Trend Airshield Pro

[Brent Dowell]

My dad actually had to go to the hospital once because he was doing a bunch of sanding in the basement without any kind of a dc, filter, or mask...

You'd think I would have remembered that...

My Uncle, who worked at a grain elevator, actually died from complications after surgery due to some kind of fungal infection from the grain dust.

The trend looks like it's easy enough and comfortable enough to use.

[Bob Gibson]

Even with COPD sanding never really bothered me. I've always used a vacuum on my sander and never a mask. That is until I started working with walnut. I had a pretty serious upper respiratory infection about 6 weeks ago that just wouldn't go away even with medicine. I was always using my rescue inhaler and couldn't figure out why. I hadn't used it in almost a year. I mentioned to the Doctor that I was using walnut and he told me to wear a mask and see if it helped. I did and the infection cleared up in a week
So now I use a mask when working with walnut and use it when sanding anything.

I turn very little so that fancy mask is a bit too much for me but I sure learned my lesson.

As far as hearing protection goes the only time I use it is when I'm using the thickness planer.

[Jim Burr]

[QUOTE=Jim C Bradley;269454]I wear a two band, N95 face mask most of the time---always when sanding. However, I feel top-heavy with ear protection, safety glasses and dust mask. Am I going to feel worse this way (top heavy and closed in that is) if I spend the $300? My billfold area will certainly feel lighter.

Jim, the N95 will only work if it's professionally fitted. We do it every year in the hospital and DMAT. It is done in an enclosed hood with a solution of aerosolized Bitrex. There are several sizes and brands of masks. Not all work the same way and if you haven't been fit tested, it's not doing much.

[Brent Dowell]

Positive pressure is the only thing that helps if you have any 'growth' on your face. I'm pretty clean shaven now, but I still would like something that works better than the double rubber band thingys.

The last couple of times I've been cutting ply or mdf on the table saw without the DC, I found that I was coughing for a day or two after.

I'm still going to hook up the DC, but I'd like to have an all in one solution to protect myself from particulates, projectiles, and sonic issues...

[Bernie Weishapl]

I also have two hoses that split with a Y from my DC on each side of my lathe and use a air cleaner hanging from the ceiling. I will say this the air cleaner made a big difference on the dust in my shop.

[Drew Watson]

I can understand how great it would be to have air blowing in my face but how is that for drying the eyes out? Do you notice the whirr and vibration of the electric motor and how long do the filters last for? How costly are they to replace?

I currently use the half mask and full mask north Respirators from my time doing asbestos removal. Of course they have to be fit tested and you have to be clean shaven to work but what a difference they make. No batteries to change and they don't interfear with glass's or ear protection. They are only 20-30 bucks too and the filter cartridges are cheap too.

I have been to the hospital a few times in respritory distress and been to all the specialists and I have had sinus surgery to get rid of a bad sinus infection due to the dust. Docs say I should find a new line of work but I am getting too old to change carreers now. Dust is nothing to be mucking about with I use http://www.neilmed.com/usa/sinusrinse.php daily as it flushes out any dust that you breath in. I am bad for it as I am sure lots of others are with getting the gear off and on and doing it in the shop with all the dust still floating in the air.

Cynthia you need to get some better glass's I will show you what I use in construction and I think you will ditch those goggles. I might even have an extra pair hanging around.

[Cynthia White]

Cynthia you need to get some better glass's I will show you what I use in construction and I think you will ditch those goggles. I might even have an extra pair hanging around.

That would be great. I expect I'll have a complete woodworking makeover after I spend a few hours with you next month. Hey maybe we should film it and sell it to the Discovery Channel and get rich?

[Jim C Bradley]

I wear a two band, N95 face mask most of the time---always when sanding. However, I feel top-heavy with ear protection, safety glasses and dust mask. Am I going to feel worse this way (top heavy and closed in that is) if I spend the $300? My billfold area will certainly feel lighter.

Jim, the N95 will only work if it's professionally fitted. We do it every year in the hospital and DMAT. It is done in an enclosed hood with a solution of aerosolized Bitrex. There are several sizes and brands of masks. Not all work the same way and if you haven't been fit tested, it's not doing much.

OK ignoring everything else what is the best solution (stopping woodworking is not an option)? That question is too broad. What is the best solution that is practical for a hobby type person? Or to put it another way---What would you do for yourself?

Thanks and Enjoy,

Jim

[Kerry Burton]

It's complicated getting this get-up on.

For some reason this reminded me of that scene in Back to the Future where Marty dons the hazmat helmet, puts his Walkman headphones on [his dad] while he's sleeping, and then hits Play. The guy wakes up to see Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan, who threatens to melt his brain if he doesn't take [Marty's mother] to the Enchantment Under the Sea dance.

Scary!

[Vaughn McMillan]

For some reason this reminded me of that scene in Back to the Future where Marty dons the hazmat helmet, puts his Walkman headphones on [his dad] while he's sleeping, and then hits Play. The guy wakes up to see Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan, who threatens to melt his brain if he doesn't take [Marty's mother] to the Enchantment Under the Sea dance.

Scary!

Your recollection of the details is pretty impressive, but you only score a 94% on the geek scale for that comment. If you'd remembered George's name, the judges would have given you a 100%.

(It was a great scene, huh?)