Face Mask!

[John Saxton]

Can I pose a question to the experienced, among you from the uninitiated, in regards to the appropriate face protection for spraying finishe's?
As there is a vast array of protection equipment in the market and to get away from the sales hype,is there any particular face protection that you folk out there are using that you feel comfortable with whether for short or extended spraying periods?
TIA Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

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Johnno

[Shane Watson]

From all reports I have seen the Sundstrom mask, fitted with gas, particle and pre filters is recommended for general use. There definitly not the cheapest though. BUT The best form of protection is an airfed helmet.

It really depends and what you spray, not by volume.

If your spraying any 2-pac products I think by lesgislation you are required to wear an airfed type and 2-pac can only be sprayed in an approved spraybooth.

In the end your health is worth a thousand times more than the cost of any saftey equiptment. So get the best you can.

I saw a report years ago stateing the ways paint chemicals/fumes etc are absorbed into the body and how we should protect ourselfs.
From memory the body absorbs most by breathing them in. Then came absorbing through the eyes. Then came through the skin. I can't remember the whole thing but thats the jist of it. I had never thought of anything getting absorbed through the eyes until I read that report...

Makes you think eh!

HTH

Cheers

Shane Watson...........

Combine Love & Skill & You Can Expect A Masterpiece!

[Marty Lott]

Hi John
I've been using an airfed helmet for several years, it's the way to go for sure. During summer it's so much more comfortable than a mask too, unless your workshops air conditioned & not a tin shed / sauna such as mine !

[John Saxton]

Thanks Shane,Marty,for that insight which is helps me out greatly as I have a Racal air-fed helmet that I use when woodturning.I'll check with Racal first to see if there are varying types of filters required for different applications.
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Johnno

[Shane Watson]

John,

The racal system is really no different than a normal face mask when it comes to filtering the air.

The Airfed masks we speak of are infact fed by a source of air, somewhat similar to scuba system. Most are fed from a compressor running the air through expensive filters to take out all the nasty's to make it breathable.

In fact Sundstrom have an attachment that fits there facemask to convert it to an airfed, but you still need the air source that has been filtered...

Hope that clarifies things a little more...

Cheers

Shane Watson

[Shane Watson]

When I mentioned the Racal system i was not referring to the filters, rather the system used. That is it draws air through filters and you breath the filtered air. Sundstrom mask etc all work the same, except they are operated on you drawing a breath whereas the racal etc are mechanical....

Just to clear my last post up.. I re-read it and it didn't quite make sense....

anyway

Cheers

Shane............

Damn, I'm starting to confuse myself!! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Iain]

Starting to confuse yourself, maybe your filter is not working and it IS the fumes. A cheap source of glue sniffing!!!

[John Saxton]

I've got your drift now Shane,and thanks for enlightening me.For a moment there I thought I was on a winner.
Cheers

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Johnno

[John Saxton]

Shane, just revisiting this post and thought to pose the question that wouldn't minimal protection suffice in as much as a Sundstrom with appropriate filter if the spraying was to be done in an open area such as a covered breezeway next to my workshop.

I don't ever envisage having a fully set up spray booth as much as I would like to area constraint dosen't allow for it along with shire restrictions.

Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

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Johnno

[Shane Watson]

Of Course! These masks are great, ya just have to make sure you replace the filters regularly otherwise theres no point in having a mask on http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif. I refered to the airfed masks purely for reference. They are the best available, but not always the easiest to setup and can be very expensive..

But yeah, a sundstrom will do great, especially if your going to be spraying in a well ventalated area. Hell I know people who use no mask! Silly people http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/rolleyes.gif But I defintily wouldn't advise that, no matter what your spraying..

HTH




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Shane Watson..

Combine Love & Skill & You Can Expect A Masterpiece!

[Shane Watson]

Actually another thing I might touch on here, is the fact that there is a lot of people using dust masks to protect themselfs when spraying.. I see this regularly on the home improvement shows on TV. This offers little, if no protection. After all the more dangerous part of paint is the gas fumes, which is why you need special filters to filter them out of the air.
Anyway, it just gets to me when I see these shows using these masks for things they weren't intended....Dosn't put out a good image for people to follow.

Cheers

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Shane Watson..

Combine Love & Skill & You Can Expect A Masterpiece!

