Full face respirator for fiberglass grinding and painting

[hd002e]

I wear glasses and find it very awkward to use a respirator and goggles at the same time. I am planning on doing some bottom work on the hard and thought it might be useful to get a full fave respirator like the one in the picture below. Any recommendations on what to get? There also seems to be a lot of options for cartridges, what would be the most suitable for fiberglass grinding, epoxy and painting?

Thank you!

[s/v Jedi]

the one you show is great. It should come with the correct cartridges. Note that for dust, there is a separate dust filter that goes on top of the cartridge before inserting it into the holder. Most 3M respirators come with 2 pairs of those and you can buy them separately from cartridges as well.

[gamayun]

Does this fit OVER your ears? If so, then it will likely work with glasses. If not, then it won't work as a respirator and filter appropriately. I had one in which the lenses only were attached to a hook that clipped into the face shield. This was specially made for my prescription, but maybe they have some now for certain magnfication already built in. You should be able to ask the manufacturer or look at the manual to see how glasses work with it. Also, if you're buying online, it's going to be hard to know if it fits or not without doing a fit test. Check the cartridges, too, to see if you have the ones for organic vapors. Other cartridges are for different hazardous materials.

[Singularity]

Originally Posted by hd002e

Any recommendations on what to get? There also seems to be a lot of options for cartridges, what would be the most suitable for fiberglass grinding, epoxy and painting?

Certainly the 3M product is good, but at least one consideration is the cost vs lifespan of the filters, particularly if you follow the instruction on the filter.

If you can splurge a little, which might not be splurging much in the long-run if you're going to do a lot of work, consider googling "hobby respirators" (basically hookah on the surface with a high CFM low pressure air source piped in from a cleaner area). Just like hookah systems, you can buy a system, or, DIY system. Lots of websites.

I've not looked into these things in years, but some of the systems have like 2 hoses...one for you to breath, the second to plug into your ~Tyvek suit giving a steady flow of air into the suit, the latter benefit being of particular value to some.

I don't mean for a second that these devices provide more utility than a 3M carbon filter, meaning the hobby respirators shouldn't be used in enclosed spaces or anywhere else that a simple filter mask would not be acceptable. I'm pretty sure that these things can provide exposure protect as good as any screw-in filter, assuming you have electricity and fresh air source for the pump.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages...s/hobbyair.php

[GILow]

I haven't got a picture handy, but I use a full face shield style mask and feed it positive air pressure from an old CPAP machine I was given by a friend. The hose is a bit of a nuisance, but I still think it beats the inevitable crap that seems to get past filter cartridge style masks like these.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by GILow

I haven't got a picture handy, but I use a full face shield style mask and feed it positive air pressure from an old CPAP machine I was given by a friend. The hose is a bit of a nuisance, but I still think it beats the inevitable crap that seems to get past filter cartridge style masks like these.

Not to mention the added bonus of having some cool air piped in. My worst problem with a respirator has always been my glasses fogging.

[davido]

The 3M product you have pictured is a good unit and what I use. I wear glasses. HOWEVER, I find it unbearable to use this mask while wearing glasses due to the pressure it places on the arms of the glass frames in front of my ears. Fortunately my vision is adequate for the work I do without my glasses.

[thomm225]

I just did the bottom of my boat and at first used the air filter respirator masks with the valve, but they really fogged up my glasses

I ended up having better luck with the plain jane air respirator filter masks without the valve with goggles over my glasses (and sometimes just glasses if not directly under the boat)

[gamayun]

Unfortunately, N-95 respirators are for particulates and not gases.

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Unfortunately, N-95 respirators are for particulates and not gases.

Keep in mind the only time you would worry about gases is if you are spraying a boat or painting the interior. I might get some push back on this but I would certainly forgo a vapor mask if I was rolling or brushing a boat.

[Defeverboat]

You need a 3 m full cover mask and white painter coveralls. Duck tape sleeves to stop the dust. The dust will cover you! Sand with a portacable sander and 45 sandpaper. Good luck ��

[Mike Banks]

I used compressed-air tools and flooded the job area with sprayed-in water. I experienced no problems--but the resins have to be fully cured and immediately dried with a hot air blower. A method that is not suitable for all jobs--but sanding fibreglass is a bastard of a job no matter how one does it. Peel-ply saves a lot sanding and grinding.

Using non-electric tools and water means only safety glasses need to be used--there is no dust flying around in the air at all--and the water can be settled, filtered and re-used if one wished to do so.

[kclancy]

Also get a full white tyvec suit, with booties and hood. There cheap, only about $15 and worth every penny. Buy one size larger. I'm 6'3, 195 pounds. I thought an Xl would work, but the XXL was much better. You will appreciate the extra room when working over your head or in weird body positions.

[thomm225]

Some pretty costly suggestions above. Anyone can make a mountain out of a mole hill, but that's pretty much standard with new sailors and their boats which is totally fine.

As long as the job gets done, it's all up to the boat owner, but there are always less expensive ways

I mainly used the N95 masks for the last 3 bottom jobs I did, and they turned out pretty well.

Looks like a pack of 20 is under $25.00

Clothes worn were old jeans, old tee shirts, old hoodie, old shoes, etc pretty much the same as the boatyard workers that do bottom jobs wear. (hint, hint)

[gamayun]

This video nicely explains the difference between sanding and painting. I do safety training for workplaces, but in the recreational world, it's your lungs and your choice. https://youtu.be/Z3KL7cC8bDw