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The mask is the easy part...
By:Pete Rudie
Date: 3/27/2001, 9:30 pm
In Response To: Re: Respirator fit test (Ron Eike)

: Anybody have recommendations on a supplied air mask ? I have trouble getting
: a good seal on a conventional mask due to my beard. I suspect that I have
: a lot of company in that respect because beards seem to go with kayaks and
: boat building.

The mask companies, 3M, North, Wilson, AO etc. all sell supplied air masks as well as respirators, for about $100. The tough part is the air supply. Conventional compressors use oil to cool and lubricate the piston(s), and some of this oil gets past the rings and into the air stream. Not good to breathe this stuff, so for a forced-air mask you need an oilless compressor too, which probably start at about $400. That has to be overkill for casual boatbuilding epoxy work. Fans would be both cheaper and more comfortable.

BTW, this is heresy, but I passed a fit test with my beard. My little joke was that the gray in it was really filtered epoxy. Drives purists nuts, but that's not necessarily a bad thing...

Messages In This Thread

Respirator questions.
Greg Hughes -- 3/25/2001, 6:51 am
Re: Respirator questions.
Jim Lindamood -- 3/25/2001, 7:34 am
Respirator fit test
Pete Rudie -- 3/25/2001, 11:05 am
Re: Respirator fit test
Jim Lindamood -- 3/25/2001, 5:50 pm
Re: Respirator fit test
Ron Eike -- 3/27/2001, 7:11 pm
The mask is the easy part...
Pete Rudie -- 3/27/2001, 9:30 pm