MAY/JUN
2004
Volume 47/Issue 3
IN
THIS ISSUE
Project
Articles
•
Hanging Glass Door Cabinets
• Outdoor Duckboards
• Adjustable Plant Shelf
DEPARTMENTS
•
Ask Smitty
• Owner’s Gallery
• Letters from Owners
•
New Baby Workshop Calendar
Academy Notes
The
Ins and Outs of Using Woodturning Chisels
Service Pointers
Shopsmith
Jigsaw Troubleshooting
Safety Tips
All about Respirators and Dust Masks
What's
New
Check
out our New Online Accessory Catalog
EDUCATION
• Find
A Shopsmith Woodworking Academy Near You
•
National
Woodworking Academy in Dayton, OH
ONLINE
CATALOGS
• Online Accessory Catalog
•
Request
Printed Accessory Catalog
• Online
Replacement Parts Catalog
MARK
V INFORMATION
•
Find
A Shopsmith
MARK V Demo Near You
•
Request
MARK V Information Package
LINKS
•
Links Worth Visiting
•
Free Woodworking
Tips
FEEDBACK
Contacting
Shopsmith
Copyright
2004.
Shopsmith, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Workshop
Safety
All
about Respirators and Dust Masks
Printer
friendly PDF copy of article (15K)
These “atmosphere-supplying” types can be battery powered or powered by 110-Volt current. They provide the most effective protection (especially if you have a beard or wear glasses) and are easier to breathe through than non-powered models. However, there is a hefty price to pay for this comfort and convenience....typically in the $150 to $400 or $500 range with replacement filters that range from $10 to $22 a pair or more. Non-Powered, full-face respirators range from about $100 to $200 with cartridges that average $12 to $20 per pair.
Mask seals
A mask that doesn't seal well, won't work well, either. If you have a
beard, many of the lower cost quarter and half-face models just won't
seal properly. In this case, you may need a full face model to get the
proper seal. Throwaways typically don't seal well (particularly around
the nose), since they're made of paper-like fibers ands are flimsy.
All of the better quality masks are made of silicon or rubber and seal much more effectively. Some even include soft, fabric seals for additional comfort. It's best to go with a rubber or silicon-type mask.
Mask filters
If you're not using the proper filter or cartridge with your mask, you're
not going to get the kinds of protection you need. Unfortunately, cartridges
and filters are NOT available for every chemical vapor. As an example,
there is no cartridge available for isocyanates, which include urethanes
and polyurethanes....some of the most common finishes used in today's
home shops.
So, if you're working in an enclosed area with a high concentration of fumes from these substances, be sure to provide adequate ventilation. If you're working with lacquers, it's important that you use a respirator with charcoal filters designed to trap these vapors.
If your respirator is doing its job, you shouldn't smell even a hint of these vapors when wearing it. If you do, it's time to replace the cartridges. And once again, most filter cartridges are designed primarily for vapors and mists and will typically not effectively remove dust particles without the use of a fibrous pre-filter.
What about cleaning mask filters to extend their lives? This practice is discouraged as it destroys the effectiveness of the filter medium and will render your mask virtually useless.
