Respirator recommendations?

[Jeff Bannow]

I've gotten into mixing my own chemistry, and was thinking about getting a respirator mask for safety. Can anyone tell me what to look for, specifications, brands, etc. as well as any special usage info.

I see that B&H has a model for $30 - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/229941-REG/General_Brand_B260000_Half_Mask_Dual_Element.html
Is this a piece of garbage or a good deal?

 

[bdial]

3-M makes good ones which are available in the home center stores and hardware stores, also auto parts stores that stock professional paints, they cost about the same as the one you linked to. They take filter cartridges that you choose according to what sort of materials you're working with.

But, unless you're working with volatile liquids, the so-called "nuisance dust" disposable masks are probably sufficient, 3-M makes the best of those too IMO. Those are about $20 USD per box of 10 or 20 usually.

Note that in the case of vapor protection, the mask can trap harmful stuff, but if whatever you're working with has displaced oxygen you have a problem the mask will not remedy.

 

[Lee L]

I already had a Resp-o-rator for woodworking. Works great for particulates. Replaceable HEPA filtration draws fresh air with 0.3 micron filters from behind your head, so I use it for mixing dry chems. Not for vapors though.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Now that you mention it, I might have something for woodworking as well. I assume a new cartridge and I'm all set. What type of cart should I be looking for?

 

[Jerevan]

Mine confirms to the EN-143 standard. I use that for mixing ammonium and potassium dichromates into distilled water. If it is a cartridge filter, there may be a patch inside the cartridge for testing if the mask is airtight. Remove that. It gets a bit easier to breathe.

 

[Maris]

A cheap and effective enhancement to safety with or without a respirator is to have an electric fan blowing gently on your back when you are handling powders. Any spillage goes away from rather than towards your body. Papering the work area with a sheet of something disposable means no messy wipe-downs during clean-up.

 

[ic-racer]

I got mine at the hardware store. Something like this: http://www.sears.ca/product/workhorse-respirator-safety-mask/609-000033514-SRS871517QS

In fact I was just wearing it a few days ago mixing up another 5 gallon batch of 28% acetic from glacial.

Its not just powder where these can be beneficial.