I am still searching for a good method of protecting my lungs. After the fhb review I tried a dustfoe and don’t find it that much different than a 3M N95 mask. I can wear either for about 30 minutes and then I find it sweaty, uncomfortable and if I am having a bad day it is usually the first thing to get tossed in a fit of discomfort induced frustration.
I cut and grind stone and feel strongly about keeping the stuff out of my lungs but don’t have a good method as of yet. I find even wet cutting there is a fog of dust laden moisture that hangs in the air so I still need to wear a mask.
I am intrigued by a product called aircap 2 in the Woodcraft Catalog ($169 +20 for replacement filters) and wonder if anyone has had any experience with it or another similar product? I am skeptical as I have never seen one in use and usually good ideas catch on and people buy them.
http://www.aircap2.com/index.php#TOP
The other alternative I need to pursue is to find a surfboard shaper and see if they have found any good dust protection equipment.
Thanks in advance,
Karl
Replies
Karl,
I have no experience with the mask you are asking about. However, I did get a CoolMaxâ„¢ Respirator free in a package of other masks from AO Safety. I thought it a very large improvement. Of course, I've not been able to get it locally.
Here is a link to AO Safety's page on it:
http://www.aosafety.com/diy/html/95014.htm
Amazon.com carries them, but the page doesn't say how many masks are in the package for the given price ($19.99). I've sent them an e-mail asking about it.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Thanks for the tip on the coolmax. I will look into it.
I do ok with the dustfoe 88 or the regular N95 disposables for brief exposure but I am still thinking there must be something that is better suited to a three hour stint of continuous cutting in a room filled with a fog of dust and moisture laden air.
I used to depend on a good exchange of air to clear things out but noise complaints have forced me to do lengthy stints of cutting with the doors closed.
Karl
I have the 3M PowerVisor, which is a full face shield with a powered dust filter. a small fan pulls in air and it exits around the edges of the mask. I use it when doing heavy dusty work like sanding floors. It works for me because I have a full beard and it doesn't need to make a good seal - the air being pushed out the edges prevents any dust from coming in. My only complaint is that the battery only lasts about 6 hours before needing a long recharge. another battery is real expensive. I once rigged something up using a battery charger with the same voltage to make a plug-in adapter so I could keep working, but it is not as convenient as the cordless convenience of battery power.
In general, it works well and was the only practical solution I could find which works with my beard.
Hope this helps. Rich.
Rich, Thanks for the tip. I did a google search and learned the powervisor is being discontinued. 3M also makes another battery powered model called a breathe easy that is close to 800 dollars by the time you get all the components.
I am reluctant to sink a few hundred dollars into a product that is being discontinued and the alternative at 800 dollars is a bit intimidating to jump into without some rave reviews.
If I can find a product that I am able to wear for 6 or 8 hours I really don't care what the cost is (provided that it protects me from dust). I am just looking for someone to say "I bought product X and it met or exceeded all my expectations".
Even shopping at a big safety supply store like sandersons they don't seem to have a lot of firsthand experience with customers feedback.
Karl
I just got the Woodcraft catalog with the AirCap2 pictured. It looks very similar to the unit I have, just has the battery or fan (can't tell which) pack on the belt, instead of built in to the headband like mine does. Looks like similar sealing around the face, and full face shield which is not real protection, still need to wear safety glasses, but keeps the dust off your face.
Though not cheap, I would try it out. Better yet, if there is a woodcraft store near you maybe they would let you try it out.
Hope this helps. Rich.
Rich,
Thanks for the response. I am curious how you like having the air blower on your belt? I have seen models with belt mount and models with the mask mount. Belt mount seems to be significantly more expensive. Does higher cost equate to better performance/comfort?
I some respects it seems a lot more complicated to strap on and connect the belt mounted blower and at the same time I imagine it keeps the headgear much lighter. What are your thoughts on the relative merits?
Thanks in advance,
Karl
The one I have has the fan and battery on the headband, not like what the AirCap picture seems to - maybe it wasn't clear from my post. I like it just fine, not needing to have a separate box on my belt. I did make a belt pack once for extra run time using another tool battery of the same voltage, and some alligator clips.
If you want a recommendation from someone who uses it, mine is for the 3m unit, but since it can't be bought anymore, I would try the AirCap since it seems to have a similar design.
Hope this helps. Rich.
I've used a Racal dust mask for some time, and like it. Sure beats the cheap dust masks, especially in warm weather.
Unfortunately, I can't find a pic of the thing on the web. I think I bought mine from Tool Crib.
Leadership is the ability to get men to do what they don't want to do and like it. [Harry S. Truman]
Boss Hog, thanks for the input. I didn't bother doing a google search for a Racal as it sounds like you struck out already.
I am curious to know more. Does anyone else out there use a Racal mask?
Karl
Maybe I have the wrong brand name - I sure can't come up with any hits. And I know I've seen them in tool catalogs fairly recently.
I'll try to remember to look in my catalogs at home tonight.Visualize whirled peas.
I have seen a Racal in action when a friend showed up with it for his stump grinding operation.
(I think Racal may be called something else these days ?)
He is bearded and the supplied air design makes perfect sense, especially for those who wear glasses such as myself.
It's a shame such a simple and effective idea has to cost so much.
Rigging up a home-made getup would be a fun project and just as effective and very doable at fraction of the retail versions.
I'm picturing a rig that operates off one of the cordless tools, maybe a 12-Volt.
Many possibilites and fun tinkering with the added bonus of it costing far less then retail versions.
Gempler's web site has pictures of these for ideas (under Safety).
I believe Racal was bought out by 3M. Years ago I bought the powered respirator (Breath Easy 17) set up for welding. It was a bit cumbersome at first, but the end of the day how much better I felt more than made up for the extra bulk and weight. I’ve also used the same set up, minus the welding shield, for some sandblasting on glass. Liberal Arts Graduate
Will Think for Food
Well, I finally remembered to dig out my dust mask last night to find out the brand name and such. I was correct in saying that it was a Racal brand, and the model is "AirLite".
Unfortunately, it would appear that 3M bought out Racal and stopped making the mask:
http://www.toolpost.co.uk/pages/Health___Safety/Respirators/respirators.html
Mine has a broken strap, so I may not be able to get parts for it. Ticks me off - I sure liked that thing.Try to relax and enjoy the crisis. [Ashleigh Brilliant]
Boss,
Thanks for following up. Lack of support from 3M is a big disappointment.
Out of curiousity what kind of work or site conditions led you to buy a powered air respirator and in what ways do you prefer it to a conventional (non powered respirator).
I have found several options for powered respirators but I would be much more confident buying one if I had some specific user feedback on their superiority over conventional respirators.
thanks again,
karl
I actually bought the Racal AirLite when I tore out our old steam heat furnace, which had asbestos insulation on it. After I was done with that project I used it a bunch more times.
I found it's nice to keep the dust out of your eyes too. Goggles do that, but they seem to fog up a lot more. The air flowing across the visor shield pretty much keep the visor from fogging up.
Sometimes the cheap disposable face mask filters would leak around my nose when I breathed out, and that would fog up my goggles/safety glasses.
I like the fact that I can breathe normally, and don't have to suck air through a filter. And it sure is noce to NOT have a bunch of your hot, humid breath held in nice and close to your face.
I've used it when I was ripping wood on the table saw, cutting treated wood, cleaning grain bins, and robably other stuff I can't think of at the moment.I have always admired the ability to bite off more than one can chew and then chew it. [William DeMille]