Need Lung Saftey Help

[ratlover]

This is going to be mainly used shooting BC/CC but other uses too. Since i will end up with a fullface mask i will probably even use it when doing major DA sanding work since I'm tired of rubbing dust outa my eyes and having to clean my glasses off every 5 minutes since I cant see through the layer of filler/paint dust

Ok......I know I need to get some respitory protection and I've only got one set of lungs and at 22 I dont need to die or be hooked to a resporator for the rest of my freaking life but 500-1000$ for a supplied air is a hard pill to swallow. I know what I should do but I keep thinking that a grand will buy alot of cases of beer. :p

1. So I come to trying to get buy as cheap as possible. I have heard that with the proper fit and the proper filters at fullface mask will protect you fine....there just isnt much margin for error so OSHA wont say they are ok to use. Plus at 100$ for a mask and then 20$ or so for the filters(that only last 8 hours from the time you open the package) the cost of filters over the long haul even for a hobbyest will get fairly expensive. So I'm thinking this aint really the way to go right?

2. Next comes to just bitting the bullet and getting the SAS supplied set up from toolparadise for 500$. Again 500$ will buy alot of beer and wouldnt I really want a hose longer than 50' especially if I will be painting large things like dumptrucks? If so hows the smaller compressor going to handle the 100' line?

3. Ok......cobble something together.......I'm a SCUBA diver and have tanks and all that good stuff and I could run around sealed up with a tank on my back and could get the tanks filled easy enough for cheap(like 4 bucks a whack) Now I'm running around with a big old hunk of aluminum straped to my back.....that sounds like fun but atleast I dont have to worry about another freaking hose.

4. Keep borrowing the supplied air system from work but then again using a sandblasting helmut and painting is a big PITA I have found. Maybe just steal the compressor and buy a mask. They use the same compressor that all the SA systems use. Ok, 150$ and I'm in buisness but now I gota borrow the damn compressor everytime.

5. Next I come to the last and right now the best option I think. SAS makes a filter deal to use a regular old compressor and be able to breath off it. 330$ and I'm in buissnes! http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6834&category=databaseDescript&maxhits=5&keywords=SAS2001-01 My compressor would have a H2O trap before hand and I would buy a new line. Any idea if this thing works? I know that for this system to be effective(or any one for that matter) the compressor would have to be drawing fresh air. Wouldnt help if it sucking air from the paint booth ot from next to a cars tail pipe.

Thoughts/oppinions/advice. TIA

[Pelican]

You could check on ebay for a used SCBA retired from fire department use. Look for a positive pressure model, this will prevent any seepage from leaks of the seal to your face. You get about 1/2 hour use per bottle, so you'd need extra bottles too.

Several years ago, Scott upgraded their product line and many departments switched to the improved unit. This made for a number of the older style units being trade in or sold outright. You could probably pick up one of these pretty cheap.

[Adams Plowing]

My thoughts on the subject would be to pony up the $500 - $1000 get the right gear one time save your lungs and then make up the beer money by doing the work... after all what good is beer money if your sitting in an iron lung or dead.... Thats just my thoughts though... in one of the other threads although not dealing with resperators it had to do with a business dicision a guy made to go the cheaper and little less safe route and someone ended up dead... if its one thing ive learned in business theres lots of ways to cut corners and save money but safety is the one area you should never compromise on....

[sdpsd99]

There is an other alternative. Most FD breathing apparatus mfg's now have face mask mounted regulators. Most of the mfg's use silmlar or the same as the FD mask's for their SAR (supplied air resporators) & APR ( air purifying resporators). The face mounted regulator style masks allow for a unique adapter device that turns that mask into an APR or SAR unit with the proper additional equipment. Some mfg's like the link below also offer peal away covers for the lense for protection and added longjevity.

http://www.survivair.com/

[snonut12]

I agree with Adams Plowing ... buy the right equipment at once, and you are all set. Which is more important; saving $500-$1000 for a proper equipment or a dramatic reduction in your lifetime? This is an easy decision, if you are going to be doing this type of work frequently, then get the right stuff. Dying 20-50 years earlier is not worth saving just a thousand bucks.

[ratlover]

Yeah, guys I know I need to not cut corners and do things safley but at the same time I dont want to spend more money than neccisary to give me the protection I need. Why buy a first class plane ticket if coach will get me there just fine and as safely, if coach wont get me to the same place then I will have to spring for first class though.

I actually am pretty much down to option 2 and 5 and was at the begining of the post I just wanted to list all of my possible options.

