After reading a thread a few days ago about "paint sickness" that a HAMBr was experiencing I've now got a question about my mask. It's a 3M mask with the pre filters and organic vapor filter. I made the mistake of letting the GF toss the bag it came in, which I normally stored it in. It's now sat outside the bag for 3-4 months. Have my vapor filters ran their life? I used it the other day and didn't smell any ordor coming in from the paint, but now I'm paranoid. Might just run down to the paint shop and get new ones to be sure, but curious what the life of these is, unbagged and bagged.
X2 They cost maybe $20, and though I don't know you, I'd bet your life is worth a couple bucks more than that... Change them after every paint job.
Its been 15 years but when I worked at Body shops in high school my boss used to make me put this stuff( cherry extract I think ) on the outside of my filters. Used to say when I could smell the cherry change it. Dont know if it does anything
The small cost of new filters, far out weighs the cost of not being able to breath. Find a super huge zip-lock type bag to store it. Stu
Replace you filters after every use, lung transplants seldom last... The most important thing with any respirator is proper fit, just buying one and cranking the straps till it is tight is not good enough. Most safety equipment suppliers can do what they call a fit test to ensure your respirator fits properly.
What everyone else has said, ditto. Also, rather than a bag, get a large Tupperware or other airtight plastic food container and store the mask there. Regardless of storage methods organic vapor cartridges are only good for a day or two.
Cheap life insurance - buy plenty of filters and change them OFTEN if not everytime you use it. Also spend the time to really read the list of chemicals it will protect you from. Compare that list to the chemicals in whatever you are spraying! Lung problems are NO JOKE.
the problem with the cartridges is they are activated carbon, and they keep absorbing stuff from the air, i was always told to keep them sealed in airtight bags, but i guess once they are exposed to paint, the vapors trapped inside of the cartridges will continue to use up the carbon. i like those hard plastic containers from walmart you loosen the latch on eitheir side and the top comes off.
Thanks guys. Called my local and they don't have them on stock. I'm ordering a couple sets online and will have one spare ready, and from now on always in a bag.
If you are painting with 2 part paint the Organic Vapor Filters are not much better than a paper mask From the 3M web site filters protect the user from all the elements such as: certain organic vapors, chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, dusts, metal fumes, respirable silica, mists and asbestos-containing dusts and mists. This filter will not protect against cyanide fumes The only truly safe way to use 2 part paint is with a fresh air system Gary
Another thing- For those of you running businesses, you had better make sure that all respirators are stored in rigid sealable containers. An OSHA inspector handed out a $50,000 fine to a painting contractor who was doing work in a refinery I used to work at. Seems that as the the inspector was walking through during an inspection, he spotted a halfmask sitting on the seat of the contractor's truck. Bigtime expensive no-no.
Just a quick addition to this post and for anybody that uses a respirator Each time you use it , do a quick fit test Put your hands over the cartridges and breath in If the mask collapses on your face you have a proper fit Then put your hand on the exhaust port to seal it and blow out If you blow the repirator off your face you have a good fit If you don't have the a proper fit, you either have the wrong size respirator or the straps have not been adjusted properly
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