Stupid question #3587

[craigb]

Here it is:

How do you tell when it's time to change your respirator cartridges?

(And don't say when you can't breathe anymore )

[dan_tom]

Hi Craigb

I just bought one yesterday (and what a difference! no more nose-wood putty!) and the back of the box said when you can start to smell wood dust again you need to change the filter. I guess this sort of advice is more obvious if using a noxious gas or spray paining or something. Seems to me that by then it would be too late? Maybe check the website of the company brand and it might be able to tell you a more specific time frame. I guess it depends how often you use it.

Cheers
Dan

[bitingmidge]

Glad to see you came to your sensed Dan!

Smelling stuff is the sure-fire way to tell that it's not working any more Craig.

Using a pre-filter (like a disc of blotting paper) will prolong cartridge life too.

Cheers,

P

[Termite]

When you turn blue and fall on the floor.

[craigb]

Well I'm anosmic so smelling isn't an option.

I s'pose I could ask the missus but I doubt if she'd wan't to wear my mask.:eek:

They are quite a "personal" piece of equipment.

[bitingmidge]

Well I'm anosmic so smelling isn't an option.

I suppose the expression "welcome as a fart in a space suit" is lost on you then?

P

[bitingmidge]

(And don't say when you can't breathe anymore )

Given that the simpler alternative isn't satisfactory, I think you'd better stick with plan B. (see I didn't say it!)

P

[dan_tom]

Maybe colour? The filter papers on my respirator are white - don't know whether they would discolour when it is time to change them - but a good guess if you've lost your sense of smell.

Cheers
Dan

[bitingmidge]

Dan,

Colour change doesn't work if you're sanding epoxy, or gyprock, or limestone or anything else that's white. By the time the pre-filter has blocked to the extent that you can see it, you'd be the same colour as the face mask (assuming you have a blue silicon one).

Cheers,

P

[craigb]

(assuming you have a blue silicon one).

Nope. Got a green one.

What I do now is regularly take the caretridges out and tap them on the bench.

Wen doing this no longer leaves a white filter on the inlet side I buy some new cartridges.

I'm probably not getting terrific mileage out of my cartridges this way though.

Oh well, better to be safe than sorry I suppose.

I just thought that there must have been a bit more of an objective way to tell when they are full than doing a sniff test.

Where's Eastie? If anybody knows, he does.

[craigb]

I suppose the expression "welcome as a fart in a space suit" is lost on you then?

P

Not really. I wasn't always anosmic.

[journeyman Mick]

Craig
how did you come to be anosmic (if you don't mind me asking) and does it affect your sense of taste (I've always been told no smell = no taste other than sweet, sour, salt & bitter).

Mick

[craigb]

Craig
how did you come to be anosmic (if you don't mind me asking) and does it affect your sense of taste (I've always been told no smell = no taste other than sweet, sour, salt & bitter).

Mick

Bad upper respiratory tract infection about 20 years ago. You know how you lose your sense of smell when you have a cold? Well sometimes it doesn't come back.

The medicos all say that if it hasn't come back within 3 to 6 months then it never will and there's nothing you can do about it.

Yes taste (flavour actually) is dependant on your sense of smell so like you say, it's sweet sour bitter salty only without smell.

I can taste some flavours though so I must have a little bit of a sense of smell just not enough to register in the nose.

Craig

[bitingmidge]

I can taste some flavours though .

So everything really does taste like chicken??

P

[journeyman Mick]

Craig,
bummer! (I really LIKE food) So do you still really enjoy a good meal and a glass of red for instance (other than in an abstract- "well this is nice company and it's a really well presented dish" type of way?)

Mick