Breathing Protection

In the shop prior to Covid I used a full face respirator for protection of both my airway, and my eyes. Over them I wore a pair of 3M Pro grade ear muffs.





I've had more eye problems in the woodshop than airway stuff, so eye enclosure is important to me all the time in the shop. The airway stuff I just go full face when I'm doing really dusty work, usually sanding, or MDF anything. If you haven't. wearing a full face respirator isn't endearing at all, kinda huge PIA level stuff.

When Covid first hit, I went everywhere with my half face 3M respirator. I'd had it a long time, and it was still in great shape. I was as scared as anyone else, and being a Diabetic, with both heart and respiratory history decided early on I didn't want any part of it. So I went wayyyyy past an N95, or cloth mask.



I really got to liking how it felt, as compared to the full face, but I need ears, and eyes. I like eyes beyond safety glasses as in the past I have been wearing safety glasses with side shields, and still got foreign bodies in one eye or the other, and ended up with corneal abrasion. If you haven't had it a corneal abrasion sux, and I've had 4, that theoretically the safety glasses should have stopped, but did not.

This year for my birthday, my lovely Wife gifted me with a pair of Eye Muffs G6. They are a combo eye guard big enough to easily fit over regular glasses, and they have attached ear muffs of the overhead with strap variety.



So now I am wearing my 1/2 face respirator, and the Eye Muffs for total cover. All are light, wearable for long periods without making me cra cray, and I can still wear my glasses. I had tried the really nice goggles from Uvex, but none of them allowed me to wear my glasses with them, at least not easily. Plus the goggles, and my ear guards of choice caused a chafe like thing around my ears, the Eye Muffs don't.

So yeah Covid did at least that one good thing for me, because I don't think I would have changed without wearing my 1/2 mask to get groceries and stuff.

I always wear a half mask for spray painting.
Always SHOULD grab a formed N95 when I am grinding, but sometimes forget.
I try to remember one when welding.
I try to remember one when cutting MDF.
I try to remember one when sanding.
I used to buy 3M half masks, but the newest ones don't fit as well. Got an Eclipse and it is much more comfortable. I have always done so and COVID has not changed the in-shop habits.
As I get into lathe work, I may invest in a powered full face mask.
I have taken to wearing a mask when mowing the yard. It makes a big difference in my allergies.

I run a dust collector with canister filters, ambient air cleaner MERV 13 and the HVAC has MERV 13 filters. They all help, but most power tools still produce the fines that are dangerous, so a mask is still needed. I finally got enough adapters for my held held tools. But their collection is marginal too.

What COVID did was I ran out of vented N95 formed masks and could not get any until recently. That the were restricted for medical use was as stupid as it gets as vented masks are absolutely useless for COVID protection of others. I now have a good stock.

As they became available, I switched from procedure masks to cone KN95 to preformed N95 for outside the house. I only had to use a bandana about a week as my band saw had a 10 pack of procedure masks tossed in. That held us over until we could buy some. The material in all filters is fine, it is the fit that makes a big difference.

WoodenDreams, stay out of NC. Learn to respect others. Don't wear a mask in you shop if you wish, but outside it is not about YOU, it is about US. ControlFreak, masks are about an 80% effective protection, for both you and OTHERS. Mask up and don't be a sociopath! 6 more months if people have any respect for others. This is not about politics or freedom, it is about respect for others.

Am I touchy? Yea. I am old. My wife is a poster child for those who DIE if they catch it.