Tutorial What you need to know about respiratory protection!

I was recently gifted a half-face respirator with these particular filters on it. I'm curious if anyone knows if these will filter the MSC properly or if I need to invest in the specific one's linked on the main page. Thanks for the help!

 

Boussole, yes, those cartridges will work! They're a combo filter for organic vapors (what you need for MSC) and acid gas, so in the event that the Zombie Apocalypse happens, you'll be covered for both!

 

Hooray! You've gotta love multi-purpose gifts! ^___^

 

Thanks to this thread I've gotten the right mask and filters, and started my first faceup, so thank you! But I have a question. Once you have sprayed your doll head, how long should you leave it to settle before it's safe to be around without a mask, and continue working on it.
As it's cold at the moment, it would be useful to be able to spray it and let it dry inside, but I don't know if this is a bad idea. Hope you can help
Thank you

 

Teishi, you should let the head dry outside for 30 minutes to be safe. As long as the MSC (or whatever sealant) is still wet, it's still producing harmful organic vapors that you can inhale. It needs to be 100% completely dry before you bring it inside!

 

My dad bout the rubber half face mask reccomended here for spraying a car 2years ago. It's a medium but really adjustable so i think it will fit. It needs a good clean first but then i'm going to check. Fingers crossed it fits, then i just need to get the OV & pre-filters ^_^

 

Thank you from here also. I have been considering doing face ups, or at least practicing some face ups to see if I would like them. Now I will be extra careful. Air circulates throughout a house. That's what the air intakes are for. That's why cooking smells get all over the house unless you use a fan. I will be extra careful and find the proper face mask before beginning what could be a deadly hobby.

 

I have noticed that when I open my plastic bins that are storing my bjds the odor coming from them is unbelievable. Is it safe to store resin dolls in plastic bins?

 

The smell is probably just from the resin and plastic airing. BJDs smell when you first get them because the resin is still oxidizing, but the air has nowhere to go in the shipping boxes so the smell builds up. Regular plastic does the same thing. You just notice it more when the air can't circulate. If you kept pretty much any new plastic item in an airtight container it would make that smell.

You should be fine. If you're worried, just open them up and let them air out for a little while before you put them back in the bins.

 

Thank you for the VERY IMPORTANT information. None of this is to be taken lightly.

While I have no breathing problems to speak of, I have been extremely worried and my father has said that I'm not allowed to modify/sand my dolls because he doesn't want me inhaling the dust. (I'm concerned too, so I'm not doing it.)

But I have tried using MSC and panicked greatly when a wind blew it into my house. My father and brother could both smell the fumes because I was so close to the front door. (I couldn't smell anything because of my mask.) I worried that I'd affect their breathing, and with in-door/out-door cats, I also worry that my cats (who take an active interest in what I'm doing) will be affected.

I've already learned the obvious things like, "Don't stand so close to the front door," and, "Try to keep the cats inside while spraying."

But the fear of something bad happening still continues to loom over my head like a cloud, even on the best of days.

 

Can someone tell me whether this mask would be suitable for doing face ups? >> 3M 4251 Maintenance Free Reusable Half Mask FFA1P2RD - Single Respirator

 

Yes, it does look like that mask provides adequate protection against both organic vapors and particulates (spraying + sanding). The only issue is that the entire mask needs to be thrown away after 28 days, which I assume is the point that the built-in organic vapor components will stop working (I can't believe they would even last that long, but the item description does say that that the mask provides protection against 10 x WEL [workplace exposure limits] of both organic vapors and particulates for up to 28 days). The particulate components of the respirator will last until it gets difficult to suck in a good deep breath, which might be anywhere from one week to several months, depending on how much sanding you'll be doing. But the organic vapor components of the mask will be totally and utterly useless after 28 days, according to the item description. And there's no way to change or replace just one component, so you will have to throw away the entire mask.

So, if you'll be doing all your spraying applications (sealer/paint/aerosols) within the course of 28 consecutive days, and if you'll never need another respirator after that, then yes, this would be a suitable mask to buy. Or, if this mask is your cheapest option and you don't mind buying an entirely new mask each time you need to perform a spraying application (if more than 28 days later), then yes, this mask could very well be the right solution for you. If replacing the entire mask every 28 days doesn't sound so appealing, there should be links in the first few pages of this thread that list "component" respirators (those with replaceable organic vapor cartridges and particulate filters) that are available in the UK, as well as information on the different classifications and measurement levels used in the UK.

