Dust Masks

[stubby]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good quality dust mask?
I want to get something a little better and more comfortable than the typical 3M paper ones so that I can wear one pretty much all the time while in the shop. TIA

Eric

[thecopperfish]

Hi Eric
I've included a link to a mask that I have and like very much. It is kind of expensive but is washable and will last for years. It is very light and comfortable. I wear glasses and it works well with them also. Hope this helps.

Dust Bee Gone? - Woodcraft.com

Chris

[Fremmed]

Hey Chris,
You said you wear glasses, do you ever wear goggles? The dust is a killer on my eyes, but my anti-fog goggles fog up when I wear them with those paper masks.

[I-saw]

That's the problem with wearing glasses/goggles with masks, the lenses steam up.

The only solution I can think of is to wear a tight fitting gas mask type mask that keeps your breath from escaping...or swimming goggles!

I just use the paper type masks & don't bother with glasses. If you're cutting metal or something with a harsh blade then glasses are essential, but I never wear them & the dust doesn't bother my eyes much.

[Mick Walker]

Eric, check out Industrial Safety Equipment Store Look at the North 4200 CFR1 respirator. Works great with glasses. I just looked it up. The mask is $10.25, 20 filters are $12.75 Plus s/h.

[greatdane2]

I can not breath through my nose, and wearing a mask and glasses does not work for me. So I have gone big time into dust collectors. I have 2 cheapy 3/4hp ones that I built cyclones for. I think the plan was in Wood magazine a couple of years ago. Anyway they cost about $150 for materials and a day of work. It is incredible how much better they work now. I use one in my big shop where all my big tools are, and use a single 4" hose going to the machine I am working with. In my smaller room I have every machine hooked up to a 4" hose, I also have 2 funnels set up where I do carving and sanding.
This a bit more than normal but it gets me away from wearing a mask and that is worth it to me. I am showing 3 pics here 2 are of my cyclones and one is the funnel I use at my sanding table. The cyclone with the round filter is on a steel frame with an 18" bandsaw, and like all tools in this area are on wheels.
Hope this gives you guys an idea on how to do dust control with out big bucks.
Alan.

[SNAPPER]

I have found that the 3M ones with an exhalation valve do not fog up glasses. They are comfortable to wear also.
Dean

[Rolf]

I wear a half mask with the filters on the side and the exhaust on the front.
it is comfortable and doesn't fog my glasses. I bought it at HD or Lowes.