Replies

1. 
   Al from Unionville | Feb 13, 2007 04:41am | #1

   I suspect that the respirator from Lee Valley with organic compound cartridges will work. In any case, if you e-mail them they will give you a straight answer

2. 
   BruceS | Feb 13, 2007 06:17am | #2

   Go to a good local auto parts store that carries automotive paint and spraying supplies.   And get a NIOSH approved respirator.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

   
   

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   Edited 2/12/2007 10:18 pm ET by BruceS

1. 
   user-115081 | Feb 13, 2007 07:10am | #3

   Thanks guys. Al - I sent an email to Lee Valley. Their respirator is actually one that I was considering.Bruce - I will check with some auto parts suppliers tomorrow.Thanks again,
   James

3. 
   terrylee86 | Feb 13, 2007 05:44pm | #4

   James,

   You might want to check out the 3M respirators.  They are disposable when the charcoal is spent ( start smelling fumes ) you can use them as a dust mask.  I just cut out the charcoal and they fit well and are light.  A buddy of mine owns a body shop and he put me on to them.  That is all he uses for his workers.  I use the 52P71 Medium size(fit better) and  you need to search the web for the best price. I bought 2 cases a couple years ago so I don't know what they run.  I got mine form Airgas.com, but I don't know if they are the cheapest anymore.

4. 
   Dyeman | Feb 14, 2007 12:05am | #5

   There are different types of urethane. A standard paint respirator with activated charcol cannister filters (it should say on the filter "organic vapors") will block the hazardous fumes from oil based polyurethane. The cautions you are getting about "urethane" is the two-component type which is commonly used for clear coats on cars. One of the 2 components is a class of chemical called an isocyanate. This hazardous chemical is odorless, so you would never know if your mask was working or not. Actually, a brand new respirator will work, however, as it starts to lose it's ability to protect, the user wouldn't know, which is why OSHA doesn't like them and hence the warning from the manufacturer.

   OSHA recommends the use of a air supplied respirator with 2 component urethanes, although they have backed off a bit in recent years and will now allow the cartridge style carbon filter ones, as long as the work-place has a routine filter change program in place for the respirators. Keep in mind that a good general purpose paint/finish respirator should also filter particulate with a filter that goes over (before) the carbon filter. This should be rated a NIOSH P95 for most applications, although ones specific to certain products use a HEPA P100 filter.

   Jeff

5. 
   Keef | Feb 18, 2007 11:30pm | #6

   James,

   Take a look at Lab Safety Supply (LSS)  on line for a very comprehensive selection of respirators, cartridges and their descriptions.  They have respirators for around $13 bucks and up- cartridges are extra.  I have bought tons of stuff from them (glasses, hearing protectos, lifting belts etc).

   KB