Respriator Questions

My compressor has an in-line filter system that removes any oil
vapor...which is the only possible contaminate. The line filter is very
similar to the filter in the respirator and I did forget to add that the
air going into my modified mask is going through the organic filter on the
mask.

The levels of solvents that may get through the proper fitting paint
respirator before you begin to smell it is inconsequential with virtually
no impact on your body. BTW, I have never had a flow of solvent smell
through the mask because I change the canisters before each paint session.

You are aware that that whiff of gasoline vapor you get when fueling your
car has more harmful impact that several hours of paint with a properly
serviced and well fitted paint respirator. But then again, back in the day
when the automotive manufacturers still had humans painting the cars, even
though they used fresh air masks, painters had the shortest life span of
all industrial workers. Maybe we should pass a law forbidding anyone except
a professional from painting his project. That's the ticket! After all we
know the average Joe Six-pack doesn't have enough sense to spend his tax
return properly, how in the world can he be expected to educated himself
well enough to use safety equipment properly?

wrote:

Bruce A. Frank wrote:

...

The one disadvantage I find with the fresh air mask is having to deal
with the hose following me around as I duck and bend to shoot paint
on
all the parts. I improved my home made system by using small tube
from my
compressor, 1/4", at 90 psi to an adjustable valve attached to my
belt.

Uh, how do you get 90 psi? Common air compressers contaminate the air
with oil and are unsafe for breathing.

Do you have something like the compressors used to fill scuba tanks?

... Epoxies an solvent based paints are completely
filtered by the charcoal type organic filter cartridges.


Activated carbon filters don't stop anything 100% But they
typically stop organics quite well up until 'breakthrough' as
it is called, occurs. Thereafter the concentration coming
through rapidly rises until it is the same as in the incomming
air. Long befor then you should begin to smell the contaminant,
depending on what it is. One peculularity of activated carbon
filters is that once breakthrough has occurred the filter
will begin to contaminate clean air that passes through it.

Also keep in mind that if you do not have an external air supply
you must have adequate oxygen in the ambient air. Many fatalities
have occurred when someone used a filter-type respirator in a
confined area where the contaminants have displaced the oxygen
in the air--for example underground gasoline tanks or coal bins
using a nitrogen fire suppression system.

That is probably NOT a consideration for spraypainting unless
you're spraying in a closed room.

--

FF

--
Bruce A. Frank, Editor "Ford 3.8/4.2L Engine and V-6 STOL
Homebuilt Aircraft Newsletter"
| Publishing interesting material|
| on all aspects of alternative |
| engines and homebuilt aircraft.|
..

Very innovative! Showing way too much common sense!

Roger wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 12:21:57 -0600, Jim Carriere
wrote:

Hello group,
Who here has worked with MEK and other wonderful solvents? Where did
you get your respirator gear from, and what models? The filter ones
available in the chain "hardware" stores have fairly vague
specifications on the labels: usually suitable for aromatics,
solvents, etc. This is not something I wish to leave up to chance.
Do I need to fork over the big bucks on this one and pay for a forced
air system?


When I put 3 coats of 2-part epoxy paint on the floor of my shop I
didn't have the equipment I have now.

Sooo... I took a standard face shield, one large garbage bag, two
lengths of the cheap 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 bilge (sump pump hose) and a
squirrel cage fan I had on hand.

I put the face shield inside the garbage bag, taped it to the inside
of the bag, cut out the bag for the face plate,

I taped the corrugated hose in position on my back with one piece of
duct tape around my waist and another just under my arms. This left
the hose open at the back of my neck and blowing up and over the top.

The fumes were so strong you would have needed a full face mast any
way.

Using this set up I was able to give the floor three coats of epoxy.
It did take several garbage bags as they are not the most sturdy
things in the world, but I did have fresh, clean, COLD air.

Total cost was less than $10 as I had the face shield on hand.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Thanks in advance.

--
Bruce A. Frank, Editor "Ford 3.8/4.2L Engine and V-6 STOL
Homebuilt Aircraft Newsletter"
| Publishing interesting material|
| on all aspects of alternative |
| engines and homebuilt aircraft.|

Morgans wrote:

Good to see you back in the funny papers. How is your project going?
--
Jim in NC

Well, I have quit my day job to concentrate on building fuel tanks for
homebuilts. Since I am way behind on tanks, about 8 weeks right now, progress on
my project is slow. Lot of happy customers though! And I really am enjoying
doing this!! Still trying to get the next issue of the newsletter out.


--
Bruce A. Frank
======================
Aircraft Projects
Fuel Tank Fabrication
TIG, MIG & Oxy/Acet Welding & Brazing

"Bruce A. Frank" wrote

Well, I have quit my day job to concentrate on building fuel tanks for
homebuilts. Since I am way behind on tanks, about 8 weeks right now,
progress on
my project is slow. Lot of happy customers though! And I really am
enjoying
doing this!! Still trying to get the next issue of the newsletter out.


--
Bruce A. Frank

Fantastic job change! I was going to say that I didn't know you were doing
that, and ought to spam us a little, but then...* weeks behind, I guess you
don't need to get 10 weeks behind!
--
Jim in NC

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:45:24 GMT, "Bruce A. Frank"
wrote:

My compressor has an in-line filter system that removes any oil
vapor...which is the only possible contaminate. The line filter is very

There's one more. CO. for those who do not incorporate an activated
charcoal filter into their system. Carbon monoxide is developed in
oil type compressors although usually at very small quantities. Some
where around here I have some literature that warms about it as well
as the oil fumes.

similar to the filter in the respirator and I did forget to add that the
air going into my modified mask is going through the organic filter on the
mask.


Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Well Jim what I did was to buy a surplus gas mask from Sportsman guide
and then went to a junkyard and got a used heater blower from a car and
then hooked it up with a hose.Put the blower in clean air outside the
work area and attach to a car battery and it will feed clean air into
the mask.I have been doing this for years.Jim in Ct.

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:47:23 GMT, "Bruce A. Frank"
wrote:

Very innovative! Showing way too much common sense!


Thanks.

I'll have to put up a link to a photo of the shop floor *before* it
was covered with "stuff" and scuffed and had heavy, hard stuff with
sharp corners dropped in places. G

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Roger wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 12:21:57 -0600, Jim Carriere
wrote: