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Powered Respirator

Buckeye

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I can no longer use my 3M half face mask as it is too hard to suck breath in so I am looking at powered respirators. I know of the Trend one, but that has the motor in the head unit and is 72decibels which I think would bother me after a short while. Does anyone have any other kind of Powered Respirator or know of any that are worth looking at, also would someone like Axminster or another supplier have a test one that you can try out before handing over lots of dosh. I have come to the conclusion that I get a PR or pack it all in as I have respiratory problems that are not going to get any better.

Peter
 

Buckeye

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It's a lot of money to pay and I want to make sure I get it right or as right as I can, so I would love to know what the choices are, if you find anything out please let me know.

Peter
 

yorkshireman

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I've got the air shield Peter and it's very good. I don't find the noise and weight oppressive at all as I only use it when I'm sanding.
 

Vic Perrin

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I have the Trend Airshield Peter and don't find it a problem whatsoever. If you have respiratory problems then it is a must that you do something so as not to worsen your condition. You will soon get used to it I use mine all of the time now when on the lathe regardless of what I am doing.
 

TrevT881

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I have a powercap which is less bulky than others I've seen although mine is an early version which has a separate battery pack, the newer version has the battery on the rear of the cap. Axminster also do one which looks remarkably similar.
 

Buckeye

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I have the Trend Airshield Peter and don't find it a problem whatsoever. If you have respiratory problems then it is a must that you do something so as not to worsen your condition. You will soon get used to it I use mine all of the time now when on the lathe regardless of what I am doing.

If I could find somewhere to try before I buy at least I would be able to hear and feel if it would be okay.

Couldn't you use those little ear plugs to deaden the sound of the fan?

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

There is still the vibration that will be direct to the skull. I want to see if there are any with the motor on a belt rather than the helmet as I would be using it all the time for turning and sanding.

Peter
 

Phil Dart

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That is a serious amount of money, I think I would rather pack it in than pay that sort of money.

Peter
I had a Trend, which I bought because at the time that was the way to go. Everybody was buying them and the choice was limited.

I hated, hated, hated it! The noise was OK, I could live with that (and no you can't reduce it with earplugs because half the sound is transmitted via bone resonance, not just through the ears) but it was just so bloody cumbersome, heavy and inconvenient. I sold it to a guy on the WWI forum.

Had I had the foresight to try before I bought, my choice would have been different.

To replace it, I did try first, and ended up with the 3M system. Yes I know it costs slightly more than the national debt of a small third world country, but the point is that I wear it, whereas the Trend gathered dust on a shelf.

My strong advice to you both, Peter and Terry, is don't just go by what you are reading from people here in this thread. Go somewhere to try them first. Many people get on with the Trend - as I say, I hated mine.

I arranged to call in at Axminster on my way home from the west counrty. I'd rung them first so they had everything there waiting for me. I'm glad I did because 3M offer a choice of helmets, each one having a different cradle inside (which they don't tell you in the sales literature), and one helmet stood out amongst the others. I could easily have bought an alternative helmet and hated that just as much as the Trend.

For myself, I would much rather pay a lot for something that will get used than half that for something that sits on the shelf - but one man's meat is another mans poison, so try before you buy.

On a practical note, I don't recall the trend being inefficient - not as efficient as the 3M, but if you plump for the Trend, it will do the job its intended for, just not as well, quietly, unobtrusively or comfortably as the 3M.
 

Penpal

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I bought a helmet from a distributer, when it arrived the weight made it feel like a divers helmet. The company in Sydney gave me my money back. Your idea of trying and buying has merit.

Peter.
 

Pierre

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I use the Trend and it doesn't seem to be too noisy to me but I was used to jet engines, I use cling film instead of the expensive sticky overlays and it is well worth it to me for my larger pieces ie salad bowls etc.

But I also have a jet ceiling mounted filter which gets a weekly clean and I use a large chip collector sucking out as much as I can and use one of these Buy Woodturning Dust Extractors from Rutlands Limited (presumably you can make you own with old guttering ).

When I get to parts that the Trend is too ungainly for ie seeing small detail then I use one of these JSP Force™ 8 Reusable Half-Mask (No filters) - Respiratory Protection - Non Powered - Respiratory Protection & Facemasks - Health, Safety & Workwear (PPE) | Axminster Tools & Machinery with these filters JSP Force™ 8 P2 Dust Filters (Set of 2) | Axminster Tools & Machinery .

One of the problems with all head set masks (and I include the military respirators) is that by covering up part of your vision your ability to do very fine work is restricted so unless you can get very good optically clear screens then they are limiting. If you are having problems with the valves on the half face mask get some white spirit or surgical spirit and wipe the valves where they seal up to the mask holes most of the restriction comes from them sticking where they haven't been cleaned.