Air purifying(option # 1) is out for the cost of the filters and the fact it isnt quite as fool proof as a positive pressure system. Although I do like the cheap inital cost and the fact its probably the most comfortable set up.

When I buy a mask I will try to look for one that I can switch between suplied air and filters so I dont have to drag a freaking hose with me when sanding and such. Beings the particulate filters dont have shelf lifes and they are cheap. Might be worth 30$ to not end up looking like a dog that ran to the end of it leash and end up on my butt ;)

Anyone know about option # 5? That would save me a couple hundered bucks since I wouldnt have to buy a deticated compressor. This is an option I dont know much about and am pretty interested in.

[ratlover]

Here is what SAS sent me on thier little filter dealy(option # 5).....What do you guys think? I am probably going to end up with them unless something changes.......

BTW its the most recent email first so you gotta read backwards

They answer............

Hi Philip,

Let's see if I can tackle all these questions for you.

The Pure Air is made for professional auto painters. As in the instructions
you should have a high quality water/oil filter mounted on the wall. This
assures good air quality, it will remove oil, water, and particles. Do not
use your typical cheap $10.00 water trap. High quality filters can be found
for a good price on toolparadise.com. The Pure Air filter contains a
universal respirator carbon that filters a multitude of gases and vapors and
works in conjuction with your wall mounted filter to deliver grade "D" air.
The filter will also change to a pink hue if there is water in the unit. You
would then need to change the filter immediately. The unit can handle up to
300 PSI. The replacement filters list for $88.70 and should be changed at
the first sign of taste or smell of any odor. If your air is very clean you
will only need to change your filter twice a year. Our masks that you hook
up to it are all constant flow respirators not pressure demand. Constant
flow respirators are also considered positive pressure.

One of the greatest features of our respirators is that they are easily
converted to an APR cartridge filter mask. Simply unscrew the down tube and
screw on your desired cartridge and prefilter setup.

Rest assured that no matter where you purchase your Pure Air unit, SAS
Safety will warranty the product from any defects. Toolparadise.com is an
online distributor that seems to have very aggressive prices.

Hope this helps, your welcome to share all info.

Sincerely,
Ken Watson
SAS Safety Corp.

I write back....

>
>Thank you for getting back to me. I am kinda concerned about the filter
>itself. It looks kinda small. Its just something that straps to your belt
>and is about the size of a soda can right? I assume the filter's life is
>based on how dirty of air it is filtering but how many hours will it filter
>before its recommended that they are changed. How much are replacement
>filters? My compressor will have a H2O trap. I assume the only thing that's
>"bad" in air outa a regular compressor is the oil that may sneak by and
>that's what you guys are going after. I'm sure some of the larger buggers
>and larger particulates that would probably do more damage to the regulator
>in the mask. I am most interested in the Opti-fit mask I believe. Its an on
>demand type regulator that is positive pressure right? And its fairly easy
>to change it over to standard filters if I were to want to use it to keep
>sanding dust outa my lungs/eyes but didn't want to be running around with a
>hose. Whats the max inlet pressure for the filter set up? I assume it takes
>the high pressure from the compressor and regulates it down so you can
>pretty much run any length of air hose and get away with it. Sorry for the
>length but I do appreciate all your help. I was planning on buying from
>toolparadise.com They are and "official" dealer right, I just want to make
>sure I'm buying from an official source so I don't have a problem with
>warrantee stuff? Thank you
>
>And some guys I talk to on the net are really interested in this set up
>too......do you mind if I post your guys response on the net? I think it
>would be helpful to them
>
>Philip
>
They write.....

>Philip,
>
>The pure air system is made for automotive painters in mind. Your
>compressor
>needs to be able to deliver enough air for your spray gun plus your mask.
>Respirators use 4 cfm of air while a hood requires 6 cfm. Add to that the
>volume your spray gun uses. As a precuation I always recommend at least
>10%
>over the figure you get.

[blackdog1]

I don't know anything about the system you mention, but I would strongly recomend supplied air of some kind. I'm in the hazardous materials business and an APR is not what you need. A good filter cartridge won't last long at all in that environment. Wearing an APR for long periods of time taxes your heart and lungs. We require anyone wearing respirators have a physical annually to determine that they can handle that stress. You need to have a proper fit test, if your fit is not good you can magnify your exposure.You also need a clean shave for a proper seal. This is important but not as much with a positive pressure system. For safety and in the long-run cost (in your pocket and your life span)go with a good positive pressure supplied air system. Get as much safety info from this company as possible and ask for some references. I have spend a great deal of time in about every level of PPE available and that is my 2cents. Good luck and be safe.