best dust mask for not fogging the goggles

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FairweatherDave

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Scraping off heavy layers of old anti-foul and realise my dust mask is c**p (only P1). Anyone recommend one that can be used that does not also fog the goggles. Are the expensive ones any better in this regard (obviously they are better for my health). I have read plenty of old posts but the most relevant one on this subject is 2005 and none of the links work. Thanks for any replies. Dave
 
I've heard the suggestion of using a face shield, the kind that's a curved sheet of perspex attached to a headband, as less susceptible to fogging.

Pete
 
prv said:
I've heard the suggestion of using a face shield, the kind that's a curved sheet of perspex attached to a headband, as less susceptible to fogging.

Pete
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That type of shield does not always stop the dust and the op will still need to wear one unless the shield has an air supply to create a positive pressure between the face and shield. These can become expensive though.
 
Since I need reading glasses for close work and got piffed off with the fogging up with a simple mask, I bought a Resp-O-Rator. www.duxterity.com A bit odd, but it does do what it says. Only drawback: some dribble from the exhaust. But better than the alternatives. I wrap a towel round my neck as a bib.
I also have an air fed mask for nasty paints, but the R-O-R does it for toxic woods like iroko.
DW

And, no, I am not a beardy
 
My advice is to get an Airshield Trend from Axminster Tools. I used it for chipping off AF and it worked well. The replaceable filter was deffinatly red after I finished . It has a rechargeable battery powered filtered air blower over your face so no misting up etc.
Malcolm
 
double_ender said:
My advice is to get an Airshield Trend from Axminster Tools. I used it for chipping off AF and it worked well. The replaceable filter was deffinatly red after I finished . It has a rechargeable battery powered filtered air blower over your face so no misting up etc.
Malcolm
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Yes, but not cheap!!
 
There are products available to prevent misting up, especially sold for helmet visors, diving masks and available on line or from appropriate retail outlets of said gear. A small squirt of neat washing up liquid, rubbed over the lens with your finger, then wiped off, works very well in preventing misting. Wipe off until it looks all gone. The down side of washing up liquid, unlike the dedicated products, is that eventually you need to wash it away as the lens starts to become greasy.
 
BoB, good call. But I found that even with good masks, quite a lot got through. Blowing ones nose afterwards give some indication.... Dust is one thing, toxic chems are another. Anti foul is not something I want to ingest.
DW
 
A well fitting mask with a valve should prevent fogging of goggles. If it doesn't, it means that the air is getting round the edges of the mask, and hence being directed behind your goggles as you exhale, when the path of least resistance should be through the valve. If it's being exhausted round the edges, it's almost certainly also being drawn in around the mask when you inhale, meaning that you are breathing unfiltered, antifoul filled air.

Anything less than a P3 mask is inadequate for toxic particles such as antifoul.
 
Many thanks for all the replies. Will study them more closely later. I am scraping but there is definitely a bit of dust as well as all the scrapings. Reckon its a perfect job to do in the rain. I don't mind a bit of dust in the eye irritation ( I am using goggles / safety specs but get fed up not being able to see. But preventing inhalation and ingestion is the priority so a decent dust mask is the priority.
PS Has anyone successfully sharpened their bahco (scandvik) scaper blade or are the occasional new blades part of the cost of the job (those blades are not cheap...about £9)?
 
Thinking a bit more about the issue. From the recommendations here so far it seems the misting issue is not an issue if you get a decent dust mask because you do not exhale/leak out the side ??? And if it happens then a bit of fairy liquid on the goggles would help. Since I am in the UK Screwfix seems the best place.
 
FairweatherDave said:
Thinking a bit more about the issue. From the recommendations here so far it seems the misting issue is not an issue if you get a decent dust mask because you do not exhale/leak out the side ??? And if it happens then a bit of fairy liquid on the goggles would help. Since I am in the UK Screwfix seems the best place.
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Yes you've understood that about right.
But just to clarify, nuisance dust masks are as good as USELESS and you must use a good quality (e.g. a 3M) valved respirator preferably a P3 as recommended above, but in any event no less than a P2.

The main thing is that with a good quality respirator they have a thin metal strip along the bridge of the nose that you pinch around the nose so it seals properly. Combined with adjustable tension elastic so you can get the right balance between a tight seal and comfortable fit, it really shouldn't steam up your glasses.

If it does, it's a sure sign it's not sealing and doing it's job. Stop and readjust.
If you can't get it to seal, get a better mask.

Just to add, we tried Moldex masks at work but rejected them because they failed the fit tests. 3M masks seal much better.

The thing with masks is, if you buy cheap you're wasting your money altogether - they don't give any protection. So either don't bother (not recommended either) or treat yourself and buy quality.
 
Boathook said:
That type of shield does not always stop the dust and the op will still need to wear one unless the shield has an air supply to create a positive pressure between the face and shield. These can become expensive though.
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I didn't mean instead of the mask, I meant instead of the goggles.

Pete
 
We use dust masks all the time at work, but only for non-toxic materials.

For the nasty stuff we use Tornado air fed hoods:

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/powered-air-fed-respirators/3242976/

They are not cheap but they are reasonably comforable to wear (if you replace the battery belt with one that doesn't come loose) and a battery will last longer than you would want to use the hood. For antifouling you will only need particle filters. There are other filters too, I bet they do one to remove VOCs for headlining replacement too.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
There are products available to prevent misting up, especially sold for helmet visors, diving masks and available on line or from appropriate retail outlets of said gear. A small squirt of neat washing up liquid, rubbed over the lens with your finger, then wiped off, works very well in preventing misting. Wipe off until it looks all gone. The down side of washing up liquid, unlike the dedicated products, is that eventually you need to wash it away as the lens starts to become greasy.
Click to expand...

Rubbing a slice of potato over the inside of the lens is a trick I used to use when I had motorbikes. They probably sell it in aerosols nowadays!
 
Thanks for the replies again. To update I bought a 3M disposable P3 valved respirator (about £6) and had a good 3 hr workout scraping this afternoon. The goggles did not mist up and I rate the dust mask. It has a good fitting you shape over the bridge of the nose. No need to rub potatoes or washing up liquid.......Probably need to buy another one for a final session though.......... now for a shower
 
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