Best Dust Mask for Your Woodworking Workshop (P2 Disposable vs Half Mask vs Full Face Respirator)

Рет қаралды 15,007

4 жыл бұрын

Woodworking safety, everybody's favourite topic! ... Ok, there is no way to swing that, it is really right up there with sanding 😅 While I'm not a safety nut and being a novice probably do a lot of dodgy things on this front (have you seen my table saw?!), there is one area my other life as a chemist has prepared me well for... Lung protection. We'll cover P2 / N95, Half-Mask (like the Trend or Sundstrom), Filter types and what those numbers all mean and most importantly cover the correct fitting of the masks to protect yourself from sawdust.
Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, is the first line of defence for the woodworker and doubly important if you don't have a proper dust extraction system. While I'd recommend a mask to ALL woodworkers regardless of your piped HPLV or LPHV setups, it is basically mission-critical if like me, all you have is a shop vac.
This won't be the most interesting video you watch this week, but it may be the most important. If you get questions, drop me a comment and share this around, particularly to new woodworkers... or old stubborn ones who don't like change 🤣
Airshield and Trend Stealth (Australia) - www.carbatec.com.au/brands/tr...
3M Masks, Goggles and Ear Defenders (Aus) - www.carbatec.com.au/brands/3m...
The Full Fixit Fingers Tool Shop - www.amazon.com/shop/fixitfingers
Looking for a decent PPE in the USA and UK?
Lungs - Trend Stealth Half Mask - US - amzn.to/2zl8aPo UK - amzn.to/3lIeCEc
Eyes - Safety Goggles - amzn.to/3EBwQzG UK - amzn.to/3CsbG57
Ears - 3M Ear Defenders - US - amzn.to/3pYIehc UK - amzn.to/3Cx5Uz8
These links are my suggestions, cost you no more, but provide my channel with a small kickback. Thanks for your support!
Full Video by ‪@KerryCorney‬ on Positive Pressure Full Face Shields for Woodturners: • Woodturners best line ...
NSW Safe Work - Wood Dust:
www.safework.nsw.gov.au/__dat...
Beard'n'Tash Style Mask Guide: (Cheers to the Paul Jenkins - The Wood Knight)
www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/...
Apologies to (and thanks) for stealing their likeness. Check these guys out! -
Woodstheworstthatcanhappen? / woodstheworstthatcould...
Dave Stanton: / davesbuildtips
Follow Fixit Fingers:
/ fixitfingers
/ fixitfingers
Making Things Downunder? Why not join our Community!?
Aussie Makers Group
/ ozmakers
#Woodworking #DustMask

Пікірлер: 35

@capermache 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful video, thank you!

@FixitFingers 2 жыл бұрын

No worries Silas, glad it helped. I've switched from the Sundstrom to the 3M with side filters and find it a little more comfortable as I used to bash into things with the big front filter ;)

@mrpoopypants9586 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Nicely explained. Funny how we are becoming more safety conscious. Not a bad thing, especially when it comes to breathing. Hard to pick up anything at the moment with the virus scare. Imagine wanting to use one for woodwork! Tradies must be finding it hard to get them, too. Here's hoping we don't need them too much outside the workshop. Cheers PP

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

Bushfires now Covid.. should have invested in 3M last year! 😂

@OneManBandWoodworks 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video mate, over the last month or two it’s gotten hard to breathe through my nose especially when I’m sleeping, I reckon that must be from the fires. I have a twin filter silicone cup type that I rarely use. Time to pull it back out and get used to wearing it.

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

The smoke affected my sleep too, waking up with headaches constantly. Better now. Funny thing is no one would look twice at you walking down the road in one of those these days.

@javierortega4043 3 жыл бұрын

Great video

@FixitFingers 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers mate! My woodworking is all self taught, so it's nice to do a video on something I actually have some authority on 😊

@BuiltByChris 4 жыл бұрын

Most importantly, if you invest in a good dust mask (I spent about $80 on mine) make sure you use the bloody thing. Unfortunately, my PPE is covered in dust because I forget to put the thing on. It's a matter of "it's just a one cut", or just "a quick cut" and I don't bother with the dust mask. Your video shows the importance of PPE and I will be making a conscious effort of using it from now on. I will also be investing in a full face mask because of my moustache. A good video, that points out the dangers. Thanks for sharing.

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

Good point! Also, it would be criminal to remove that Mo... and, potentially a little scary to see a Shaved by Chris episode. The "just one cut" is a common one for me too, though I've tried to improve lately. I dedicated bag or box for your mask will keep it clean and dust free which will increase your desire to use it. As Sumo pointed out, good dust extraction reduces the need of PPE, removing a hazard at the source is always better than trying to stop it with PPE. My dust extraction is very limited, so mask all the way for me.

@TheWoodKnight 4 жыл бұрын

www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/FacialHairWmask11282017-508.pdf Take a look at that diagram, it'll show you what facial hair styles you can get away with, with a half mask ;)

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

Oh that is awesome Paul... if for nothing else but to learn all the names 😄 I'll add the link to the video description 👍

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for viewing. If this was helpful, please like the video and share it around. It's an important topic. If you'd like to see more of my content, hit that sub button! In regards to the P1 masks being useless... they are certainly better than nothing. I just find the cheap ones are of such poor quality, it's impossible to get a good seal, and the good quality ones are not much cheaper than a P2... so you might as well grab those instead. Any other questions comment below! Cheers, James - PS: URGH that auto-focus was a killer, I forgot to turn it off when filming. Apologies, it's annoying as hell I know.

