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Question about painting respirator?

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crj7driver

Jedi Trainee
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I am thinking about picking up a positive pressure air mask for painting and welding when you can't remove the paint from the hidden area of the weld. It might be overkill as I am not painting anything worse than POR15, which is definitely not finger paint. I always set up fans in my garage and wear a canister respirator when I use this stuff.

I know I am being overly neurotic but I was just wondering what I need to use pressurized air. I want something for occasional use.

I have a normal oilless 35 gallon husky compressor that I may use. So what is the easiest SAFE way to go? When I looked at a couple of filters that were designed to run off air compressors and breathed they were $5000. Perhaps an oxygen bottle with regulator? Can I use just an inline filter, perhaps with a water bath?

Thanks for any advice.
 
Can't use a normal compressor because the air they produce is not filtered for breathing. I've seen a couple of forced air (breathing) units on ebay and have been thinking about the same. But for me it's painting - the newer paints contain all kinds of bad stuff, like isocyanates. Even exposed skin can absorb some of this stuff. I read a story about a guy that painted a car with urethane, had chest pain afterwards, and died later when the chemicals hardened around his lungs.

You've not being overly cautious - I used a 3M particulate mask for welding and dust - called a bodyman's respirator and also use an organic respirator for chemicals. Never too safe. My dad died from lung cancer and it wasn't pretty. Be safe.

As far as an oxygen bottle for welding ... kabooom.
 
DO NOT USE THE AIR DIRECTLY FROM YOUR COMPRESSOR! It will kill you faster then the stuff you are now breathing.

For what you are doing, and as frequently as you do it, I would think that good ventilation and up-wind of the work should be enough. That said, for about $400 you can get a mask, hose, and filtration system to use with your air compressor.

Here is a system, no recommendation, but will do what you want it to do. If you go this route, be sure to buy additional filters.

https://www.autobodytoolmart.com/pc-12224-678-sas-pure-air-2000-with-blue-half-mask.aspx
 
Thanks for the input. After reading the post about welding on zinc (galvanized steel). I researched some of the effects as well as some other metals, being that I welded on some galvanized steel a couple of years ago. I did not experience any negative effects because I ground off the the plating when I was cleaning the metal. But it made me concerned for some of the things I am playing with.

I was reading about all of the nasty things and read about cadmium. Be extremely careful if you are doing anything to grade 8 fasteners other than using them to fasten. They have cadmium plating (I think by the color) anyway, a one time exposure to fumes can kill you.

As for using oxygen I would not use 100% but a diluter demand system to give you an 80/20% mix. If I went that route.

TR6OLDTIMER, I looked at the link, so something like that I can use and it has a filter incorporated into it? Correct? I looked at this website as well https://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=8190

They recommend an oil and water separator as well. But it looks like I can use my shop compressor. Whatever I do, I will not do anything until conversing with professionals.

So much for what you don't know can't hurt you :smile:
 
Ebay has evidently banned their sale, but you might look for a used CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. These are medical devices designed to supply air for breathing, normally used by sufferers of sleep apnea. I bought a spare on eBay (by doing Buy It Now before ebay could cancel the auction) for about $100.

Of course, you have to put the unit someplace where the air is clean, and run a long hose to your mask. They do have some filtration, but not much.
 
cr, they are the same product, the only difference is my link included a half mask. I would get a oil/water separator to place before the SAS unit, it will remove water and extend the life of your SAS filters and other things you have hooked up. As has been stated, the air intake for the compressor has to be in an area free of paint and solvent fumes as well as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide sources.

This guy used one, and had no problems.

https://www.mckennasgarage.com/xke/jag_25.htm

At the bottom of his page is an e-mail link, might be worth a try if you have questions.

Let us know how it goes.
 
This is not a recommendation!

I used to be involved with large asbestos abatement projects where we used supplied air from a diesel or gas powered compressor. The problem doing this is whether you are taking in exhaust and from oil from compressor itself. We used expensive panel boards to filter hte air. It also had CO alarm and ahd to be tested before each set up as the air had to be grade D. I would think an oil-less compressor would be OK. However, I doubt it would provide enough air.

