Face shield fogging

[Carole Valentine]

WHat do you guys and gals use to keep your shields from fogging? Is there any common household product that will accomplish this? When we go scuba diving, we spit in our masks then rinse them to keep them from fogging, but somehow I don't think this is the thing for a face shield!:D

[Tyler Howell]

Hi Carole!

ski & dive shops sell an anti fog compound. Comes in spray on, squeeze on, or wipe on towels.
I have used bar soap and buffed the goggles clear with a soft cloth. Works great but attracts dust.

[Stefan Antwarg]

Breathe less! :).

I have not had this problem with my face shield, but my skiing goggles (way back when I was in shape enough to ski) always fogged on me. They sold a product called "cat crap" that was supposed to work. Don't know if it's still available.

Do you breath through your nose? Maybe that would help.

Stefan

[Carole Valentine]

Do you breath through your nose? Maybe that would help.

Stefan
When it's not stuffed up with walnut dust!:D

[Karl Laustrup]

Thanks for asking that question, Carole. I've have had that problem with my glasses when wearing dust mask, or when I'm wearing a face shield. Tried holding my breath, but very few things I do take less than a minute, which is the extent of my breath holding abilities. :eek:

Your question sparked a neuron in my little pea brain, though. :) I use "Rain-X Anti-Fog" on the bathroom mirror and now I think I'll try it on my glasses as well as my face shield. It might even keep my glasses from fogging up after coming in from the cold. I'll let you know.

Karl

[Ed Snyder]

Try liquid dish washing soap . I use it sometimes on my ski goggles.

Ed

[Halsey MCCombs]

Carole try Novus #1 plastic clean and shine is also anti fog and static. I got mine at a motorcycle shop. Halsey

[Alan Ryalls]

i had this problem,which for me is made worse being a specs wearer.so thinking cap on.heres what i do,wear face shield with swimming clip on nose and snorkel mouthpiece connected to a piece of gardenhose thro a hole drilled in side of shop,with a piece of gauze taped over the end for a filter to keep unwanted bugs out.
this is not a wind up!

[Don Wurscher]

Carole: I have been using a faceshield made by Elvex, for years, it is uses a screen shield instead of the plastic type normally found. The unit includes a ratchet head gear, and did sell for $17.50. Check out this URL www.elvex. com, and search for unit HG-70.

[Jason Roehl]

Your question sparked a neuron in my little pea brain, though. :) I use "Rain-X Anti-Fog" on the bathroom mirror and now I think I'll try it on my glasses as well as my face shield. It might even keep my glasses from fogging up after coming in from the cold. I'll let you know.

Karl

Karl, don't use the Rain-X on your lenses if they are in any way non-glass. They will scratch, and the solvents in Rain-X are harmful to polycarbonates and other plastics (face shields, high-index lenses, etc.). I had a pair of glasses with HI lenses on which I used Rain-X religiously. They didn't fog up, but they were very scratched up in a short time. I asked my optometrist about it, and they confirmed what I said above. Now my current glasses have similar lenses and far fewer scratches after several years of use, instead of being worthless in just a few months.

Jason

[Steve Jenkins]

i had this problem,which for me is made worse being a specs wearer.so thinking cap on.heres what i do,wear face shield with swimming clip on nose and snorkel mouthpiece connected to a piece of gardenhose thro a hole drilled in side of shop,with a piece of gauze taped over the end for a filter to keep unwanted bugs out.
this is not a wind up!

Interesting solution Alan, how long does it take before you get a headache?

I have heard that storing the faceshield or goggles in a bag with a fabric softener sheet works.

[John Shuk]

Carol,
Just like a dive mask there is no substitute I have found like keeping it really clean. First use you need to clean off the manufacturing residue and then occasionally clean with soap and water and dry. Works well for me.
John

[Alan Ryalls]

hi steve,headaches dont seem to be a problem with me,you do get a little condesation build up in the u bend of the mouthpiece but it is easily cleared.i have seen a similar idea somewhere with mouthpiece and tubes over each shoulder with 2 air intakes just behind each shoulder.
regards alan.

[Dave Crabbs]

Has anyone tried using shaving cream to prevent fogging. I know it is suppose to work on bath room mirrors, but I have not tried it yet. You apply the shaving cream to the inside of the shield and wipe it off with a soft cloth . Also using a fabric softener sheet to wipe the lens will help cut down the static electricity that saw dust clings to.

