Thread: Dust masks

Don't know if its what you are really looking for, but I believe Triton do a battery powered mask/helmet.
They aren't cheap...
I just use a transparent flip-up 'plastic' type with paper mask and haven't steamed up my glasses yet.

A respirator is, by a long shot the best way to go. Also the Dust Be Gone masks are good for glasses wearers. Problem is they are over-priced.

Originally Posted by blueywa

Don't know if its what you are really looking for, but I believe Triton do a battery powered mask/helmet.
They aren't cheap...
I just use a transparent flip-up 'plastic' type with paper mask and haven't steamed up my glasses yet.

I have a Triton unit. Sadly, they no longer manufacture them. I contacted them to try to obtain spare filters - not available. Was told that there was not enough support for the product. Far and away the best available and best value for money in my opinion. Leave the others for dead. If anyone has one that they do not use or spare filters/battery units I would be very happy to hear from you!

I have a 3M versaflo but you don't get much change out of $1500, previously I had a 3M mask with twin filters mainly fogged up my specs in winter and it cost me around $100 .
for turning and routing the versaflo is great! you can also get stick on protective film witch is hand when you hit a sap pocket and it sprays over faceshield, no scrubbing and scratching faceshieldjust tear it off and stick on a new one!

I have a Paftec2 respirator. I usually wear safety glasses and have not had an issue with fogging. It will set you back around $600 when you include the silicone mask. It is even an Australian design
cheers
Mick

Originally Posted by brendan stemp

A respirator is, by a long shot the best way to go. Also the Dust Be Gone masks are good for glasses wearers. Problem is they are over-priced.

$50.00 for 3-4 years use sounds like good value to me.

Your other option is the Trend Air Sheild Pro for a positive powered respirator.

I have tried the paftec and this time of year found it to be sweaty around the face. Works well but ...

When you say using "dust masks" - what sort are we talking about? If you are using the disposable types look for a decent P2 style with a valve. That should reduce the fogging due to the air escape around the nose bridge.

I have been using the Trend / Purelite Air Shield PARP for over 7 years, great unit with some limited impact protection. Replacement filoters are easy to source etc. Purchase cost spread over 5 years is quite acceptable.

I'm very cautious of the dustbegones not because of their performance but more because of how wood workers use (& store) them. Its very easy to contaminate the inside surface which seems to me to be quite counterproductive. They make you feel like you are doing the right thing - but are you? (Before eveyone jumps on me - read what I said)

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

$50.00 for 3-4 years use sounds like good value to me.

Your other option is the Trend Air Sheild Pro for a positive powered respirator.

I have tried the paftec and this time of year found it to be sweaty around the face. Works well but ...

Not quite what I paid for one 3-4 years ago. I think I paid around $65, was shocked with the price but was prepared to give them a go. I still maintain they are over-priced. Just look at them, there ain't too much to them so the manufacture costs must be minimal even if they are made in the US. Compare them to the Woodys Gear Smocks at $49 which has a lot more material and would take a considerable more amount of time to make and then tell me how the Dust B Gone is not over-priced. My Woodys Gear Smocks have lasted a lot longer than 4 years.

Now I know, Jim that you need to put your margin on them (no arguements there) so I'm not having a go at your pricing or the quality of the product. However, to me they shouldn't cost anymore than $20. But please let me know if I'm missing something. Perhaps the material used is very, very expensive, like Goretex was when it first hit the market.

It seems to me that as soon as dust protection is mentioned the premium of premium prices gets put on them. Just look at the 3M Dustmaster. The only one I think is reasonably priced is the Trend Air Shield which is a very well constructed respirator but not good for wearing for a long period of time (too heavy and poorly balanced).

Hello,

There was a sandpaper stall at Melbourne Woodwork Show.

They were selling and promoting a product for people who wear glasses.

They were relatively ordinairy looking thick paper dust masks with a plastic valve way over on one side of the mask.

Anybody remember the name of them ?

A proper safety shop has a huge range of dust mask options and is well worth a visit for a look and some education.

One item I particularly remember at the shop was a full face mask with comfortable soft silicon face seals - the unpowered version was relatively cheap and you then had the option to buy the powered unit and add it later (very expensive) it was made by a Danish or swedish company - Sundstrom. Worth googling and a visit to safety shop to have a look.

Bill

Hi Mark

I have been using a 3M 7502 half face mask for the last two years. It is a silicone face piece with replaceable filters.

I had the same problem with fogging glasses until I bought it. It works well and you can get a range of different filters for it.

Michael

Originally Posted by brendan stemp

A respirator is, by a long shot the best way to go. Also the Dust Be Gone masks are good for glasses wearers. Problem is they are over-priced.

I am also a full time wearer of glasses. Have found the Dust Be Gone mask a great product. Wash it out at the end of the day, hang up and go again tomorrow. I don't begrudge the money I paid for it as I can see clearly and breathe.

I'm not linked to the company just a first time user over the last couple of months.

I have the Dust Be Gone mask that I find very nice to use compared to the disposal paper ones. I am also of the opinion that they are quite high in price but that being said I waited for the specials.

I also looked at the 3M 7502 but without having one to pickup and feel I was not sure.

Fully bearded occasional turner here with a full face Triton mask that I stopped using while turning, since I got myself a decent dust extraction system.
I tested the effectiveness of my system by measuring the dust exposure while turning and sanding etc using a dust monitor.
While there were quite a few big chips flying around the detector could not measure any excess fine dust from these activities.

Safety equipement is always over priced but at the end of the day how much would it cost for a new set of lungs.

Just ask racal, they had a good product, well priced then they were bought out by a sandpaper company and the price increased three fold.

We all need protection, some of the units are not as comfortable as others, some people complain about balance , too heavy but in most cases they are not set up properly or are using them for the wrong application.

If you find the head peice is falling forward all the time there is adjustment on the top band as well as on the head strap. there is also adjustment of the facesheild that can be canted slightly up.

It could also be that the machine you are using is too low and with you bending over too much find the unit wanting to fall forward but if set up properly should not fall of.

We find that some people who have not used hard hats or any other head peice do find the 1.7kg on their head uncomfortable at first, like all things it can take time to get used to.

Smocks are not safety equipement they are a shirt that goes over your clothes to stop the boss from complaining when you come inside covered in dust and shavings, same as an apron or dust coat.