Painting/ positive air respirators
06-16-2004, 09:47 AM
#2
RE: Painting/ positive air respirators
I looked at the hobby air systems and I wouldn't use them. I didn't think they looked like something I wanted to trust my life with. The Neotek stuff looks ok but when the highly recommended systems cost double what those ones do I still question why.
I use a Survivair system with full face shield. Remember you absolutely have to have the compressor sitting outside of your paint booth in a fresh air source. I can't tell you how many idiots I've seen that think just because it's forced air it's good to put it right in the paint booth, then all your getting is a face full of fumes. Mine mounts outside of my paint booth, in fact, you're not supposed to have ANYTHING electrical inside the booth, all my lights are mounted outside and sealed completely, all switches are outside, that's the only way you can be totally safe with it.
Anyway, the positive pressure respirator is the best investment you can make in painting, it won't make your painting any easier (in fact the first couple times you wear a full face shield it makes it harder to see until you're used to it) and it won't make any paint miracles happen, but the extension of your life is well worth it.
For what it's worth, if you are investing in a system like this, don't necessarily look for the best price, look for a good proven certified unit. A false sense of security can be quickly gained with a system like this, but if it's not filtering properly it's doing nothing for you. Also, don't bother with the half masks, the 2 part paints absorb through your skin and eyes just as badly as if you breathe it in. Use a full face shield and a paint suit with a hood and always wear gloves.
It sounds maybe like I'm being over careful, but this paint is not something to mess around with, I didn't always have this set up, but I wish I had. I used to feel pretty sick after I sprayed with just a carbon filter mask, that's all stopped since the positive pressure system.
I use a Survivair system with full face shield. Remember you absolutely have to have the compressor sitting outside of your paint booth in a fresh air source. I can't tell you how many idiots I've seen that think just because it's forced air it's good to put it right in the paint booth, then all your getting is a face full of fumes. Mine mounts outside of my paint booth, in fact, you're not supposed to have ANYTHING electrical inside the booth, all my lights are mounted outside and sealed completely, all switches are outside, that's the only way you can be totally safe with it.
Anyway, the positive pressure respirator is the best investment you can make in painting, it won't make your painting any easier (in fact the first couple times you wear a full face shield it makes it harder to see until you're used to it) and it won't make any paint miracles happen, but the extension of your life is well worth it.
For what it's worth, if you are investing in a system like this, don't necessarily look for the best price, look for a good proven certified unit. A false sense of security can be quickly gained with a system like this, but if it's not filtering properly it's doing nothing for you. Also, don't bother with the half masks, the 2 part paints absorb through your skin and eyes just as badly as if you breathe it in. Use a full face shield and a paint suit with a hood and always wear gloves.
It sounds maybe like I'm being over careful, but this paint is not something to mess around with, I didn't always have this set up, but I wish I had. I used to feel pretty sick after I sprayed with just a carbon filter mask, that's all stopped since the positive pressure system.
06-16-2004, 10:43 AM
#3
My Feedback: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Scottsdale,
AZ
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Painting/ positive air respirators
I did purchase and use the Hobby Air system and was quite pleased with it. I bought the full hood, and a 50 foot hose. I placed the pump outside the garage around a corner and upwind. I painted with the doors opened and wore a full paint suit from my auot paint dealer (about $20) and rubber gloves. In my opinion, the unit is more than useful for a limited amount of painting. If I was a professional like Jeremy, I'd go with the best money could buy.
G Anixter
G Anixter