Good luck! Come back and post again if you have any other questions.

 

Thank you so much for your response. I did notice it said that it would only be suitable for use for 28 days but thought it meant 28 days i.e. 672 hours of use, thinking about it now, that's wrong and I would need to buy a new one after 28 days like you said. Probably isn't very cost effective is it! I'll have a look at the 1st couple of pages again and see if I can find something else.

Thanks again Vadafade!

 

You bet! Let us know which respirator you end up getting, as I'm sure it will be useful for all of our UK and even EU-based members to know!

 

Me again! I came across this mask and wondered what you guys thought? Would this be suitable for spraying sealant? 3M Spray Paint / Dusk Mast Respirator 06941

 

^ Yes, I think it is indeed suitable for protecting yourself against spraying MSC. The product page says its filter type is FFA1P2D (color emphasis mine). A1 is the appropriate rating you need for organic vapor protection; P2 is the minimum rating you need for sanding protection. I don't know what "FF" or "D" mean, though. But yes, because it's an A1P2 filter, you should be adequately protected against both spraying and sanding applications. However, it's another all-in-one respirator; so when its time is up, you have to throw the whole mask away. And what worries me is that I can't find any information about that timeframe on the product page!

These might help you find what you need:

• 3M Filter Selection [PDF] for outside North America (extremely helpful!)
• 3M Standards & Guidelines [PDF] for outside North America (a slightly longer explanation)
• The Safety Supply Company (UK online store where many DOA members have bought their respirators)

Basically, if you're outside North America, you need a cartridge rated A1 to adequately protect against organic vapors (A2 is not sufficient), and you need a particulate prefilter rated either P2 or P3 to adequately protect against sanding (P1 is not sufficient).

Here's a basic "component" respirator setup I would recommend to anyone in the UK (links go to The Safety Supply Co.):

• Half-face respirator "base mask" (3M 6000 series, in a size medium [most people wear a medium], which is product 3M 6200)
• A1 organic vapor cartridges (3M 6051; can be replaced as needed)
• P2 particulate prefilters (3M 5925; can be replaced as needed)
• A pair of retainer clips (3M 501; only need to buy once)

And here are the same products on Amazon UK:

• Half-face respirator "base mask" (3M 6200/size medium)
• A1 organic vapor cartridges (3M 6051)
• P2 particulate prefilters (3M 5925)
• A pair of retainer clips (3M 501)

Note that the cartridges and prefilters I linked to above are the same ones that Tek recommends in the first post of this thread, just labeled for outside North America. The A1 cartridges have a lifespan of 24-48 "active use" hours, which can be done over the span of 1-2 weeks if the cartridges are kept in an airtight container while not in use. If it has been two weeks since you opened them, throw them out and get new ones, even if you only used the cartridges once for 30 minutes. The P2 particulate prefilters will last until it's hard to suck in a good deep breath, which has a much more variable timeframe. Hope that helps!

 

Thank you so much for all this very useful information!!

Question: Can someone tell me if I need a N95 filter on the half-mask if I only intend to use it for spraying and not for sanding? Thank you!

 

This is really good information, thank you.

 

I hope I am posting this question in the proper place.

Is MSC dangerous while it is drying? I have a parrot and a dog in my house and I'm curious if I am able to spray the head outside, wait a couple minutes and then bring it inside to fully dry? I live in a studio apartment with no balcony Also how long does it take to dry? Should I just set up camp in the summertime outside my building with the head?

 

Based on Tek's post, it sounds like you need to have both the organic vapor cartridge and the N95/P95 prefilter if you're going to be spraying. Better safe than sorry, eh?

Yeah, unfortunately MSC's vapors are still dangerous while drying. You should leave the head outside while it dries and not bring it back inside until then, especially if you're concerned about your companion animals, who have much smaller and more sensitive respiratory systems! Waiting 30 minutes should do the trick, depending on the temperature, breeze, etc. (The can of MSC itself says to wait 30-60 minutes.) And I'm sure you know this already, but the temperature outside needs to be at least ~55˚ F / ~12˚ C before the MSC will spray properly without getting all goopy and opaque. It may be a good idea to set up a quick camp outside your building in the summertime, with your respirator and a book to read, so that you can make sure your head stays safe while it dries.