PG
 
Last edited:

Buckeye

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I use the Trend and it doesn't seem to be too noisy to me but I was used to jet engines, I use cling film instead of the expensive sticky overlays and it is well worth it to me for my larger pieces ie salad bowls etc.

But I also have a jet ceiling mounted filter which gets a weekly clean and I use a large chip collector sucking out as much as I can and use one of these Buy Woodturning Dust Extractors from Rutlands Limited (presumably you can make you own with old guttering ).

When I get to parts that the Trend is too ungainly for ie seeing small detail then I use one of these JSP Force™ 8 Reusable Half-Mask (No filters) - Respiratory Protection - Non Powered - Respiratory Protection & Facemasks - Health, Safety & Workwear (PPE) | Axminster Tools & Machinery with these filters JSP Force™ 8 P2 Dust Filters (Set of 2) | Axminster Tools & Machinery .

One of the problems with all head set masks (and I include the military respirators) is that by covering up part of your vision your ability to do very fine work is restricted so unless you can get very good optically clear screens then they are limiting. If you are having problems with the valves on the half face mask get some white spirit or surgical spirit and wipe the valves where they seal up to the mask holes most of the restriction comes from them sticking where they haven't been cleaned.

PG

The problem I have with my 3M half face mask is not the valves sticking it is purely that my breathing is not good and there is too much pressure to breath in. I remember years ago that my brother was spraying my car and had a face mask that was powered by the compressor with some kind of adapter and filters that made the air fit for breathing, I will be looking at that as well as it could possibly mean I can get a head unit and connect it up to the compressor.

Peter
 

Pierre

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Then perhaps you should be looking at one of these, Purelite Xstream | The Full Face Respirator Dust Mask

The tool post offers 2 types Respirators but I found that the Trend offered the best balance on my head. Having spent 25 years in the military and been through 5 iterations of a respirator that offered the best view, the best airflow that prevented fogging but most of all the best wearability in terms of weight balance on the head, I found that those which had the battery pack on the back of the helmet offered the best balance mainly because those with separate filters and motors dragged the head forward (weight of the visor) and those with the filters in front did the same. This leads to a crick in the neck over extended periods ie more than 1 -2 hours working. The other element that you should consider is ease of flipping the visor up to look at a piece in the clear to check your work.

All full face masks suffer the same problem over time, that of the faceplate fogging from abrasion ; abrasion from particles, abrasion from putting them down incorrectly, from gritty fingers and sandpaper finally abrasion from salad bowls leaving the lathe at high speed and impacting!!so inevitably a sacrificial protection screen is required, you should also look at the costs of those (Lakeland cling film is pretty good) its thicker than most. :wink:

PG
 

Penpal

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I use the Trend and it doesn't seem to be too noisy to me but I was used to jet engines, I use cling film instead of the expensive sticky overlays and it is well worth it to me for my larger pieces ie salad bowls etc.

But I also have a jet ceiling mounted filter which gets a weekly clean and I use a large chip collector sucking out as much as I can and use one of these Buy Woodturning Dust Extractors from Rutlands Limited (presumably you can make you own with old guttering ).

When I get to parts that the Trend is too ungainly for ie seeing small detail then I use one of these JSP Force™ 8 Reusable Half-Mask (No filters) - Respiratory Protection - Non Powered - Respiratory Protection & Facemasks - Health, Safety & Workwear (PPE) | Axminster Tools & Machinery with these filters JSP Force™ 8 P2 Dust Filters (Set of 2) | Axminster Tools & Machinery .

One of the problems with all head set masks (and I include the military respirators) is that by covering up part of your vision your ability to do very fine work is restricted so unless you can get very good optically clear screens then they are limiting. If you are having problems with the valves on the half face mask get some white spirit or surgical spirit and wipe the valves where they seal up to the mask holes most of the restriction comes from them sticking where they haven't been cleaned.

PG

Thanks for this tip, damned annoying problem.

Peter.
 

woodhacker

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Peter also been called many others
The problem I have with my 3M half face mask is not the valves sticking it is purely that my breathing is not good and there is too much pressure to breath in. I remember years ago that my brother was spraying my car and had a face mask that was powered by the compressor with some kind of adapter and filters that made the air fit for breathing, I will be looking at that as well as it could possibly mean I can get a head unit and connect it up to the compressor.

Peter

Peter if you have a compressor I would opt for that type of visor, the only downside is that you would be trailing a hose around with you which could be a bit dicy. Of course there is always the noise issue. Personally I have a backpack system which I find very good, a nice constant airflow. Good luck and wishing you well.
Peter
 

Buckeye

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Peter if you have a compressor I would opt for that type of visor, the only downside is that you would be trailing a hose around with you which could be a bit dicy. Of course there is always the noise issue. Personally I have a backpack system which I find very good, a nice constant airflow. Good luck and wishing you well.
Peter

What is the backpack system you use, that sounds interesting.

Peter
 
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