Tutorial What you need to know about respiratory protection!

Thank you for all information. It's very useful.

 

Thank you, this is very informative! I didn't find my model though, for kinda obvious reasons. It's an IDF-issued gas mask, and I'm like, why buy anything else if the army throws me one for free? My concern is that Purity Seal might purity-seal this mask shut over time. Also, while it fits, it's really uncomfortable with its rubber straps pulling my scalp hair

 

Thanks for the information! I have a question--I'm not completely sure I have the right kind of filters. They are labelled as "Particulate Filter P100 (With Nuisance Level Organic Vapor Relief)" "Not NIOSH approved for organic vapors", but they also say they are 99% efficient against aerosols. Are they right for spraying MSC?

 

If they're not approved for organic vapors, then no. You need something that protects against both particulate matter and organic vapors, not one or the other.

 

Thank you so much for posting this. I've started customizing last year and I was a bit naive in the respiratory protection area. I'm taking your list of recommendations and I'm investing in a good mask.

 

I tried looking in this thread, but couldn't find anything related to Magic Sponge or other microabrasives. I want to check if they require the same protection as sandpaper on resin does, or needs a particular mask type.

 

@saraquill

With magic eraser type sponges, they tend to absorb/trap dirt and dust particles, rather than have them go flying off. I'm not 100% sure what you mean by microabrasives, but if they are the same basic principle as sandpaper, then you would want a mask for those. (But I do not think they'd be necessary for magic eraser sponges)

 

I heard the term microabrasives used in relation to Magic Erasers, so I mentioned it here. Thanks for clarifying about respiratory protection.

 

@saraquill

Magic Eraser (melamine foam) is a microabrasive (micro = tiny, abrasive = cleanser/scrubber). That's how it's described on Amazon, Target, and Walmart websites, at least (and many help forums, but perhaps those aren't trustworthy). It is not described this way on the Mr. Clean website, but what it is isn't really described at all on that site. It makes sense, as it functions as tiny sandpaper. You can really see this effect on Dollshe/Dollstown honey skin (it buffs out scratches).

I supposed you might be worried about the "dust" it releases, but my impression is that it is mostly melamine and not resin (not that this is necessarily less worrisome--resin isn't a problem because it is chemically reactive/poisonous--it is the opposite: inert--but rather because it is hard to degrade).

It doesn't seem too bad from the SDS, and it's my tendency to believe it, although you can't be sure how they tested it's respiratory effects unless you looked it up (perhaps on the OSHA website)

 

Hey Guys, Im planning to do face up using airbrush. Would this respirator good enough?


3M™ Paint Project Respirator 6211PA1-A, Medium, 1 each/pack 4 packs/case

 

@tanyaalexiz

Yes, it says 'P95' in the details, so that looks good! (that's actually the same one I have!)

 

Thank you very much !

 

Also, do we need any particular safety goggle for doing face up? or any type is okay?

 

Wow, what a detailed tutorial, thanks!

 

@tanyaalexiz I just have the basic cheap plastic ones that they sell in hardware stores.

 

Thank you so much for all this information! I finally bought a respirator today. (I just wish I knew how much I needed it sooner.) It's a 3M 6311 and it's labeled as OV/P95 approved. Is that what I'm looking for? I don't want to open it until I'm 100% sure it's right.

 

@Bittersweet Blue
I think that is right! The mask itself can be a whole bunch of different styles though; it's the filters/cartridges that you want to make sure are right.

 

@AirimirOfGondor Thank you!

 

Im new to the hobby but have already done a mod with a dremal on resin and a couple faceups.(wore a paper facemask during both) What product or mask should i use that would be found locally and easily that i could where for both of these things? half mask is preferred seance i where glass's. im sorry to ask, but i read and i only understood N95 or higher is what i want out of it!!!! thank you for your help!

 

@Candarck

In short, if you want to do faceups as well as dremelling, you'll want to make sure you have an 'organic vapor' cartridge, as well as the particulate prefilters.

I'd recommend looking for these:
Mask: https://www.amazon.com/3M-Paint-Pro...rd_wg=RVztn&psc=1&refRID=9RKAQRNPZ2BAZKJANJCV
organic vapor cartridges: https://www.amazon.com/3M-R6001-Org...KLLE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302918195&sr=8-2
prefilters: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013Z0TV6/ref=psdc_7491814011_t1_B00004Z4DZ

Amazon has all 3 of those things (the mask, the cartridges, and a 10-pack of prefilters) for for about $50. If you don't want to buy it on Amazon, you can take down the model number information, and take it into your local hardware store to find those models in store.