 

Thank you very much for the reply I would definitely rather sit outside and wait for an hour than risk anything with my fur and feather babies lol.

 

I thought so. Thank you so much for your answer! I'll buy both filters.

 

No problem, guys. Glad I could help.

Oh, same! I could never risk the health of my companion animals over a faceup -- I love them much more than my dolls (and I sure do love my dolls).

Stay safe, everyone!

 

So I bought a half face mask and it's here with me. How should I store it? It came with a draw string bag so should I keep it in there or do I need to go steal a tupperware container from the kitchen?

 

The components that absolutely must be kept in a sealed, airtight container are the filters, especially the organic vapor cartridges. According to Tek's post, once those babies are opened, they have an active life (i.e., being actively breathed through) of 24-48 hours over the course of 1-2 weeks (their "total shelf life"), and that kind of shelf life is obtained only if you keep them in an airtight container. However, for the hygiene/sanitation of your respirator, and to keep the vents and ports free of dust/pet hair/etc., I would recommend keeping the entire contraption and all the components in an airtight container.

If you can't find something large enough to fit the whole ensemble, I would prioritize sealing the components in the following order: 1. organic vapor cartridges; 2. the N95/P95 prefilters; and 3. the base mask. If you have a container that can only fit the first two, I think it would be okay to keep your base mask in the drawstring bag. You might end up just needing to clean it a bit more often and take special care to check the vents for dust.

I keep all my respirator supplies, including mask, gloves, and goggles, in an airtight plastic bin I got from the Container store. It keeps everything free of dust and makes the kit easy to transport. If you're going to use a tupperware container, make sure to get one with the tightest-fitting lid you can find, since not all of them are airtight!

 

I found a pretty large tupperware container and put it in there, it fits fine. Thank you!

 

Wonderful! I was just thinking that a cake-sized tupperware container might work nicely for a complete respirator kit.

 

Great post, I need to get a proper mall, I use those paper, elastic band things, I get hot, my nose still sniffles, I'm glad someone took time out to post us a reminder/inform us :-)

 

Okay, so I bought the mask and tried to use it today. It's a 3M one that she recommended above and it came with some P95 filters. I attached them, and did the fit test but I can still smell the MSC through it. What am I doing wrong?

 

My understanding is that P95 describes your protection level against particles (for sanding and such), but for spraying you also need protection against organic vapours.

I'd suggest going back and reading the first and second posts in this thread and checking that you've got appropriate, new, organic vapour cartridges.


Edited to add that I've just gone through this myself, having got the safety gear so I could spray my first practice head with Testors Dullcote, and it's a weird thing to end up not entirely sure what the product you're using smells like.

 

Make sure your mask has organic vapor cartridges and that they're properly installed -- those are what protect against MSC and other aerosols/paints/clear coating agents. The P95 filters, as Vetiver said, protect against airborne particulates (like resin dust). If your mask does indeed have organic vapor cartridges, I would check to make sure they're (1) the right cartridges [3M 6001 with a black band around the perimeter] and (2) attached correctly to the base mask. If you can still smell the MSC, I'd just get new cartridges. You shouldn't be able to smell it at all when you're wearing your mask!

 

I have a question that I hope one of you can answer.

I spray my heads with Testors in my garage, with the garage door partially open AND using my respirator with P100 OV cartridges. I've never smelled Testors while spraying it, thanks to the respirator, but I did accidentally smell it once when I went back to get a head that was not fully dry.

So here's my question: I did some face ups yesterday, and left the garage open for several hours after the last spraying. And yet, when I got home today after being away for several hours, I swear I caught a whiff of Testors in the garage. The sprayed pieces are inside my house and do not smell. The car does not smell. The can itself is also inside the house and does not smell.

What gives? Is it still harmful if I can smell it almost 24 hours later? Shouldn't it have settled out of the air by now?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

I would guess that there's just not enough air circulation going through your garage and that some of the Testors/aerosol is still somewhat concentrated in the air, at least enough for you to detect its presence. I honestly can't say whether it's still harmful, but better to be safe than sorry, right? Is there anything you can do to increase the air circulation next time, like use a fan?

 

I do have a little air purifier that takes HEPA filters. I don't know if it's powerful enough for my garage, but I will try running it in there and see what happens.

