Need Dust Mask Recommendations

[bethc]

I'm having trouble finding a suitable dust mask to wear when using my dremel, or band saw, or sanding on wood, and when preparing gourds for burning and carving. I'm a 5'4" female with a small frame who wears glasses, so the normal dust masks sold at hardware stores and such don't fit me well and quickly fog up my glasses. With all the expertise and variety of sizes of carvers here on the forum, I wonder if anyone can suggest a good type of dust mask (and where to get them.) Oh yeah, I'm recently retired and on a limited budget.

I've mostly been using some disposable surgical masks that were given to me several years ago, but even they leak my exhalations and fog my glasses (though not as quickly as the common type dust masks.)

Thanks for your suggestions. I'd hate to think I'd finally made it to retirement in decent health, and end up with respiratory problems from breathing all this dust

[dicka]

Hello,

I use a Dust B Gone mask that seems to be quite effective and does not fog the glasses when put on properly. It is washable and reusable for a very long time. I got mine from The Woodcraft Shop, but if you Google Dust B Gone you should find other retailers. Hope this helps.


Al
PictureTrail - Gallery

[cut up]

My lovely bride gave me a "Dust Be Gone".
Here is a link.
Buy Medium Dust Bee Gone Mask - Blue Edging , Dust Bee Gone? Mask, Safety -
It still leaks some, but it helps. I also use a fan to blow the dust away from me and keep a fan covered in a hog hair filter running.
That's the best I've been able to do, so far. I know those room air filters and dust collectors are the best way to go, but are expensive.
Good luck with it.
Michael

[bethc]

Thanks, guys, for taking the time to respond. I checked it out on the internet, and it looks similar to what I've been using except it should last longer. It seems a bit pricey for what it is, but I may try one if no one has other cheaper suggestions. After all, it should be a one-time expense instead of something I need to get a few times a year.

[mdallensr]

bethc, I also have a Dust-B-Gone filter and it does eliminate glass fogging. I have one reservation though; it is not NIOSH approved and hasn't been rated for its ability to filter dust particles. So, it does work as a filter, but when comparing it to other NIOSH approved respirators, I think its not as effective. I bought a half-mask respirator with a single replaceable filter, that I can wear with my glasses without fogging, and I know its effective. And its cheaper; $10-$15.































AO Safety 95190 Woodworker's Respirator

[Paul_Guraedy]

I have tried a number of masks including the dust be gone. All have their problems.

Now I use a mask with replaceable canisters. Not fun, but it does keep out the dust. I also have fans blowing and filters filtering. They keep some of the dust down in the workshop. A Swiffer, recommended by my wife, is kept on hand to get the dust that settles on all surfaces.

I have found that one of the headband magnifiers is the simplest solution for vision. It was too much of a pain to try and get my glasses in the right position.

I have to admit that as much as I love my rotary tools; dust is moving me to use the automach more and more.

[bethc]

Thanks for the input. I've been looking at the half-mask you suggested, mdallensr, and wondered about trying it since it was much cheaper than the Dust Bee Gone, and also had better overall reviews on amazon.com (where both masks are available.) I had also wondered how efficient the Dust Bee Gone was since it was not NIOSH rated.

Paul, thanks for your response, too. I connect my shop vac to my band saw and my scroll saw when I'm using them. I guess I need to get a fan to blow the sawdust away from me when I'm using my Dremel or palm sander. I've been trying to use the Dremel and sander outside as much as possible, but that doesn't mean the dust is always blowing away from me. I hadn't thought about using the headband magnifier instead of safety glasses. Do you not have problems with dust bothering your eyes since the magnifier is so open at the bottom?

I feel like I'm ready to explore alien worlds when I get all my protective gear on, but I sure can tell a difference in how my throat, lungs, eyes, and ears feel when I fail to use everything. Luckily, I'm trying to do the majority of my carving with knives and gouges, so only have to worry about gloves, then.
Beth

[Paul_Guraedy]

I have not had a problem with dust and the headband magnifier. But, even with the canister mask, I still keep a fan blowing the dust away from me and most of the time also have a table type filter box that is sucking in the dust.

[mdallensr]

bethc, I use a small, bench-top dust collector from Grizzly (or others) when I sand. It takes the dust away from me and keeps it away from my respirator. I also need to wear glasses and a headband magnifier for scrolling and detail work on my bandsaw, so I look like an alien as well. I add a full face shield when I'm ripping stock on my radial-arm saw, so that just adds to the complexity. All of that makes fogging a bigger problem but, so far, the A O Smith respirator works fine. I did notice that a long session with a lot of dust in my shop, while wearing my Dust-B-Gone filter, left a dust residue on my face and I felt it later that evening in my lungs. The Dust-B-Gone is certainly better than no mask, but it's not as effective as a true respirator. Mike

[bethc]

Thanks Mike and Paul. I think I'll order the woodworker's respirator to try. I've been drooling over the various dust collection systems, but they're presently out of my price range. Guess I'll just have to start saving my pennies. In the meantime, I can at least move a fan out to where I'm working to try to blow most of the dust away.

This novice appreciates all the advice you experienced woodcarvers have for those of us who are just getting started.

Beth