 

thank you so much for taking the time to spell it out for me and give a link. quite helpful! agin thank you and cheers!

 

Can anyone help me out buying in europe? As i can't seem to get the 6001 cartridges in the UK
I need a half mask, which I've chosen: 3M 7501(small)

with organic vapour cartridges and N95 protection

I've tried loading various thing up and looking but wow i'm confused lol
I'm pretty sure i had the 6051 or 6055 cartridges before

 

This is so helpful but I feel just a little overwhelmed by all the information. I'm not sure which size respirator to buy: either a small or a medium and not sure which is better: rubber or silicon.

I didn't think I would try to do my own faceup but I decided why not give it a shot and experiment but now I need to buy the equipment for it
I looked at the links given but I have no idea what I am doing.

 

@pendrithgirl I'm afraid I'm not in Europe, so I'm afraid I can't help with that. You might get some more eyes if you start a new thread in Customization and Maintenance.

@flaflooflachan
The size is what will fit your face better. You may need to go to a physical location to test them out, or order one online and hope you picked the right size.
And I don't think rubber or silicone is better than another, I think some people may have allergies that might be affected more by one or the other, so either one should be OK for you unless you have an allergy to one of them.

If you look at my earlier post above, I linked something that Amazon sells; that's a very popular model of mask, and if you scroll down to the "frequently bought together" section, there's also compatible filters and cartridges with the correct specs for faceups.

 

Thank you so much I think I'll have to buy online. Went to Home Depot to try and buy a respirator but they didn't have a small and the medium looked a bit too big. Guess I'm going to have to guess and try.

 

Hi guys! Firstly, this thread is extremely helpful, really thanks to everyone contributing

Anyway, I have purchased a respirator too as I am preparing to learn doing face-ups. I've got the 3M 7500 and I would just like to ask your opinion about the filters I've got. They are these two: 3M Gas and Vapour Cartridge (6055) | 3M Filters | Protec Direct and 3M™ Particulate Filters 5935, P3 (I got the particles filter too since I might tackle some light sanding too). I did not purchase them in the linked store, but a local e-shop (I am from Czech rep), but I figured it would be better to link some English info. Do you think these would be OK? I am not going to use MSC, but dilluted Liquitex sealant applied by airbrush. Thanks so much in advance!

Oh, and one more thing. I am not sure if we can discuss it here, but it has been bugging me for some time: what is the right way of disposing of resin dust or pieces left after sanding or modding? I would guess that since resin is toxic, it wouldn't be right to just throw it in the garbage...

 

I would like to know the answer to this, too. I'm planning on wet-sanding / carving outside in a container of water. I want as little dust in the air as possible. But what should I do with the water afterwards? I don't want to just pour it out on the grass if it could hurt the animals - we have a lot of outdoor cats, for example.

Should I take the water back inside and pour it down the drain?

 

From a quick Google search, some people seem to recommend mixing the dust with a very small amount of liquid resin, and then dispose of the resulting solid piece. I'd think you could do the same with paint or a matte medium, etc.

There isn't much info on DoA about that, so off-site resources will be more helpful.

 

Thank you @AirimirOfGondor - if I have any leftover dust, I'll do that. And since I'll be wet-sanding, I'll just bring the water back in the house and pour it down the drain where animals can't get at it.

 

Wow, this is an awesome post. Thank you for taking the time to explain all this. I'm new at using chemicals and paint and this topic was worrying me.

 

Thank you for this great post! I'm glad this resource is still available nearly 8 years later for faceup newbies like me

 

This is so helpful! I love the knowledge you bring and the clear way you've written it out here. Many years ago I sanded on a doll and wore nothing as I was outside. I didn't feel well after but blamed it on a cold. Now I know which masks to get for the future! Thank you!!

 

This is very helpful. But I have a funny cautionary tale to add.

Literally ten minutes ago, I went to spray sealant for the first time. I was super excited and thought I had all my protection steps down. I had my gasmask on, gloves, long sleeve shirt, safety glasses, hat, the works.

