My compressor has an in-line filter system that removes any oil
vapor...which is the only possible contaminate. The line filter is very
similar to the filter in the respirator and I did forget to add that the
air going into my modified mask is going through the organic filter on the
mask.
The levels of solvents that may get through the proper fitting paint
respirator before you begin to smell it is inconsequential with virtually
no impact on your body. BTW, I have never had a flow of solvent smell
through the mask because I change the canisters before each paint session.
You are aware that that whiff of gasoline vapor you get when fueling your
car has more harmful impact that several hours of paint with a properly
serviced and well fitted paint respirator. But then again, back in the day
when the automotive manufacturers still had humans painting the cars, even
though they used fresh air masks, painters had the shortest life span of
all industrial workers. Maybe we should pass a law forbidding anyone except
a professional from painting his project. That's the ticket! After all we
know the average Joe Six-pack doesn't have enough sense to spend his tax
return properly, how in the world can he be expected to educated himself
well enough to use safety equipment properly?
wrote:
Bruce A. Frank wrote:
...
The one disadvantage I find with the fresh air mask is having to deal
with the hose following me around as I duck and bend to shoot paint
on
all the parts. I improved my home made system by using small tube
from my
compressor, 1/4", at 90 psi to an adjustable valve attached to my
belt.
Uh, how do you get 90 psi? Common air compressers contaminate the air
with oil and are unsafe for breathing.
Do you have something like the compressors used to fill scuba tanks?
... Epoxies an solvent based paints are completely
filtered by the charcoal type organic filter cartridges.
Activated carbon filters don't stop anything 100% But they
typically stop organics quite well up until 'breakthrough' as
it is called, occurs. Thereafter the concentration coming
through rapidly rises until it is the same as in the incomming
air. Long befor then you should begin to smell the contaminant,
depending on what it is. One peculularity of activated carbon
filters is that once breakthrough has occurred the filter
will begin to contaminate clean air that passes through it.
Also keep in mind that if you do not have an external air supply
you must have adequate oxygen in the ambient air. Many fatalities
have occurred when someone used a filter-type respirator in a
confined area where the contaminants have displaced the oxygen
in the air--for example underground gasoline tanks or coal bins
using a nitrogen fire suppression system.
That is probably NOT a consideration for spraypainting unless
you're spraying in a closed room.
--
FF
--
Bruce A. Frank, Editor "Ford 3.8/4.2L Engine and V-6 STOL
Homebuilt Aircraft Newsletter"
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