Tutorial What you need to know about respiratory protection!

First off THANK YOU for this thread, I read through everything and am really regretting not using protection earlier as my asthma is just awful now. I THINK I know what I need after reading, but want to check before buying:

I sand various plastics and use various enamel and lacquer paints with an air brush, thinners (vapors are toxic I think?) and of course mr. super clear at times.

Basically lots of stuff that is really bad for me to inhale. I want to be protected from both the dangerous dusts and the toxic vapors.

Would THESE be what I am looking for? (mask and inserts)

http://www.amazon.com/3M-7500-Reusable-Half-Facepiece-Model/dp/B000BR6XR6/ref=lh_ni_t

http://www.amazon.com/3M-2097-Particulate-Filter-Organic/dp/B00328IAO0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top


thank you so much and sorry for such a novice question!

 

Any update on what to look for in Europe/the UK?
No rush, I'm just looking around at what there is on offer but I'd rather wait until there's a recommendation on DoA for something before I buy

 

Tekenduis: Thank you so much for the quick reply and help! I've been kicking myself lately for not getting the respiratory protection I should have been using all these years! It is a serious matter and I just want to thank you again for such a helpful thread!

I will be buying that right away! I figured I was missing something.

 

Marvelous, thank you so so much Tekenduis for putting all of this together!

Soo this is the kind of thing: (an A1P2) http://www.thesafetysupplycompany.c...articulate-respirator-en-405---3m-292484.html ? ^_^

 

Hi Tekenduis, I'm really glad I found this thread when I was just getting into the hobby. Like when my step dad says "I have a respirator you could've borrowed instead of buying one" and I'm all "NO SIR!"

I do have a question though. I just bought a Protector brand Twin Filter Respirator shown on this website here: http://www.scottdiysafety.com/products/respiratory-protection/half-face-respirators-a-filters and the A-Aus filters with the code number RC56R.
The filter description says "for organic gases and vapours, eg. from solvents with boiling point >65 degrees." The respirator fits well, and I can't smell a thing through it.

I have no sanding plans in the future and I bought this only so I could spray msc. With the current set up that I've got, am I going to be protected? If I do any sanding in future I would go with the P2 or A-Aus P2 combo filter, but is the A-Aus organic filter sufficient for MSC spraying?

 

Thank you so so much again!! I am so grateful for your help you have no idea!
I'll get this set sometime soon then and get painting

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this! I had absolutely no idea how important it was to protect yourself this way. I've been attempting my first faceup recently and using MSC and although I've been spraying outside I was taking no great care whatsoever but I certainly will be from now!

 

Is MSC/Testors more toxic than regular spray paint? Just wondering....

 

Thanks for posting this! I did my first Faceup today and I went outside to spray the MSC and held my breath thinking that would be enough *stupid me*!! Hopefully I didn't inhale too much I deffinatly know that if I want to do more Faceups I'll invest in a respirator! Thanks!!

 

Thank you so much! You do a lot of good for bjd community. It's really a load off my mind to know that I'll be protected. I really appreciate that.

 

I am so thankful for this straightforward and informative thread. Thank you SO much Tekenduis for posting and continuing to answer questions. I vaguely knew this had to be true, but didn't know what to do to protect myself. I've had cancer, and my grandfather died of black lung. After it is too late, NO amount of money would seem like too much.

These protective steps are not that expensive or complicated.

• This item: 3M R6211 Low-Maintenance Half-Mask Organic Vapor,
• .......P95 Respirator Assembly, Medium by 3M $27.94
• 3M R6001 Organic Vapor Cartridge, 1-Pair by 3M $8.99
• 3M R5P71 Particulate Filter P95, 10-Pack by 3M $16.16
• I followed Shou-kun's link [she wrote it on Dec. 22, 2010] and it is still right there. SIMPLE!!
• I've wanted to get started for months, but this nagging concern held me back. I just wasn't sure what the next step needed to be.

Thanks to everyone. It seems like a link to this should be on the home page of DoA. No?

The link I followed was this one: http://www.amazon.com/3M-R6211-Low-Maintenance-Half-Mask-Respirator/dp/B00004Z4EB/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1293046486&sr=8-9

My apology to moderators and everyone if this should not have been posted. I am easily overwhelmed, and this much detail would help me get going if I were having trouble making the right steps to protect myself. It is not that hard, really.

I just ordered mine, and AT LAST I feel I will be able to begin my adventures at customizing my dolls. I'm so excited!!!

I plan to wear gloves too.