If that doesn't work, I'll just leave my garage door open all the way for several hours and hope that no hooligans come by to steal the random crap I store in there. (I kid. It's a safe neighborhood...>.> )

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

If I am only sanding, what filters do I need to buy to use with my half-face respirator? I understand I do not need the vapor cartridges in this case. I tried the disposable masks for sanding but I could not breathe, so I am going to try a half-face respirator if I can figure out what filters I need.

 

Sounds like a plan. Good luck!

Hi! If you're only going to be sanding, you technically only need particulate prefilters (N95/P95/N100/P100). However, if you are in the US or Canada and you're buying a 3M half-face respirator, the only kind of particulate prefilters that fit on the respirator are the little flat pancake kind, which need to be attached via organic vapor cartridges and retainer clips. The whole setup looks like this. You're right that you don't technically need the organic vapor cartridges for breathing protection, but you do need them to hold the particulate prefilters in place on the mask. If you're truly only going to be sanding and never spraying, then you don't have to worry about the life of the organic vapor cartridges -- you can just keep them attached to the respirator and replace the P95 particulate prefilters as needed (removing the organic vapor cartridges occasionally to clean the respirator, of course).

If you live in the UK or outside North America, you're in luck because you can get P2/P3 (the equivalent of N95/N100) prefilters in cartridge form that attach to the base respirator mask without having to use organic vapor cartridges. For whatever reason, those filters aren't available in North America.

Hope that helps!

 

Thanks for the help. After doing a bit of research, it looks like one of these might be all I need:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007STCT00/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3472KBI7290I9

or

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009POHH94/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

or

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013ZCVLW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1S1KY702AEL1A

But, I can't figure out what the difference is between the three of them. They all have different model numbers. Which one do I need for sanding? I like that they have organic vapor protection built in. Why do people use the organic vapor cartridges plus the prefilters if you can buy these 2-in-1s cheaper?

 

It can certainly be confusing, can't it? I want to first clarify right out of the gate, for anyone who's new to respiratory protection or who may be following along, that those flat disc-shaped filters do not offer "two in one" protection, even if they offer "nuisance-level" organic vapor "odor relief." The truth is that they simply do not offer the same level of protection that a dedicated organic vapor cartridge (e.g., 3M model 6001) provides. For instance, "nuisance-level relief" is only good for eliminating the smell of organic vapors that fall within or below Permissible Exposure Limits (i.e., the ambient air we breathe), while dedicated organic vapor cartridges (like the 3M 6001) protect up to 10x Workplace Exposure Limits (a higher scale than PEL). Also, if you read earlier in the thread, like in the first few pages, you'll see that lots of people ask Tekenduis about those very same disc-shaped filters, and she always comes back and says that they're not adequate for protection against spraying MSC.

Second, yes, any of those three filters would be totally fine for your purposes (sanding only). The differences among the three you linked to are that the first two offer P100-level particulate protection -- meaning that they are oil-proof (that's what the P is for) and that they filter out virtually 100% of airborne particulates down to a certain size, which means they're technically HEPA filters -- while the third one you linked to offers P95-level protection (oil-proof, 95% filtration of particulates). Other than their model numbers, I'm not sure what the difference is between the first two filters, but they both offer "nuisance-level" (i.e., inadequate for our purposes) organic vapor "relief"; the third filter doesn't offer that, and it has a P95 rating.

So, because all three of those filters offer adequate protection for sanding, it basically comes down to a question of how much you want to spend. If I were in your shoes, I'd get the P95 filters for $3 and call it a day. I might also suggest taking a quick look through the first 1-3 pages of this thread to get a brief refresher on the specifications Tekenduis recommends for different kinds of masks and applications, so that way maybe more of this stuff will be less confusing! Good luck and stay safe!

 

Thanks for your help. I tried to do some searches through this thread for answers, but it is alot to sort through!

 

I understand. Tekenduis's first post is critical, though! Make sure you've read that whole thing, at least.

 

so if i get this:
http://www.amazon.com/3M-6100-Small...RW/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&qid=1302918438&sr=8-24

all i need is this?:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100653899?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&N=5yc1v&R=100653899

 

^ Yes, that's correct, since the kit in the second link contains the OV cartridges, the P95 prefilters, and the 301 retainer clips. However, I would recommend that, unless you're extremely petite or a teenager, you get a size Medium in the base mask and not a size Small. I'm a petite female (with small facial features, even), but I still wear a Medium in the base respirator. I bought a Small at first, but I couldn't get past the fit test. I was surprised to find that a Medium fits me best!

