I am looking for some specific recommendations on respirators suitable for turning and sanding stabilized reel seat blanks. I have sent an email to WSSI, but have not heard back as yet.

I generally use a simple 3M dust / particulate mask when using regular wood, but was wondering what those of you turning stabilized wood use. With the cold month coming I want to be prepared. The odors are quite strong and I am assuming something that deals with organic vapors will be required?

Thought maybe Andy Dear would be checking the site and would appreciate his opinion. Will probably email direct if he doesn't see this post.

Thanks,

Herb

I use this respirator for organic vapors. Uses filter cartridges and has a pre filter for particulates. Available in many places, this was just the first to come up with Google.

[www.boatersworld.com]






Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Herb:

The plastic material that has been used as stabilizer may have a small amount vaporized or pyrolized ( burned off ) due to the potential dullness of a lathe chisel. However, this is very small compared to the amount of material that would normally evaporate into the work area when you use a solvent. It is not really the problem. Yes, an organic cartridge respirator will take out the odor from the stabilizer. However, because the vaporized stabilizer is noticable at very small concentrations, it becomes the first thing we think about. However, because there is more danger from dusts raised by cuttting and sanding the stabilized wood, the real need is for a particulate respirator.

There is a simple caveat when using any respirator - it has to fit your face in order for it to work. When respirators are used in an industrial setting, they are fit-tested to the person. They are checked with a challenge aerosol and are technically assigned a value for goodness of fit. You should not just pick a respirator off of the shelf and assume that it will fit well. This is a dilemma for most of us who either work for ourselves or in a small shop. We need to have a good respirator ocassionally, but how to get it fit tested? How to pick the best one?

Without getting into a long technical discussion on respirators, consider this. You can purchase respirators at a number of hardware stores. For our needs, you should consider a particulate respirator first. Disposable respirators are the most expensive, because you discard them when soiled. You also use them seldom, so they generally last a while. The style with an exhalation valve built on the front gives the best fit to most faces and is easiest to use with glasses and face shield. This type is often sold to welders, because of the ease of use under their shield. They are my first choice. Another point is to keep them clean. In between uses, they should be stored in a sealed plastic bag. For disposables, a gallon size Zip-Lock works well.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Doug Weber
Weber Rod Works



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/19/2005 11:01AM by Doug Weber.