Dust masks and glasses

[kevin Conway]

Anyone have any suggestions for dust masks that don't fog up your glasses?

[Jim Becker]

Not long ago, I bought the RZ Mask M2 Mesh and it's been pretty good around not having a fogging problem for the most part.


https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XLNCC6S/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Dan Friedrichs]

The ones with the separate exhaust vent have worked well for me:
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Particulate-Respirator-Stapled-Disposable/dp/B00AEXIS4S/

Otherwise, a non-disposable option is a half-face respirator with whatever cartridges you desire:
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Comfort-Facepiece-Reusable-Respirator/dp/B00IF7RCU6/
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Particulate-2297-Respiratory-Protection/dp/B009POHH94/

[Larry Frank]

I agree that the N100 masks with the valve work well and do not fog my glasses. I used them at work for many years without problems.

[glenn bradley]

Since th AO Safety one I really like went out of production I now favor this one (https://www.northernsafety.com/Product/185330?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgJq6m7G_4QIVRBh9Ch1EwAbvE AQYAiABEgKjiPD_BwE). I wear RX safety glasses in the shop.

[Ken Platt]

I had a home project where I absolutely had to wear a dust mask (concrete grinding)and I just got a box of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YKBV2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.
They seem to work quite well and are very comfortable.

[kevin Conway]

Thank you all! I'll check them out.

[Derek Cohen]

I use the Elipse P100, and think they are fantastic: superb dust control, no fogging up of glasses, and light and compact.

"The NIOSH P100 rated filter medium captures 99.97% of airborne particles (though it may be less if you have facial hair) and is highly resistant to oil. The flexible padded gasket and two fully-adjustable elastic headband straps help ensure a comfortable yet reliable seal on your face. The gasket material is made from a non-allergenic thermoplastic elastomer that is latex and silicone free.This is the lightest P100 rated reusable mask currently available. The standard size weighs just 4.8 oz."

From Highland Woodworking ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYyLKgb90EQ

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Frank Pratt]

There is no paper mask that will do an acceptable job. In fact, they are not even allowed on construction sites around here. I use a North brand (3M) silicone rubber half mask respirator that works very well & doesn't fog my glasses at all. There are many brands & models of similar respirators available. The mask was cheap (under $15) & HEPA cartridges are about $10 a pair. I've been using the same cartridges for a couple of years & they're good for lots more. You can also get organic vapor cartridges working with anything with volatile solvents.

[Jamie Buxton]

Fogging on your glasses isn't just a nuisance. It is telling you that the dust mask doesn't fit correctly, and you're inhaling dusty air. The reason your glasses fog is that there's a gap between the mask and your face just below your glasses, and your exhaled air gets directed through the gap up to the glasses. When you inhale, dusty air comes through that gap.

[Ben Rivel]

Dust mask?! Yea I dont mess with those. 3M respirator all the way: LINK (https://www.amazon.com/3M-Personal-Protective-Equipment-51131494904/dp/B00IF7RBS4)

[Jim Tobias]

Agreed on 3M half face respirator. Only thing better is a "forced air" system.

Jim

[Ellen Benkin]

I also use the Elipse and have no problem with my glasses. It is great for dust but not to be used for spray finishing, though.

[jerry cousins]

+1 on the Elipse. No fogging
jerry

[John K Jordan]

Dust mask?! Yea I dont mess with those. 3M respirator all the way: LINK (https://www.amazon.com/3M-Personal-Protective-Equipment-51131494904/dp/B00IF7RBS4)

Me too. I use the 3M respirators - I like the 7000 series. The P100 filters seem to last forever in the shop.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008MCUT86

I wear safety glasses or reading glasses and there is no fogging. The exhaust is directed away from the glasses.

JKJ

[Lee Schierer]

I also wear glasses and use the 3M Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator with no fogging issues.

[Justin Rapp]

Dust mask?! Yea I dont mess with those. 3M respirator all the way: LINK (https://www.amazon.com/3M-Personal-Protective-Equipment-51131494904/dp/B00IF7RBS4)

Forget dust masks. They don't work well, don't have a good seal and breath-back on yourself or up to your glasses/eye protection just sucks. Respirator's are the way to go, and not very expensive ($15 to $20 for the mask and $10 to $15 for new filters). A lot cheaper than developing lung issues.

[Dan Baginski]

Dust mask?! Yea I dont mess with those. 3M respirator all the way: LINK (https://www.amazon.com/3M-Personal-Protective-Equipment-51131494904/dp/B00IF7RBS4)

That’s what I use. Pretty nice and filters are cheap

[Larry Frank]

I use the dust masks rated N100 and they work fine. It has the exhaust valve and I get no fog on my glasses. At work, these were tested on everybody and they met requirements.

I like them because they are disposable and light weight. Disposable means you are not building up germs and such inside. If you use a respirator, you should be properly cleaning it.

