Replies

1. 
   tinkerer2 | Nov 24, 2006 05:31am | #1

   I had the opportunity to visit a working coal mine last spring.  Part of the visit included seeing a continuous miner in operation.  The operator had a full face mask which perked my curiosity and I asked him if an individual could get one.  Sure, he said.  3M sells them for $750.00.  I haven't gotten one yet.

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Nov 24, 2006 05:20pm | #3

   I was involved with the mining industry some years back. I always wanted to see a continuous miner in action. I have always visualized the scene and environmental noise as being the closest thing to Hell on earth (as the ground collapses behind the cut).Frosty

1. 
   tinkerer2 | Nov 25, 2006 01:55am | #5

   Notice I didn't say I wanted to spend the rest of my life in a mine, but I did enjoy that tour and value the memory of it.  What I experienced was not all that noisy.  What I did notice was the waste of the continuous miner compared to the long wall.  As far as I could see the long wall miner is the only one where the ground collapses behind the miner.

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Nov 25, 2006 04:27pm | #7

   I was confused. I was thinking of the long wall miner - the thought of being "in there" with the earth settling behind you is scary. What if some of the hydraulic pistons decided to take the day off?Frosty

2. 
   BarryO | Nov 24, 2006 10:38am | #2

   I tried the Triton at a recent woodworking show.  It's very comfortable,  with the cool breeze of powered air.  It's only good for dust; if you need vapor and chemical protection in a powered device, you need to go with the pricier professional systems.

1. 
   gmoney | Nov 25, 2006 01:26am | #4

   do you know the cost of the triton?

1. 
   BarryO | Nov 25, 2006 11:43am | #6

   http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5511

1. 
   gmoney | Nov 25, 2006 09:13pm | #8

   thank you.