 

Thanks very much Tekenduis for making this thread! You've written this in such an easy to understand way

 

Thank you for this guide, I'll keep this in mind if I ever try sanding. <:

 

Thank you so much for the information! I had NO idea how toxic MSC is, and it never occured to me that I would need to wear the mask when working with pastels, though now that I have read this post it seems so painfully obvious that I would need protection when working with such tiny, dusty, particles. Thank you thank you, I have yet to start doing blushing/face ups, but I am planning on starting soon (already have my MSC!) and a half-face respirator is now going on my list of supplies! I (and my lungs) thank you.
P.S. I'm from Alberta too ^_~

 

I always do the spraying outside the house, I'd take a deep breath, pinch my nose with one hand and spray the doll, and then run indoors with it before breathing again. Am I still at risk?

 

I am in remission from LUNG CANCER so know well what not using a mask can do if not taken seriously! So this is very personal to me.
Thank you for letting everyone know

My cancer was not from working on any type doll. and not from smoking! BUT KNOW THIS WILL SURE HELP ANOTHER FROM GETTING THIS HORRID CANCER. i AM DEFF WEARING A MASK ANYTIME i DO SANDING OR ANY TYPE OF FACE-UP

 

I have asthma, and I'm letting other people do the sanding, no 'ifs' 'ands' or 'buts'. I do do face ups, with a big fat mask on and I spay outside (and let it dry outside without me there). Don't take chances with you health, especially if you know your body is weak in the lungs. Don't do any sanding. It's easier living with sharp edges than not living at all. Instead of sanding you can cut off and slice down the worst of the sharp edges with a craft knife (be careful, them things are sharp!), enough so you don't hurt yourself on them or tear up the doll clothing. But don't sand any resin, leave that to some-one else.

 

Thank you for such thoughtfully presented information! I was just about to do a whole run of faceups while using a disposable`mask. I greatly appreciate your taking the time to write this up and answer everyone's questions.

 

This is great information ad totally appreciated. In all honesty though, all this has done is make me feel like I signed a death warrant.
Around 2006(7?) I did airbrushing w/o a mask (my teacher never stressed using one). That was for a semester and I have probably done several faceups around 2008 without as well :/

 

I have a question about keeping the filters fresh in a respirator. You said earlier the life of a filter is 24-48 hours, even if you are not wearing the mask and breathing through the filter. You also mentioned extending the life of the filters by storing them in bags or coffee cans.

However, does that mean that the 10-pack of filters that I just bought is, as a whole, only good for a couple weeks even if it's bagged? Or does that mean once the filter is actually placed inside the respirator, the "shelf life" begins? OR does that mean that the filter just has to be replaced when one can smell fumes through it?

And thank you so, so much for this thread. I'm buying a respirator asap!

 

Thank you for this. I'm paranoid about resin and fumes, since my father died from disease caused by exposure to chemical fumes... like resin.

Trying to find information can be daunting, but this was easy to understand and set it all out even for a paranoid little modder like me. Thank you.

 

Thankyou so much for this! It is horrifying that i have googled so many different Face-Up tutortials,and they NEVER mention the dangers of spraying and your respiratory system! I am soo glad i came across this forum before i got started with face ups. Just bought my respirator today.. THANK YOU!!

 

Hey thanks so much for this, I inew that Resin dust was toxic bit I dodnt realise just how much damage it could do or exactly how I ould go about protectig against it, thanks!

 

WOW @_@! so weird you know i went through art classes and a whole bunch of different classes without anyone using protection so i guess the ignorance got to me thank goodness i ran into this thread than! Thank you so much!

 

Thanks for this information! I do have a questions though. It is the filters that need contant replacing, or the cartridges? I'm afraid I didn't know how short a filters lifespan is, so I think I overused mine. I have only worked with a finishing spray (zoukeimura) outside on breezy to windy days, downwind. Should I be worried?

As for sanding LaDoll clay, I've only used cheap dust masks. Should this brand cause worry?

 

I read something on sealant and am kind of curious now.

My mask fits very well. I've done the cover and breathe tests and nothing escapes unless I really blow hard into the mask. I put it on before I go outside, and take it off after I come inside. However, often when I am outside after a spray or two, I can smell the sealant faintly. This happens with either of the masks I have (of the same brand). I can block the intake or outtake and feel that it is well adhered to my face and I don't think any is getting inside. Is there a reasoning behind this?

Recently I've yet again run into the problem of not finding replacement filters. Three towns and five stores and I can not find P100 filters. Looks like I'm going to have to go online.