 

Thanks for all the info in this thread. I just purchased:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009JPR78/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1
and
http://www.amazon.com/3M-Virtua-Pro...00000-20/dp/B00AEXKR4C/ref=zg_bs_2681344011_5
(probably didn't need the safety glasses but they're cheap and might be good for keeping dust out)

I have been like a few others in this thread in the past - quickly spraying msc outdoors with a bandana around my face and then hauling @%$ out of the area. I was pretty horrified to find out that I should be wearing a respirator when spraying stuff! It's pretty scary. I hope I didn't do too much damage to myself in the past. Now that I've decided to try faceups again I'll be well prepared. I'll probably buy some disposable masks to wear while using pastels as well.

Now the only question I have that I'm not too clear on still (I've read through just about all 18 pages here). I know the shelf life of the organic vapor filter is only maybe 40 hours at best but longer if I keep it in a sealed baggie/container. Now even keeping it sealed, is it still only good for maybe 2 weeks (that's the gist I got)? I'm practicing faceups on Monster High dolls since I don't have any blank bjds lying around. I probably won't do more than one faceup in the course of 2 weeks (I only really have time on weekends). Seems like a rather big waste if I'm spending around $10 on the filter per faceup

 

Hey idlehen! It looks like you definitely bought the right respirator! I'm glad you got safety glasses, too -- I myself wear a pair of Dewalt safety goggles whenever I'm spraying or sanding. You definitely don't want to get resin dust or MSC in your eyes, so that's a smart move. I'd also recommend, as a final step, that you get some nitrile gloves to wear while spraying MSC to protect your hands/arms/skin.

In terms of the life of the organic vapor cartridges, it sounds like you're on the right track. According to Tek's original post, they can be used actively (as in, they're actively working to filter the air) for a total of 24-48 hours. But these "active hours" can be used at any point over the course of two weeks *if* you keep your cartridges in a sealed container while not in use. (Because the cartridges never stop filtering air even when you're not breathing through them, the sealed container results in less air/fewer contaminants for the cartridges to filter while at rest, thus prolonging their life.)

Anyway, you can use the "active hours" all in one go (a 48-hour spraying marathon, woohoo!), or you can use an hour here and there. At the end of two weeks, even if you haven't racked up anything close to 24 hours (say you've used only 6 hours), you still need to throw the cartridges away because all the carbon will have been used up by then (via air slowly seeping into the container), rendering the cartridges inert/no longer effective. On the other hand, if you keep your cartridges sitting out in the open air, you should throw them away after 48 hours even if you haven't been breathing through them. Does that make sense?

The cost can definitely seem kind of high if you're only getting one spray session out of a pair of cartridges. I would personally just chalk it up to the cost of customizing, alongside other supplies like brushes, pastels, pencils, MSC, etc. To get the most use out of my cartridges, one thing I try to do is get all my spraying done very close together, either all in the same day or over the course of 2-3 afternoons. I don't know if that's an option for you, but it may help you feel like you're getting a better value for your money (if you leave the whole lung protection aspect out of it!). Paying for cartridges is definitely cheaper than paying for medical bills or even a single $25 copay every month, though, so the cost is worth it.

 

Thanks vadafade! I was hoping I could somehow extend the life of the cartridge to a month at least but perhaps that's too optimistic. If it's just a matter of keeping air out - what if you sealed the cartridge using one of those vacuum seal things after each use? Like the airlock seal machines you can use for food (of course I probably wouldn't use the same one for food and for the cartridges) or for packing clothes? I don't own anything like that but perhaps something like that could help stop the carbon from being used up since those are suppose to be air tight once sealed?

I guess I'll just find a way to batch my customizations then. Of course it's better safe than sorry. I just wish I knew about this before. The mask isn't even that expensive so I don't know why I've never seen it mentioned in any customization tutorials I've read @_@

 

I think that most people just don't know how dangerous these chemicals can be, since the vast majority of us aren't in careers/professions where we get trained on this sort of stuff. We're really lucky to have Tez on DOA! And, on that note, I don't know enough about the whole vacuum-seal thing to be able to give a definitive answer about whether that would sufficiently prolong the life of the cartridges. (I mean, theoretically, you'd think that would do the trick, right? It seems logical to me. But I don't have the training that Tek does, so I don't want to say either yes or no for certain.) You might try PMing Tek to see what she says!