I've seen some systems sold that have an HVLP paint gun and a breathing setup on the same system. They are not cheap though. These systems use a turbine instead of a standard compressor.

Years ago I had CPAP machine I got when my mother passed away. I took it home with the intent to use just for this type situation. Someone broke into my garage and stole my MIG welder afterward. It was years later when I realized they also got the CPAP machine. If I had realized it at the time, I could have gotten reimbursed for the $1,300 we spent on it.
 
I think I am going to go with an air turbine setup like the hobby air. https://www.clmcenterprises.com/hobbyair.htm

It has a lot less possibility for problems. It may be a bit much but it is better to be safe.

Thanks for all the advice, I wasn't even aware these things existed. As usual the BCF is a wealth of knowledge, or at least that is how I explain it to my wife.
 
TR6oldtimer said:
DO NOT USE THE AIR DIRECTLY FROM YOUR COMPRESSOR! It will kill you faster then the stuff you are now breathing.
Click to expand...

I use my air compressor to feed my blasting helmet with no problems. My father used the same air when he painted the car.

My compressor is brand new though, and the air was clean and not oily, and I used new tubing, all poly-vinyl, not rubber. There was no smell, but the air was slightly dry.

The source of the air was my closed garage, which is pretty clean air. Clean air in, clean air out, I figured.
 
rlandrum said:
TR6oldtimer said:
DO NOT USE THE AIR DIRECTLY FROM YOUR COMPRESSOR! It will kill you faster then the stuff you are now breathing.
Click to expand...

I use my air compressor to feed my blasting helmet with no problems. My father used the same air when he painted the car.

My compressor is brand new though, and the air was clean and not oily, and I used new tubing, all poly-vinyl, not rubber. There was no smell, but the air was slightly dry.

The source of the air was my closed garage, which is pretty clean air. Clean air in, clean air out, I figured.
Click to expand...

The problem with oil bathed compressors is oil mist. It only takes a little to cause problems in your lungs. When we tested are for Grade D, we ran a large volume of air through a specialized detection device that filtered the air though a high quality mebene. This would be sent to a lab for analysis for oil. You could not always see much oil. I do not recall anybody failing a test. but as I said, it was going through a high dollar panel board (multiple filters and alarms).

Not trying to be a busy body here.
 
crj7driver said:
I think I am going to go with an air turbine setup like the hobby air. https://www.clmcenterprises.com/hobbyair.htm

It has a lot less possibility for problems. It may be a bit much but it is better to be safe.

Thanks for all the advice, I wasn't even aware these things existed. As usual the BCF is a wealth of knowledge, or at least that is how I explain it to my wife.
Click to expand...

That setup looks neat and I will consider one. Let us know how it works out.
 
have you checked dive shop, I use to go diving with my cousin and he had dive compressor that was run by a 5 HP motor, 100 foot of air hose and a full face mask that was positive pressure, not sure of the cost though
 
I went with this one.

https://www.turbineproducts.com/servlet/Detail?no=24

Looked to be a little better value and features. The one I picked up is a hood that will mount inside of my existing welding helmet. For what ever reason it is not listed on their website but can be purchased by contacting him.

It was upgraded to 50ft hose and worked out to $405 shipped. Just a little info for those that are looking into this sort of thing. I will give a full review once I use it.
 
I have read the literature and am aware of the dangers of many of the things we use in our hobby, esp. modern paints, I also took a painting class at the local community college last year. Of course they recommended the air supplier respirator, but talking to the the instructor offline and to another guy with a body shop I have used and got to know neither of them said they use respirators in practice, and said many guys don't, they do use the dual filter masks, the cartridges with yellow and purple in them.

I am sure there are risks involved, but I figure if these guys who paint more cars in a month than I probably will in a lifetime can do it I will be OK too.

