was impressed by the mask so I bought him one too when I was ordering some more filters for myself. Last time I saw him, he told me he has burned out two angle grinders doing the same thing. Overworked them and couldn't smell anything until he took the mask off.

  8. #7
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rustynail View Post
    Full face, positive pressure is the go.

    And buy it from an industrial safety equipment supplier who will make sure it fits properly rather than a BigChain hardware who wouldn't know.

  9. #8
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    I bought a M2 RZ mask a couple of months ago, and I have a medium beard. It works well.. but does take a bit to get used too.

    M2 RZ MASK– The People's Tool Company

  10. #9
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    This doesn’t look good

    Has not been Tested against AS- Standards”


  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lappa View Post
    This doesn’t look good

    Has not been Tested against AS- Standards”

    yes, but doesn't mean they aren't any good

    M2 MESH MASK:
    The RZ® M2 Mesh is our second-generation design, and the most popular mask in our lineup. Like all RZ Masks®, it features our standard F1 filters, blocking 99.9% of particulates down to .1 micron in size – surpassing the N95 standard!

    The M2 utilizes a highly breathable, comfortable, and durable mesh fabric construction that helps to keep you cool on even the hottest summer days. It features a single strap hook-and-loop closure, aiding in quick installation and removal of the mask.

    How far do you want to go with dust filtering ?

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alwould54 View Post
    yes, but doesn't mean they aren't any good

    M2 MESH MASK:
    The RZ® M2 Mesh is our second-generation design, and the most popular mask in our lineup. Like all RZ Masks®, it features our standard F1 filters, blocking 99.9% of particulates down to .1 micron in size – surpassing the N95 standard!

    The M2 utilizes a highly breathable, comfortable, and durable mesh fabric construction that helps to keep you cool on even the hottest summer days. It features a single strap hook-and-loop closure, aiding in quick installation and removal of the mask.

    How far do you want to go with dust filtering ?

    There is a world of difference between a Standard and advertising hype.

    It might be brilliant, but the above quotation is not unbiassed.

  13. #12
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    Like most facial dust masks, the elephant in the corner is usually how well it fits and seals and even whether it's even been worn or not. All this is really hard to test for so won't indicate what the seal/fit etc is for any one specific worker/wear time. This is why full face masks are more reliable although I can fully understand why in some cases they don't suit. Masks like most PPE are the lowest priority on the OHS hierarchy of control. The safest thing wood workers can do is to set up dust extraction so it removes the need to wear masks in the first place.

  14. #13
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    I ordered a new battery, filters and visor overlay for the Trend, just waiting for them to arrive.
    Been over a week it stuck somewhere between Brisbane and Melbourne.

    Ratty 05/2004 -05/07/2010 COOPER 01/08/1998-31/01/2012

  15. #14
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    They finally arrived just in time,
    Got 3 walls done, 2 more to do today.
    Then the laundry.

    Having a late start as I got a shocking headache l think from the weight of the helmet when I am bending over and looking upwards.

    Are the filters washable?


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  16. #15
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    I wouldn't wash them as it could affect the filtration fibre distribution.
    You could remove and lightly tap the filters to knock off the outer dust layers.
    Don't tap them too hard as it could break the seals around the filter edges.
    I've tried cleaning air filters by blowing with compressed air using the far more gentle ACROSS rather than THROUGH air flow direction but tapping seemed to remove more dust.

    They might look awful but as long as they meet the air flow spec using their little testing gismo they will be OK.
    Once they are clogged with really fine dust there's not much that washing would do anyway.

    If I were going through a few I would be prepared to wash and test them for myself but that's only because I have the gear to test them after washing.

    The Triton unit uses a prefilter which seems to trap most of the big dust particles. I've had mine for 15 years and have only had to replaced the actual P2 filters once in that time.

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