While spraying MSC, I could smell it. I was very confused, because I had been sanding resin with this mask and filters a few days ago and stored it properly, couldn't smell anything at the time.

So I checked my mask... and the filters weren't on. I ran back into my house at the speed of light.

Moral of the story: ALWAYS CHECK THAT YOUR MASK IS IN ORDER, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, and I am an idiot with unmedicated ADD.

 

It can happen - you can say - lesson learned. I think you will not have any health issues with just short exposure, but you will remember for the next time for sure . Once I forgot my googles (I am wearing glasses, so I did not notice). Now I changed MSC for Purity seal that is not so toxic , but I still use all the protection I can (just to be on the safe side). Good luck next time

 

Toxic isn't the problem. You don't want to be breathing little particles of plastic. The brand doesn't matter.

 

Hi! I live in a one-room apartment and I have a cat -- I'd be really worried about harming her. I can stick her in the bathroom while I spray and let her out once the room has been aired for 30 minutes to an hour. There's a door between but it is directly connected to the main/only room. Do you think this would be sufficient?

[Edit:] I'm only interested in spraying, not sanding.

 

DO NOT SPRAY INDOORS! You will harm the cat and you will harm yourself! You need to find a place outdoors to spray, and you need a respirator while spraying outdoors.

 

@vicemage Oh!! Thank you so much, I had entirely misunderstood the instructions. So I'll spray outdoors and she'll be perfectly fine because she'll be warm indoors. Thank you for saving both our lungs.

 

@Milkweed, exactly. You don't want something you need to protect yourself against filling up your living space.

 

Thank you for this. I'd done a few face-ups in the past without a respirator. My health has since gone downhill and I'm praying that it's not related (especially as it's not lung-related and started while I was on hiatus and not actively doing anything), but now that I'm getting into dolls again just threw one into my amazon cart (along with MSC. I can get MSC on amazon now, how cool is that!?!) Def will talk to my doctor though next time I go and mention that health problems did start up overall after inhaling some testors and MSC.

 

If you use a brush-on sealant like Liquitex Matte instead of a spray, would you still have to use a respirator because of off-gassing or would it be alright? I'm hoping to work out a way to paint indoors during the winter.

 

@Milkweed specifically Liquitex's matte medium is a non-toxic material, so you don't need to use a mask with that one specifically. If you use other brands things might be different though.
Or, if you find that it makes you feel strange while using it, you might like to use a mask anyway.

 

That's fantastic, thank you!

 

Non-toxic or not, I would err on the side of caution and just get used to using a respirator. Why take that kind of a risk when you don't need to?

 

I want something I can use safely around my cat so I just want to make sure there's no off-gassing. I've had serious health effects before from using improperly graded respirators (we were given N95 for things you're supposed to use independent air supplies with >.<) so I'm definitely very cautious with them! I think if there's no off-gassing it's okay, though, because there would't be anything in the air to inhale.

 

With acrylic paints, while they do have some ingredients that can irritate people, I believe they do not release the same kinds of gasses that the really dangerous things do.

I did some other research online across some other hobby sites, and most people seem to have a consensus that a mask or respirator is not normally required to brush or sponge on acrylic paint. Specifically pertaining to acrylic paints - a respirator is needed for airbrushing applications, if you are painting a very, very large surface area, if you find yourself irritated when using it, or if you are allergic to something in that specific paint.
You can of course, choose to wear a mask at all times anyway, there's nothing saying that you have to not wear one.

 

Milkweed, if your concern is with a pet, you might want to check with your vet first. Animals can have different reactions to things than humans. For example, my daughter has a cockatiel and we have to be careful about cleaning products and even non-stick cookwear. Even certain food items we humans commonly use or eat can be dangerous or deadly to dogs and cats.

 

Thanks for sharing. I'm needing to buy one and now I know what is recommended as well the precautions I need to take. Great imformation for a beginner like me.

 

I visited this section because I eventually plan to try my hand an doing a faceup. I also used to work for 3M, so I'm already somewhat familiar with 3M respirators/masks. They are indeed some of the best around, and the technology/materials are proprietary/patented, so other brands won't use the same material for the filters etc. Anyway, thanks for the tutorial and thanks for recommending 3M!