Adding that mine I believe is silicone, 3M half face mask, and the non-filter part is going on 2 years old.

 

So, if I have, say, a 3M 6211 OV/P95 half-mask, I'm covered as far as MSC is concerned, right? What about some resin sanding? Should I look for a different one if I want it to protect me for both? I sort of understand the letters and numbers, but it's all still a little confusing. Thanks!

 

Oh good! I didn't have my checklist with me today when I went to buy a mask, so I'm glad it works for both sanding and MSC. I assume it works just fine when working with pastels, too, then?

 

http://www.amazon.com/3M-R6211-Low-...Z4EB/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1302918195&sr=8-3

So for this one, it looks like there is a hard case thing that you stick the p95 filter in and it attaches to the organic vapor filter? Cause the p95 filters look like pads and not something that could attach on it's own.

This one looks like it would be the cheapest option, I'm just trying to figure out how it works.

 

Oh good. I found a few other sets that were cheaper, but then had huge amounts of shipping! This one had everything and no shipping or tax. I just hope it stays that way for another week. xD

Thanks for the help.

 

This is a wonderful resource, and thank you so much for posting it. It's going to affect my round-the-house life, too; I'm never going to sand without a disposable mask again, and I'm going to buy a half-face respirator before I tackle paint-stripping a metal stand lamp.

 

Thank you for posting such a wonderful FAQ! Just another quick few questions (apologies if you've answered this already, but if you have, I've missed it during my eight-page skim): if I've bought a 3M half-mask respirator, should I be using both the organic vapor cartridge and a P95 filter? I'll be spraying MSC, so I'm sort of hoping to get away with just the vapor filter to save a bit. Also, on Amazon, it says that the vapor filter will only last up to a month unused. If I seal it in an air-tight container, would I be able to prolong its life?

 

I can't really afford a gas mask or anything like it right now and I also live in an urban area with cars, buses, and people walking around who can literally walk up to my door. I don't even have a porch or a balcony. ^^; So I can't spray MSC outside. The only way I can is inside my bedroom and I only have two windows and one fan. I was going to spray it in my room and maybe cover up my face with a T-shirt since it's all I have.

There's a baby in our house, but I will probably keep my door closed for a few hours until then. Not sure if it will be safe or not, but it's what I can do since I don't have all that cash to just get all that extra stuff. I didn't think doing a simple BJD faceup would be this much, lol.

 

A respirator only costs about $30.00 at Home Depot/Lowes. It's not expensive and if maintained properly, the cartridges will last through several faceups.

Also, working outside is better, even if you're just off to the side in a more open area (would I be right in guessing you live in a condo complex, and don't have your own yard/driveway). The fumes will be able to disperse more quickly than if you were indoors (greatly reducing any health risks). It's doubly important that you work outside if there is a baby in the house!

Pick a time of day when it's unlikely that people will be wandering around, like early morning or later in the evening.

I wish doing a faceup didn't involve taking so many safety precautions, but this is the reality. If you don't want to invest the money in the correct equipment, then you're better off commissioning someone to paint your doll.

 

Erm, I really do not think it necessary to compromise the baby's health, seeing as how infancy is a time of extreme sensitivity to chemical and other negative influences. Please do not spray in the same vicinity as a baby for the sake of the child. There are other options, like finding a secluded area close to your home and spraying there.

Dolls and faceups are not worth compromising the health of any child.

 

I wasn't going to do the faceup in the same place where the baby is. I'm not that careless. I was going to do it inside my bedroom. I was just going to tell my mom and sis to take the baby and themselves to a place where none of them will breath it in and the only person who will be around it is me.

I just didn't think that it would be that serious. I mean it's just a can of spray. If I have a fan nearby in my bedroom and the windows open, wouldn't that be okay too?

 

It is not 'just a can of spray'. Chemical sealants like MSC are powerful airborne contaminants that linger in the air despite your not being able to see them. They are still there when you can't even smell it any more. Microparticles remain in the air circulation of your apartment; they travel through your filters and they travel all through your apartment. That is the whole point of this thread; to educate people on the longterm and non-intuitive consequences of sealant use.

You cannot rely on an infant's health to not be affected.

Which is why I'm saying it is much more logical to find an outdoor secluded area to spray. I have lived in the city as well, and it is not impossible.

 

I'm not that careless. I'm not that kind of person to do that to the baby. Goodness.