Please make your own decision--I am sure the safer the better, just my own observations.
 
glemon said:
I have read the literature and am aware of the dangers of many of the things we use in our hobby, esp. modern paints, I also took a painting class at the local community college last year. Of course they recommended the air supplier respirator, but talking to the the instructor offline and to another guy with a body shop I have used and got to know neither of them said they use respirators in practice, and said many guys don't, they do use the dual filter masks, the cartridges with yellow and purple in them.

I am sure there are risks involved, but I figure if these guys who paint more cars in a month than I probably will in a lifetime can do it I will be OK too.

Please make your own decision--I am sure the safer the better, just my own observations.
Click to expand...

You are probably correct. I am doing this for as piece of mind as well as physical well being. They way I look at it with the thousands I've spent in making my project safer and better, this is just a drop in the bucket. The main reason for the push is I was surprised at some of the dangers I was unaware of and this is a way to mitigate some of the things I don't know.
 
OK,
here is what i did- home made fresh air system. Picked up a surplus fire man's oxygen mask $20 at a army surplus store. picked up some flexible plastic lightweight hose 20ft+.Happened to have an old canister vaccuum cleaner, cleaned it out, made an adapter to the outlet(blowing) side(normal vacuum hose fits inlet and outlet) with small ball valve to push air into the hose up to the mask. Vacuum canister goes outside in a fresh, uncontaminated area,with hose running into my shop.Cheap and safe.My cost about $40.
R
 
Most vacuum cleaners flow air through their motors for cooling (after the waste compartment and filters). So you're breathing whatever the motor generates; commutator brush dust, ozone, etc.

I wouldn't want to be breathing that.


pc.
 
Sorry, but the vacuum cleaner idea is absolutely awful. It is not airtight and will allow contaminated air into your "mask", completely negating any useful purpose of the contraption.

Simply go out and purchase the proper, approved equipment for the job! If you don't know exactly what to buy, go to your local paint/body shop and ask the professionals who do this every day for a living. Or go to the OSHA.gov website and put "paint respirator", etc., in the search box at top of the page.

When you read the fine print about spray painting and PPE on the OSHA website (please take about 15 min to do this), you'll realize how truly hazardous it is, and how complicated the rules are for utilizing correct PPE for spray painting operations. They're complicated for good reason . . .

One significant exposure to some spray painting materials can damage your lungs for life. Paint professionals have seen this happen to their peers, and that's exactly why they wear approved PPE: they want to go home to their families after the work is done.

In fact, some of the more cautious among us might choose to eschew spray painting altogether after learning about the myriad, intrinsic hazards of spray painting. It's serious business.

And by the way, OSHA is the <span style="font-style: italic">minimum</span> published safety standard for this stuff, so if you don't comply with OSHA standards, you don't even meet the <span style="text-decoration: underline">miniumum</span> safety requirements!

Saving a few lousy bucks by using inappropriate/unapproved PPE actually saves nothing and often leads to tragedy. Don't compromise your lungs by wearing a flimsy face mask or other useless breathing system. Get the proper, OSHA-approved equipment and use it <span style="text-decoration: underline">exactly</span> as indicated by the manufacturer.

I'm in the safety biz, so I had to say this. Please don't take it the wrong way. I just think that hobby-related injuries are the most tragic of all.

And please, <span style="font-style: italic">never</span> take shortcuts with PPE, your life (and your family) depends on it. :nonono:
 
trfourtune said:
OK,
here is what i did- home made fresh air system. Picked up a surplus fire man's oxygen mask $20 at a army surplus store. picked up some flexible plastic lightweight hose 20ft+.Happened to have an old canister vaccuum cleaner, cleaned it out, made an adapter to the outlet(blowing) side(normal vacuum hose fits inlet and outlet) with small ball valve to push air into the hose up to the mask. Vacuum canister goes outside in a fresh, uncontaminated area,with hose running into my shop.Cheap and safe.My cost about $40.
R
Click to expand...

That setup will work well.

Keep it in mind for sand blasting and such. Little headgear modification and you can make an air curtain type to keep the stuff out of your hair and off your scalp.

A clean shop vac will also do the job.
 
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