Just my 2 cents,
Dave

[Matthew Poeller]

I use shampoo on my glasses before I go play hockey. It works for the cold air and the warm breathe and might work in your situation.

Cat Crap is still available and that is what I use on my ski goggles. Works like a charm.

[Karl Laustrup]

Thanks Jason for the head's up. I did try some Rain-Ex on my glasses. It did keep them from fogging after coming in from the cold, but I will discontinue use as I don't need my new [5 day old] glasses scratched up. Guess I'll try one of the other things listed here.

It amazes me every day what I learn here on the SMC. Thanks all.

Karl

[Steve Jenkins]

hi steve,headaches dont seem to be a problem with me,you do get a little condesation build up in the u bend of the mouthpiece but it is easily cleared.i have seen a similar idea somewhere with mouthpiece and tubes over each shoulder with 2 air intakes just behind each shoulder.
regards alan.


Alan, I asked about the headaches because depending on the length of hose, you may be re-breathing quite a bit of your own air which would have a higher CO2 content. As the CO2 in your system rises it would cause heavier breathing and probably headaches for awhile. I've seen the double thingy your mentioned but can't remember the name

[Brad McCollum]

Hey Carole,
I just set up a fan that blows across me from left to right with just enough force to keep my face shield from fogging. This has worked for me for 10 years now.

[Carol Kinney]

I've also heard that wiping the inside of the shield with a fabric softener sheets work, so I'll try it today and report back. If it works that would be a very easy solution as I also have the same problem and it appears others do also.

Also, I've worked with a lot of acrylic products and you do have to be very careful what you clean it with. Being a softer product I have a feeling the face shields we use are more sensitive. Avoid any cleaning products with ammonia, ketones, halogens, window cleaners, kitchen scouring compounds, aromatics and solvents such as thinners, acetone, gasoline, benzene and tetrachloride. Few of these I found out the hard way.

[Dale Bright]

For the past 2 years, I have been using a Uvex Bionic Face Shield with an anti fog coating. They have both regular and anti fog visors available. I have never had it fog up on me, never. It is also the most optically clear face shield I have ever used. I got mine at Woodcraft and they are a bit more pricey but well worth the extra cost.

Dale

[dan carter]

+1 on the Uvex Bionic Face Shield.

[Greg Just]

I have been using a fabric softener sheet. Tends to lessen the amount to dust that sticks to the mask too.

[Nate Davey]

I use "Cat Crap", that's the brand name, on my goggles at work. Have to try the fabric softener sheet though.

[Jim Underwood]

I use a PAPR (Trend Airshield Pro). It has enough CFM to keep most of the moisture cleared off (unlike my old Triton). Still fogs a little in colder temps though.

The two tubes over the shoulder respirator was invented by Jim Duxbury- it's called the "Resporator".

[Harry Robinette]

Hi All
Before I started using my Bionic shield I wiped my safety glasses with a USED dryer sheet, a new sheet will leave a mess.I also wipe my tools and lathe with them when I'm going to turn acrylics it helps take away allot of the static.
Harry

[Carol Kinney]

I have been using a fabric softener sheet. Tends to lessen the amount to dust that sticks to the mask too.

I tired the fabric softener sheets . . . worked very well but make sure you use one that has already gone through the dryer (as Harry pointed out) - yes leaves a mess but used ones do not and they do seem to work (just a little warning for those trying this for the first time).

But :) after reading Dale's, Dan's, and Harry's posts I ordered myself an Uvex Bionic Shield from Amazon. I made sure it had the anti-fog shield and then compared it with WoodCrafts - same thing but I got it for right around $25!! I normally support the local stores even if they are a chain but when their price is double sorry but that's just way too much of a difference.

[Jim Burr]

I used a "No Fog" solution as a diver...spit just didn't work for me. Fogging occurs because moisture (vapor) attaches to particulates on a surface. So the theory goes that if you can keep the surface free of particulates, your also fog free! HA!! Any liquid put on a surface to protect it will cause a distortion. If your cool with that, the no fog solutions for ski goggles would work better. The best solution, although maybe not the most efficient, or even possible, would be to raise the shop temperature to stop the vapor upon exhalation.

[Bill Wilcox]

I saw on Capt. Eddies videos on YouTube say that for the last 15 yrs or so he has been using "Son-of-a-Gun" car cleaner for cleaning his glasses and face shield. I am going to try it as soon as I can get to WalMart where he says it's at.

[Bob Noles]

I don't think son of a gun is available any longer and I had to get the Armor-all equivalent.