[John Gregory]

Since th AO Safety one I really like went out of production I now favor this one (https://www.northernsafety.com/Product/185330?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgJq6m7G_4QIVRBh9Ch1EwAbvE AQYAiABEgKjiPD_BwE). I wear RX safety glasses in the shop.
This is the one I use. I got it at Lee Valley.

[Carl Beckett]

Fogging on your glasses isn't just a nuisance. It is telling you that the dust mask doesn't fit correctly, and you're inhaling dusty air. The reason your glasses fog is that there's a gap between the mask and your face just below your glasses, and your exhaled air gets directed through the gap up to the glasses. When you inhale, dusty air comes through that gap.

This is my view as well.

I use the 3m half mask.

[Anuj Prateek]

I wear glasses and avoided masks precisely due to fogging. Spit, soap and all the similar methods did not work with any disposable or paper like masks.

Tried 3M 7502 and the problem was solved. No more fogging - be it cold or warm. I bought particulate filter with it (I thinks it's something like p100). This works even with mildly grown beard. Do make sure that you order the right size. They need to form a seal on the face.

They make another series (6500). It looks similar but has some difference in air vent. I got fogging with 6500 series.

[John K Jordan]

I wear glasses and avoided masks precisely due to fogging. Spit, soap and all the similar methods did not work with any disposable or paper like masks.
Tried 3M 7502 and the problem was solved. No more fogging - be it cold or warm. I bought particulate filter with it (I thinks it's something like p100). This works even with mildly grown beard. Do make sure that you order the right size. They need to form a seal on the face.
They make another series (6500). It looks similar but has some difference in air vent. I got fogging with 6500 series.

I have several of both the 7000 and 6000 series 3M respirators. I like the 7000 series better - these do exhaust at the bottom but I also like the more flexible silicon material they use for the seal.

These masks are cheap enough I bought several sizes to try - large is too big for me, small too small, and medium is just right. (If you buy from Amazon you can easily return if they don't fit.) I keep all sizes in the shop for students/visitors. (We clean them with alcohol). Some females like the small. I usually give repeat beginning students one to take with them. :)

407881

These are the 6000 series before I started buying the 7500. The 6000 series exhaust in the front but I still never got fogging from them. But since the seal around the nose is not as soft and pliable I suspect it would be easier to get an incomplete seal which could fog glasses.

For me, these are comfortable and very easy to put on and remove. The fit easily under a face shield. I did buy one of the Eclipse dust masks and it was fine but I don't like the idea of the proprietary filters. The 3M respirators and filters are used all over the world by industry and will probably always be available unless society collapses. In addition to the dust filters you can also buy filters for protection from an incredible variety of breathing hazards, for example, volitiles, acid fumes, various gasses, organic vapors, formaldehyde, ammonia, mercury vapor, etc.

Filters: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/Safety/Worker-Health-Safety/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Reusable-Respirators/Cartridges-Filters/?N=5002385+8709322+8711017+8711405+8720539+8720550 +8720746+3294857497&rt=r3
Respirators: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/Safety/Worker-Health-Safety/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Reusable-Respirators/Half-Facepiece-Respirators/?N=5002385+8709322+8711017+8711405+8720539+8720550 +8720785+3294857497&rt=r3

This is the Medium, 7502: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008MCUT86
At the moment they are $20 but occasionally they'll go down to around $15 from Amazon and under $10 from 3rd parties. If price is an issue track it on camelcamelcamel.

I keep extra P100 filters but for woodturning one pair seems to last forever. When I'm blowing dust out of the llama and alpaca coats and shearing I do change them more often! I also wear them when loading hay into my storage building to avoid respiratory problems from allergies.

I also keep a couple of the full-face 3M respirators (but they are not cheap).

407882

These are pretty tough, stronger than most face shields we buy for woodturning. I mostly use them when spraying chemicals on the farm (weed killers, etc) to keep the chemicals out of my eyes and lungs. I did find a great alternate use once in an emergency - some moron, er, unthinking person accidentally set the woods on fire over the hill from us and the full-face respirator kept the smoke out of my eyes while I cut a fire break with my tractor.

JKJ

[fred everett]

I have 3 different half mask P100 respirators which I wear 100% of the time I'm in my shop. The one I use depends on my current style of prescription glasses, but I will plunk down the $ to protect my lungs if I need a 4th. My latest challenge is my progressive lenses which require exact positioning of my glasses after I put on the respirator....getting old is annoying.

[Steve Hubbard]

My response is not meant to disagree with Frank's comment. If, however, you choose to try a paper mask, just give it a few minutes. Wait for the temperature of your lenses to equilibrate with the temperature of your exhaled breath. This is a leson learned from 40 years in the operating room, wearing dozens of different brands and styles of masks.

[Tom Bender]

My problem with respirators is that they are generally designed as 'one size fits all' in terms of air volume. Yes they have different size rubber parts for different size heads but the airflow is no different. If I am a 240 pound laborer working hard on say an asbestos removal I need a lot of air. For me at 140 pounds and working quietly in m shop the filters are way oversized and block my vision needlessly.

[scott vroom]

This.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HXBCMG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1