 

Thanks vadafade. I'll probably just suck it up and dish out the money for the cartridges. I certainly don't want to risk lung problems in the future. I also went ahead and made a post about this in the forums for the Blythe community since people there use MSC for faceups as well. After learning all of this, all I can say is, man, art is dangerous LOL.

 

I know! LOL. I made a sticky thread about it over on a Pullip forum as well about six months ago, for the same reasons. I was shocked that there wasn't more information out there about this in the non-BJD dolly community.

 

Bought my respirator today! Even though this thread has been up for a while, I'd like to thank the creator for making it!

 

Just wanted to come back here and mention that my respirator arrived yesterday. I passed the fit test on the first go so the size was good. If anyone else wants reference on sizing:

Product: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009JPR78/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1
I got a size small. I'm 5'2 and about 115lbs and I usually wear a size S/XS in most things (in American sizing - I believe I'm more of a medium in European/Asian sizes). My head is not particularly round or bony.

I have a feeling the medium probably would have been ok too but I think the small worked best for me.

Hope that helps someone! I know I spent a ton of time reading the reviews to get the right size @_@

 

For the Organic Vapour protection would a "nuisance" level of protection work for MSC and airbrushing, or is that not good enough?
Just curious because I found these filters and wanted to know if they'd work.

I guess it would depend some on the working environment. I'd likely be working in a small room, with an open window, weather permitting.

Also, I how effected is the room by these chemicals? Is it safe for others to be in the room but away from the work station? Is there an airing out period that should be observed?

Sorry if these questions have been asked before.

 

Nope; "nuisance-level" organic vapor cartridges are not sufficient for protecting against MSC. People have asked about those same filters earlier in the thread, and Tek's response is always a definitive "no." Sorry! You need to get these cartridges (as well as a base respirator, obviously, and P95 prefilters and 501 retainer clips). Please read Tek's first post for more information.

Please do not spray MSC inside your house. You need to work outside, in a well-ventilated area. If you absolutely must spray in your house, the only truly safe way to do it would be with a spray booth. If you can't afford a spray booth, then you need to do your spraying outside, either in your yard, on top of your apartment building, on your patio, or, if worse comes to worst, on your balcony. Just make sure to spray somewhere away from other people/animals. And outside. (Did I mention that you need to do it outside?)

In order:
- How affected is the room? Very. Also, the MSC will get into the AC/heating system and spread throughout the house; there's no way to keep it contained to a single room. So, basically, spraying inside is harmful to every person/animal who happens to be breathing inside your house.
- Is it safe for others to be in the room? No; absolutely not. This includes companion animals, who have smaller/more delicate respiratory systems than humans.
- Is there an airing-out period? The can of MSC says you should let whatever you've sprayed dry outside for 30-60 minutes before bringing it back inside to work on it. I personally find that 30 minutes is sufficient.

It's okay. I'd recommend, for your own safety, going back and reading at least the first few pages of this thread, as everything you'll want to know has been asked/covered numerous times before. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the answers.

I'm completely new to the hobby, but face-ups facinate me. My shopping cart is already rediculous on Amazon.

All this research is so time consuming. I'll just have to learn to be more patient and sort through all the info in these threads
I wish all the threads for tools and materials were as well organized in their first post as this one is.
Ah well, it gives me plenty of opinions and experiences to draw from.

 

Thanks for the info! I really, really learned a lot from this thread and I now know where to stop by when/if I need help with my respirator! I'm definitely going to buy one. I may spend a teensie bit more and go to my local lowes to pick one up so I can actually look at them, but I'm thinking of this one and a pack of these should cover me for now? I think I still have goggles somewhere... hum! It also looks like they may have nitrile gloves in store as well- though I'm not sure that they're thin enough for uses with both MSC produts and cleaning with Isoprophyl. Huuuummm I wonder if they have isoprophyl as well or if I'll have to hunt for a walgreens or something for that. I'll get ziplock bags as well! Whew, this is a strange looking shopping list...

Thanks again for the info! Beyond amazing! As someone with pretty severe asthma, this is a life saver. Literally.

 

Hey Von Alk, yes, the respirator and cartridge/prefilter combo pack you linked to are exactly the right ones. Good luck!