 

So, I'm planning to do my own sanding, faceups, and dye jobs on my doll, and I just bought a respirator to protect myself. It's a 3M reusable performance respirator, P95 level protection. It came with two 6001 organic vapor cartridges. It also came with two clear plastic pieces labelled "part no. 501" with two white filter pieces inside each (four total) that are labelled "3M 5P71 NIOSH (P95) B180402" These extra filter pieces (and their corresponding instructions) are SUPER confusing to me. What are these extra pieces for? How do I use them? Is this respirator strong enough to protect me from resin dust and fumes, dye fumes, and faceup sealant? Please help! I want to be as safe as possible.

 

Hey there resinboy, I believe the pieces you are talking about are the filter retainers (combiners) with the 6001. the P95 is the particulate matter filter which will snap onto the 6001 so they work in tandem together, one for your dust, the other for your chemical solvents in the air. If you are able to snap a picture we can confirm. The P95s go on the outside of the 6001 when they attach to the mask. Hope that makes sense!

 

@Misuka I have pictures but DoA won't let me upload them

 

You can't upload pics directly to DoA - you have to upload them to e.g. Flickr or another website where you can store pics and then, link to them or embed them in your comment.

 

@Khell Oh! That's a little odd but good to know. Thank you.

 

One of the white filter goes inside of the clear piece and then the clear piece snaps onto the outside of the organic filter. It is a particle filter which will help to keep your organic filter clear of particles so it will not get plugged with particles and will be able to do it job of keeping the chemicals away from you. I've used these filter systems for about 40 years with the most dangerous chemicals known to man. One thing to keep in mind is that if you start to smell the chemical you are attempting to keep out, it is time to change the filter. If you are using it heavily you could need to change the organic filter one a day.

Also if it starts to get harder to breath you can look at that little white filter and if it is getting dirty you can just change that filter. You may not need to change to organic filter too.

 

@AirimirOfGondor Hi there! Do you know if Liquitex Spray Varnish (matte finish) is also non toxic? It's supposed to be the aerosol version of the Liquitex matte medium from what I can tell. Here's a link to the exact product I'm looking at: https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-Professional-Spray-Varnish-12-oz/dp/B00AF09N1C

I mean, it says in the description it's non-toxic and I've read on Liquitex's site about it, but I thought I'd get some Doll People's advice first. I've read that the components that propel the aerosol are toxic. or that the particles can settle on other surfaces and get lifted up. I have cockatiels so I'm more worried. I will be doing it outside with a respirator since I don't have access to a balcony (live in an apt).

Thanks for any advice!

 

@StrawberryTea

You will want to protect yourself and pets whenever you spray something. Even if a manufacturer says the propellant is non-toxic, the particulate that is sprayed is still bad to get into your system.

So if you are spraying outside, then bring things inside after, you could just stay outside a little longer, and maybe try to shake out your clothes before going inside. After the pieces are dry, you won't be floating the particulate anywhere anymore, since it would have all settled on the pieces and outside already.
And again, if you are worried that you might bring something inside with you, you can always just hang out outside a little longer to give everything more of a chance to settle.

 

@AirimirOfGondor Thanks so much! Yes that was a bit confusing that it was listed as non toxic, but I thought the fact that it sprayed something would be bad either way. Looks like I was right. I'll try that out when it gets a bit warmer here. (It's about 18F lol)

Thank you again!

 

I am really worried about using MSC once it arrives. I have Asthma with a severe Asthmatic reaction to aerosols of various types (I am ok with some odorless fly sprays, but not all). I can be triggered by just a strong scent of something hideously noxious, such as Lynx body spray.

If I get a half mask respirator, how long should I wear it until it would be safe for me to remove? I will have to spray in my room with window open as I have numerous pets that I don't want to expose. I also can't use it outside as our average temperature right now is around 40 degrees Celcius (113 degrees F, I think?).

I'm not overly keen on dying....not in the middle of a school term anyway. It's hard to get relief teachers out here and my students wouldn't have any stability.

 

I've sprayed MSC outside at those temperatures. it dries too fast, actually (if you are in a hot, dry climate. Humid climate is another story.) the shortest bursts possible are the best way to go. It may require some practice. Don't leave the can outside. The smell will go away in about 5 minutes. I personally cannot recommend spraying in an enclosed area, ever, but I know people do it and if you absolutely need to, hopefully someone else can help you out.