Help with Respirator please

[Kevin Gregoire]

i need to get myself a respirator for my shop to keep the dust out of
my pretty little lungs! and i wanted to ask who knows if the following
specs work for woodworking?

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 Meets NIOSH N95

these are off a dual cartridge mask sold for body shop use but i would
think if it holds out paint it should certainly hold out dust?

please let me know?
thanks

[Nathan Callender]

I prefer n100 fllters as that is the equivalent to hepa. I like the 3m masks with the pink filters.

[Jason Strauss]

Kevin,

Rather than the catridge mask, which will work, I prefer the N95 dusk mask (usually the one with the one way valve on the front). I find the caterage mask too balky and a bit more restrictive than the dust mask. It seems to me that much of the decision is based on personal preference and comfort. If you're not comfortable, you won't wear it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do wear the catridge respirator while spraying any finish.

[Brian Kent]

I recommend getting the P100 filters instead of N95. They cost about the same and get over 99% of particulates instead of 95%.

[Prashun Patel]

I'm very pleased with my 3m halfmask respirator. You can get the 100's easy, and it's extremely comfortable.

[Kevin Gregoire]

do you guys have any links to your masks and filters please?

are the filter mounts the same between the N95 and P100?

and is there any difference between a body shop & woodworking mask?

[Lee Bidwell]

I'm very pleased with my 3m halfmask respirator. You can get the 100's easy, and it's extremely comfortable.

+1

do you guys have any links to your masks and filters please?

are the filter mounts the same between the N95 and P100?

and is there any difference between a body shop & woodworking mask?

I was lost on this issue too, but after reading some helpful threads on the Creek, I bought a 3M 6000 series half mask respirator at Lowe's. I find it fairly comfortable (note: if you can, find somewhere to test fit them. They come in different sizes, and having one that fits properly is important.), doesn't fog my safety glasses like the dust masks I used to use, and the filters are removable and re-configurable. The pink ones it comes with are P100, and, if I am not mistaken, also charcoal filters, so you can use them for spraying volatile organics. But you can alse get just the dust filters.

HTH,

Lee

[Ray Newman]

Kevin Gregoire: do you have a beard or a mustache?

Some respirators and dust masks do not work well and/or are uncomfortable to wear with facial hair.

[Kevin Gregoire]

ray, i do have a beard & stache although i keep them trimmed thin so i dont think they would be a problem?

lee, that mask you posted is just for chemical, do the cartridges that come with it work with dust? or do you just get
by with them and us dust cartridges next change out?

[Nathan Callender]

I meant p100. N95 is 95% efficient at 0.3 microns - p100 is 99.97%. It seems close but if you do the math there is an enormous exposure difference.

[Neil Brooks]

For what it's worth....

Love my 3M 7500. Got it with the P100 particulate filters AND the organic vapor cartridges.

On the particulate side ... they just work great, and do NOT cause my glasses to fog.

On the vapor side ... I simply can't tell I'm working with finishes ... while I'm working with finishes ... when I'm wearing this thing.

Totally satisfied.

[Jerry Bruette]

Kevin

I also have facial hair...hate to shave...and my employer won't even fit test me with a N95 dust mask. My previous employer required that I shave so I could be fit tested for a respirator and a SCBA.

If you've got facial hair OSHA and NIOSH say you've got leaks.

Jerry