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

First the bushfires and now the pandemic... masks are a hot item this year!

@CatabductionsAnoym 2 жыл бұрын

What about cutting wood, cleaning wood dust , some of this goes into the throat and lungs right? I can't know for sure, but after 1-2 years of woodwork at home on and off, I had started to have issues with stomach, throat, airways, but not sure about the lung. I just assumed while cutting and splitting that only a small amount might get swallowed.

@FixitFingers 2 жыл бұрын

I keep mine on nearly the whole time when in the shop, from first cut to after cleanup. My extraction system is just a little shop vac so not the best. Even sweeping up sawdust flicks it into the air so i prefer to use a mask constantly and keep my garage door open

@TreeOfLifeWoodworking 4 жыл бұрын

ive been having breathing issues that i believe are a result of the half mask taxing my lungs... i believe this cause ive tried 2 different half masks and have even done a respirator physical to ensure it fits. do you think a PAPR would be the best solution? have u heard of others having issues from half masks? my doctor has 0 experience with this

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

Id be careful offering any advice here about your lungs mate as we are creeping into medical territory and Im certainly no doctor. I've not heard of half-mask use taxing lungs to the point of causing damage. If they are overly hard to breath in, usually the filters need changing. However, regardless of the underlying cause in theory you are correct. A powered positive pressure mask should make it easier to breath as the motor does the hard part of pulling the air through the filter. Best of luck mate, hope you find a doc who can give you some answers about the breathing issues.

@TreeOfLifeWoodworking 4 жыл бұрын

@@FixitFingers thanks! Wasn't looking for hard fast medical advice but just the practical knowledge of how the PAPR works like you mentioned so I appreciate that

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

@@TreeOfLifeWoodworking they also have the advantage of being a full face shield so no more flimsy safety goggles. The number of times a little chip has snuck in the sides of mine I can't count 😅

@Ace-zb5xr 4 жыл бұрын

I have a full face mask and it has a good seal since it goes around my beard and not on it. Unfortunately it gets foggy. What could be the reason?

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

Condensation from your breath and sweat... one of the drawbacks of the non-PAPR full face shields. There are 'defogging' sprays you can use, but before spending any money, try polishing the inside of the shield with a small amount of dish washing detergent (no water) or petroleum jelly like vaseline. Don't use too much or it get sticky ;)

@Ace-zb5xr 4 жыл бұрын

@@FixitFingers Vaseline it is. Thanks, mate.

@zjrj9215 2 жыл бұрын

Does this mask work for concrete

@FixitFingers 2 жыл бұрын

For concrete, I'd be going with the silicone half-mask like the 3M or the Sundstrom. The little disposable P2s could be OK for a small job, but concrete is nasty stuff so if using a few bags it is well worth getting the proper protection.

@Normambo 3 жыл бұрын

Glad i could find someone with a scientific background to speak about masks and filters for the woodworker. Weekend woodworkers are particularly at risk due to the fact that they do less finishing work and dust producing operations, therefore thinking its "just" a little discomfort. Norm from Montreal, Canada.

@FixitFingers 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Norm. It all adds up. People are usually familiar with acute exposure such as when using strong smelling solvents, but much less proactive on long term small doses which can do damage over time. I keep my mask on at most times in the workshop as even after the cut is done the fine particles hang around airborne for a long time. I just got a power point put in for an air filter to help further too. Every little bit helps!

@sumosprojects 4 жыл бұрын

I’m all for PPE but I’d firstly say don’t do Woodworking unless you’ve adequate dust extraction & ventilation, I’d be safe to say your daily intake of pollution from external fumes would be worse. Opening scene you were pushing a thin piece of MDF with your hands onto a large router bit with forward downward pressure, this to me looks like some push block would be better for PPE as that bit would remove a finger very quickly, food for thought mate & I still appreciate the lung protection concern 🍻👍👍👍 mate

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

Hahaha oh the irony... yes shot myself in the foot with that opening footage. Not the safest way to do that, I'll have to make a jig and/or some router blocks. It was the best dust generation footage I had. I get good ventilation via the garage door but can't fit a dedicated piped system. Ducted HVLP definetely the way to go if you have the space.

@CatabductionsAnoym 2 жыл бұрын

I didn't even watch the whole video yet, but I recently witnessed someone loosing a whole finger in person few feet away while I was the operator of the equipment, I couldn't believe what I was seeing and still have bad vibes about it, it only takes 1-2 seconds , then the finger is amputated with pressure and cutting tools. I only thing I can see is that the hand was in a compromised place, and I didn't have line of site where he was positioned on the wood splitter holding a log.

@FixitFingers 2 жыл бұрын

Split second is all it takes. Horrible experience to witness Josh. 😥

@2byforge 4 жыл бұрын

What do you have against beards?? Is it because of your slow facial growth??

@FixitFingers 4 жыл бұрын

I sported a very snappy (read scrappy) ginger beard for quite a while a few years ago... before the wifey made me shave. Envy is a large part of my motivation here it is true 😂🤣