Dust

[wood carver 2]

After an allergic reaction to osage sanding dust last night, I have been looking for some information about dust filters and air helmets. I have been thinking about this for a while, but now it’s clear that I need to bite the bullet and get something.
I have a good dust collector for my machinery, but I am thinking of some kind of powered air helmet as I hate wearing non powered filters.
What, if anything, do you all use in your shops?
Dave.

[Roy from Pa]

I don't have a helmet but wear a mask and goggles at times. What I don't like is when wearing a mask, the goggles and or my glasses fog up. So I would check into something that prevents the fogging up of the glasses or face shield.

[wood carver 2]

I wear glasses too, so fogging is a problem. Add to that, I hate wearing a regular filter. ( more so after the last year of having to wear one all day at work.)
I’m looking at powered air helmets. They run from about $600 to $3000.
I was hoping that someone here might have experience with one or more that they could share.
I’m also thinking about the shop air filter like the one you have in your shop Roy, but my focus is a wearable unit.
Dave.

[Lefty38-55]

FWIW I have to wear a 3M NIOSH VOC-rated facemask whilst working with mahogany (on boat stuff, not archery, haha), else I'll suffer with BAD sinus issues for DAYS! I am an eyeglass wearer, and it doesn't cause my glasses to fog up.

We did buy powered external-air supply 'helmets' for cleaning our local gun club's indoor range filters, but I wasn't involved and don't know the brand - sorry.

[wood carver 2]

I’m starting to have the same problem after a lifetime of working with wood.
I have a regular heavy duty filter mask at work that I had to wear while handling chemicals. I find it hard to breathe through and uncomfortable.
Problem with wood dust is that once you become sensitized to one type of wood, you will have problems with others too.
Dave.

[williwaw]

I’m starting to have the same problem after a lifetime of working with wood.
I have a regular heavy duty filter mask at work that I had to wear while handling chemicals. I find it hard to breathe through and uncomfortable.
Problem with wood dust is that once you become sensitized to one type of wood, you will have problems with others too.
Dave.

pretty much the same here, so I use mostly cutting tools on wood and avoid sanding. my belt sander has 36 grit and it cuts more than sand..  all dusty operations are done outside nowadays and preferbly while standing upwind in a stiff breeze.  A reaction will put me out for days with with respiratory crud and that would not be a good time to catch covid.

[EvilDogBeast]

Check out the 3M PAPR systems.  They have powered and non-powered versions.  We have one at work and the guys love it for sanding, however, our Bio-Environmental Engineers have NOT cleared us to use it while spraying paint (our paints contain Hex-Chrome and Isocyanates).

[Flem]

I wear a 3M 7000 series full face mask for anything irritating or toxic. I don't really like a mask either, but the thought of dragging a hose around that is attached to my face is even less appealing. I know you can adapt 3M 6000 or 7000 to positive pressure, just have to get a little creative. I was also wondering if a CPAP machine would work. If the primary concern is dust, the filter masks are much more pleasant to wear with the fabric filters than the heaver vapor cartridges.

[EvilDogBeast]

They make a forced air adapter for the 6000 and 7000 series respirators.  It's a hose on a belt that screws into a port under the exhaust port cover.

[wood carver 2]

Thanks guys. I’m looking at the 3m versaflow. It’s about $2200 Cdn. on Amazon. More elsewhere.
There’s an all in one unit for about $600 but I’m not sure if I want a battery and motor on top of my head. Plus, I read that accessories for it are pricey.
Dave.

[wood carver 2]

I just ordered the versaflo 300. It was cheaper, even with $94 shipping, to order from the US.

[Flem]

That Versaflo unit looks nice
I could not find any filtration info other than "High efficiency"  Can you get a variety of filters for it?

[wood carver 2]

The one I ordered has a hepa filter on it. There are other packages with different filters that say they’re good for vapors or gases. It’s a bit confusing buying one because there are a few models that are very similar and you have to watch what accessories you order for it because they might not fit.
I’m going to order a box of clear covers to protect the visor. Even there I found I had to shop carefully. One seller has a box of 10 for $42 and another has a box of 40 for $70.
It’s a lot of money, but this is no place to cheap out and I would lose my mind if I had to stop working with wood.
There is an air helmet from the UK that has the battery and motor built in. It’s a lot cheaper, but I’m not sure if I want the weight on my head plus I read reviews that said parts are very expensive.
Dave.

[EvilDogBeast]

That's an excellent mentality Dave.  Whenever we need safety equipment and I don't like the price, I just ask myself if my life is worth $___.  Feel better every time!

[wood carver 2]

My family agrees too. When I said that I was looking for an air helmet for dust protection, the first thing they said was don’t buy a cheap one.
I never had a bad reaction to wood dust before. It’s a really crappy feeling and at my age it takes a few days to get over it.
Dave.

[Roy from Pa]

Dave you are on the right track.

10 years ago I had a very serious reaction to IPE.

I still have lingering problems from that.

[Flem]

Never had a reaction to wood dust, knock on wood! What exactly is the experience?

I have been thinking it would be nice to have a remote fresh air supply when spraying 2K finishes. Can those masks be adapted for a longer run of hose?

[wood carver 2]

The reaction depends on the person. For me my sinuses went nuts. I was so stuffed up that I had a bit of difficulty breathing. I couldn’t get to sleep that night and I ended up staying home from work. I took extra strength Reactine and it barely had an effect. That was Monday night and Tuesday. Today I’m still a bit stuffed up. Looking back, there were warning signs. I recently started using a wood lathe and the dust from turning gets thrown right at me when sanding on it. I was getting a bit stuffed up but it wasn’t bad. A few years ago I built a couple of bows using pau ferro and it’s dust made me itch a bit.
If you get an air helmet like the one I ordered, you don’t need a hose extension. The battery, motor and filter ride on a belt pack with a hose that goes up to the back of the helmet. My foreman at work told me that he used to use one and he really liked it. The cool air flowing over your face is a bonus on hot days.
I’m really looking forward to trying it out.
Dave.

[Flem]

That sounds really unpleasant. I was thinking of a remote supply for isocyanates and the like, where filtration won't work.

[wood carver 2]

For that, I would speak to a rep at 3m. They must have a setup for that.
I used to work with expanding foam for packaging valves for shipping. I didn’t need protection for every day work but I did when I replaced used up barrels, one of which contained isocyanates. I sure was happy to see that system go. We replaced it with packing paper.
Dave.