 

Hello! I have a P100 OV approved mask, but while I'm in college, I also have access to a fume hood. Would I need to wear my respirator while operating the fume hood, or is it efficient enough to diffuse the aerosol on its own? Thanks!

 

I have a question! Im an American living in Austria and im looking for a gas mask for MSC and sanding i wanted to get the organic filtered N95 but it switches the name in amazon.de was wondering if these would be just as good as well? from the translator it says it protects against particles. Thanks!!

Thinking of getting this one for MSC?

http://www.amazon.de/3M-4277-FFABE1...&sr=8-1&keywords=Halbmaske+organische+Dämpfe,



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http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=+Halbmaske+f%C3%BCr+organische+D%C3%A4mpfe%2C+N95+Atemschutzmasken

 

Oh, that's awesome that you have access to a fume hood. You definitely do need to wear your respirator while using it, though!

I don't speak or read German, but I believe that that mask is indeed suitable for protecting yourself against spraying MSC because (drumroll!) the product page says its filter type is FFABE1P3RD (color emphasis mine). In short, because the vapor cartridge is rated ABE1 and the particulate prefilter is rated P3, that mask will meet your needs (and it actually goes above and beyond the baseline requirements for our purposes). However, it's an all-in-one respirator; so that means when its time is up, you have to throw the whole mask away. In terms of timeframe, just follow Tek's advice in her OP. You can use it for a maximum of 24-48 active breathing hours, which can be used at any point over the course of 1-2 weeks as long as you keep the respirator in an airtight container while not in use.

Sanding filter categories outside North America

Particulate prefilters are classified into the following protection categories:

P1 = low
P2 = moderate
P3 = high

For our purposes as dolly customizers, we need at least level P2 for sanding applications, although P3 is also perfectly fine. P2 protects against 10 x workplace exposure limits (WEL) and is the equivalent of an N95/P95 prefilter. P3 is equivalent to an N100/P100 prefilter.

Spraying cartridge categories outside North America

Gas and vapor cartridges are generally classified into the following categories (the "ABEK" scale):

A = organic vapors (w/ boiling point greater than 65º C)
B = inorganic vapors
E = acid gases
K = ammonia
Hg = mercury
AX = organic compounds with low boiling points (below 65º C)

For spraying MSC, we need a cartridge with a prefix of A for organic vapors. You can find cartridges rated either A1 or A2, but you will want to get A1 for sufficient protection against MSC. (If a cartridge says it's ABEK, that means it protects against all the substances listed next to each of those letters. But make sure it still has the number 1 following it!)

Filter/cartridge ratings such as P2 and A1 are often combined in the product description of a mask or respirator. For instance, you can find a mask that's rated FFA1P2, which means it has an A1 cartridge (good!) and a P2 prefilter (also good!). So, given the above information, the mask you linked to has a filter rating of FFABE1P3RD, which should hopefully make more sense now.

Bottom line for those outside North America

• You need a cartridge rated A1 (or AB1, ABE1, ABEK1, etc., as long as it has the letter A and the number 1 in the item description) to adequately protect against organic vapors. A2 is not sufficient.
• You need a particulate prefilter rated either P2 or P3 to adequately protect against sanding. P1 is not sufficient.

Hope that helps!

 

Thank you so much you have been so helpful! i was asking someone else and they suggested an A2P3 mask and im happy i got to your post before i hit order on it! so i hope this combination is good i was searching all over the internet for the combo apparently its hard to find and im going to have to puzzle it together basically just buying the right filter for it

Alright so im thinking of getting this ans taking out the filter (also i want this reusable)

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B004KZE836/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3IBB82NFM1VS0

and this for the filter

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B006R58KYK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AUT96UTSSECOJ

i think this is a good combo but i want to make sure because it is a lot of money and i really do want to be safe thanks so much once again!!

 

Hi again! So glad you found that helpful. I'm not sure about the filter you linked to (second link) because I can't find a number after the ABEK rating -- so there's no way to be sure if it's ABEK1 or ABEK2. And you definitely want ABEK1!

Here's the combination I would actually recommend you buy:

• 3M half-face respirator (I know the photo shows a guy wearing a full respirator kit, but the product is supposed to be just the half-face base mask in size Medium)
• A pack of 3M organic vapor cartridges rated A1
• A set of P2 flat prefilters that fit on top of the cartridges
• A set of 501 retainer clips to hold the prefilters onto the OV cartridges

This setup should hopefully be more economical for you in the long run!