Dust Masks

[Pappy]

SWMBO is taking the penturning class at Woodcraft Saturday. Due to respiratory problems, it is esential that she has a good dust mask when she works. The AO Safety and MSD masks sold at Lowe's and HD have a N95 rating from NIOSH, meaning they filter 95% of the contaminates. What I can't seem to find is the size of the particles that determine the rating. 95% of .5 microns would be acceptable, 30 microns would not.

Anyone know the answer?

[Thom2]

You had me curious too ... so I started looking .... and found this ...

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/respir.html

I'm sure the answer is in there ..... SOMEWHERE

[Bruce Cohen]

Hey Thom,

What does that mean "in English???"

Bruce

[Thom2]

I dunno, try as I might, I couldn't find a BS-English translator

[wardprobst]

Heh Pappy,
Ck here: http://www.eh.doe.gov/il/unpres/d96-03-012.htm
I interpret it to be three microns.

Hope this helps,
Dale

From the home of the Hotter Than **** Hundred

[Crash2510]

are you talking repirator or dust mask if it is a respirator no problem n95 filters out everything .3 microns and smaller
read this scroll to comparisson
http://www.tasco-safety.com/respirat...u-info-03.html

[Pappy]

Thom, I spent about an hour in that site. Left knowing less than I started! The other 2 sites at least mention particle size.

All the respirators in HD and Lowe's are N95 approved. Guess it's a matter of which one feels/fits best to her.

[lcm1947]

I just wanted to let you know what I use which is a 3M model 6000 half mask respirator. I purchased it from WS Safety Solutions at www.websoft-solutions.net. You might check them out. I really like mine and it is the only place I could find that made a big deal out of getting one sized properly to your face which is very important. If you'd prefer to call them the number is 519-837-1339. Real helpful people and they ship fast or at least did to me. The mask was only like $10.00 and the cartidges were $17.00. Anyway hope this helps.

[bigsteel15]

Don't forget guys, It's the filter that matters, not the respirator.
As long as the respirator fits like it should, the attached filter will do the job it's intended to do.
BTW, our welding shop only uses 3M filters. They seem to be the industry standard.