There's no outdoor secluded area where I am. I don't want to have to keep running back and forth outside and indoors to spray, then do some of the faceup, run back outside again to spray, and repeat. It would just be easier to do it indoors, which is why I asked if having the windows open and a fan would help it a little bit more. I'm new to doing faceups and I don't have the time or money to send my doll elsewhere.

Anyway, thanks anyway.

 

I am not saying you have any intent to harm a baby, or yourself for that matter; it must be really convenient to be able to ignore everything I just mentioned about airborne dispersal and how diffusion cannot be fully stopped by a few windows and a fan. Repeated, extended use can really cause things like cancers. Ah, what great power dismissal can give.

You have no alleys or parking lots? No quieter sidewalks? No sides of buildings that are quieter? The reason of not wanting to "run back and forth" to spray is just laziness glorified. If you have no qualms about your own health, I care not. But that baby doesn't have the ability to protest. It cannot protect itself.

I know you are new. I'm not saying you need to have a fortune or that you should at all; you wish to do your own face ups and that is fine. But at least be responsible when doing so.

 

Just seems like a lot to do for a doll's face, but whatever. I'll find a way 'outside' to do a faceup. Again, thanks anyway.

 

Again, I'm not that careless of a person to do that.... -_-; Again, thanks very much for the info. Have a good day

 

Rumour has it being responsible can be inconvenient sometimes. It will be better for your own health as well.

 

Several people have made good points about not spraying indoors so I won't belabor it. I would just like to add that there are several known cases of faceup artists here on DoA having to close up shop and discontinue painting dolls completely due to health issues causes by the MSC they used. Those health issues came up in less than a year of the person using the spray without a respirator.

MSC and other products used in fine scale modeling (which was MSC's original purpose) are usually very toxic and hazardous to handle. I know it sounds weird that chemicals kids might be using to make model airplanes or whatever would be that dangerous, but it really is. For instance, my husband once worked with a rust paint used to make parts of a model look aged and weathered, there were warnings about potential liver damage on the bottle if this crap was allowed to contact skin as well as possible damage from the fumes. My point is MSC can't be compared to the "regular" aerosol spray paint you can find at Walmart, it's not the same stuff at all.

 

I don't mean to sound rude, but what kind of 'health issues' have these people gotten?

 

If you read the thread you will see that people get respiratory issues. And, google is your friend: http://safetyservices.ucdavis.edu/p...ion-program/Respiratory Protection Manual.pdf Read page four for a list of ways not wearing a respirator can hurt you.

Beyond lung damage, long term inhalation of solvents leads to liver cancer. My grandfather died of this, and it is one of the most painful cancers out there. And the transplant list is really, really long.

 

Thanks for sharing with me.

 

One way to make running in and out of doors less of a hassle would be to work on several parts (like your doll's head, hands, and feet, or multiple heads). Do a layer of pastel on all parts and then put all the parts on a tray, go outside, and spray them all in one go.

Spraying in an area away from your work table is also practical. If you don't spray in the same area, you can take your respirator off while you paint (though you might want to use a smaller dust mask while your working with pastels, just to be safe - chalk dust and all that). Speaking personally, I can focus better on what I'm working on if I don't have to stare over the top of my respirator.

 

I am a faceup artist for about 5 years now. I had never used a mask, until I developed a breathing issue. I have spent thousands of dollars in medical care and I still do not have a diagnosis despite doing dozens of tests, handfuls of specialists, and many expensive treatments/medications which have all failed. I am a college student and this disorder has caused me to fail classes from lack of sleep and bad attendance due to illness and doctors appointments.

As far as I'm concerned, whatever it is I have is currently untreatable and it affects my life daily. A few symptoms I have include: shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, clicking in my throat, wheezing, stridor, and these are off the top of my head. There are some other effects from this that are TMI for this board. My exhilations are very frightening sounding, there are many clicks and sometimes sounds like people are stuck in my throat and are screaming to get out.

Here is a recording I did of a breathing attack I had: *Warning- it is loud and disturbing* You hear the breaks in the breathing? Those are not echoes, the wheezing stops when my heart beats which sounds like an echo. This breathing sound is constant and makes it difficult to sleep. It is uncomfortable.

Just buy a freaking $30 gas mask and save yourself multiple trips to the hospital, thousands of dollars of debt, and a ruined life.

 

Wow, kayke, that's disturbing. I hope you get a diagnosis and the proper treatment soon.

 

Kayke - I haven't been doing faceup seriously or anything I've really only just started but that recording has scared me enough to get a mask even if I am just doing a few faceups. I really hope you can get treatment for that