[Roger Peine]

Good questions and great replies.
To touch apon and hopefully add a little more. I have, when using a new product, requested a M.S.D.S from the company involved. ( Thats a Material safety data sheet for us melons ). Now, by law resellers must have these available although, if ya forget to ask for one they generally won't give you one. Once when i was using a Wattyl 2-pac, i thought i should peruse the document just mentioned and, low and behold i discovered the stuff was particularly nasty on the old bronchials, and nervous system, oh' yeah and the brain and......

[Rod Smith]

Hi. I do all spraying outside and use a normal twin filter dust mask which I fit with organic vapour filters (containing charcoal)and eye protection. Its not perfect but I'm happy, I don't really do that much spraying. The charcoal filters need to be kept in a sealed bag when not in use as they work by absorbing chemicals, whether you want them to or not. It's surprising how well they work. I had an article about "painters syndrome", it talked about the effects, brain damage, organ damage, accumulating over time. Classic ovbious symptoms are quick temper and poor short term memory. I'll see if I can find it and post it or a summary here. Work safe.
See ya. Rod

[Shane Watson]

The Ole' MSDS ....

Mmmm.. Just thought i would add to Roger's post...

For those of us that operate a business, it is important that you have on hand and in a place known to staff that they can access at there will, all relavant MSDS for the products that you use.

I found this out the hard way, thanks to a visit from our local friendly ( or not http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif ) Workplace Health & Saftey Officer.... Lucky all I got was an infringment notice and 30 days to comply with no fines...

Stupid thing was, when I approached my suppliers to get the relavant MSDS, they had to get them through from there distributors! How goods that!

Anyway, Roger's right do yourself a favor and next time you buy anything that can be harmful, get the MSDS and have a good read..

Cheers



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Shane Watson..

Combine Love & Skill & You Can Expect A Masterpiece!

[John Saxton]

Thanks guy's,that clears up a couple o'thoughts I had. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/cool.gif
Cheers

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Johnno

[ubeaut]

From a manufacturers point of view. The MSDS often overstates to the point of rediculous some of the possible symptoms and side effects of a product. They also err on the side of the worst possible case scenario and then exagerate the facts (AND RIGHTLY SO).

On the other hand I was told by the manufacturer of a supposedly safe, natural (organic) type finish that he writes his own MSDS's with no input from outside authorities. It is possible that this one could be a missleading load of hogwash. (Not nessescsarily but possible). http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/frown.gif

In my oppinion the MSDS is only as good as the information that is supplied to the person or company who compiles MSDS. This should be someone who is preferably authorised to undertake such work and not some idiot with a flare for writing fiction.

The idea of an MSDS is to prevent injury and possibly death from missuse. And although the symptoms etc. may be over stated in many cases I would rather that than having them understated or not mentioned at all, which I am sure is the case for some products.

My 2 bobs worth.

Cheers - Neil http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

PS Our MSDS's are compiled by an indipendent authority called Info Safe. (No bullshyt just the facts - somewhat overstated yes, but none the less, still the facts)

[John Saxton]

MSDS......Pardon my ignorance wasn't aware of them but appreciate all of you guy's bringing them to light for those of us in the dark.

Makes sense I suppose in these new ages'

I was aware that data sheets existed which didn't necessarily go into the safety aspects of the product.

Now if I can just get me one o' them Sundstrom thingies she'll be Jake!
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

[Roger Peine]

Good point. Like most things if the info is biased then....... the out come is equally as biased. The MSDS' that i have collected are also compiled by "Infosafe". I suppost that i have to trust whats written and recommended, for my own healths sake and, the environment which i live in .
As a friend pointed out to me once apon a while back, the difference between "Toxic" and "Non Toxic" is one dead rat!!!! True and all, 6 dead rats ( Mice or Rabbits ) = Non Toxic. 7+ dead rats = Toxic....Go figure .

[Shane Watson]

Geez, Don't know if I would like spraying with a rat running round in me mask http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Shane Watson..

Combine Love & Skill & You Can Expect A Masterpiece!

[Roger Peine]

C'mon. They don't smell to bad and..........
they taste even better. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

[John Saxton]

Thought I'd chuck another two cents worth in and give the local Sundstrom a plug.Site can be found at www.seasafe.com.au (http://www.seasafe.com.au) for those interested in data sheets etc.
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

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Johnno