Respirator for sand

[mhorowit]

Good morning - I'm aware of the discussion concerning health and sandblasting with sand.
If I go shopping for a respirator what qualities should I look for?
I plan on buying one for when I start spraying coatings, but I"m thinking I"d want something else to keep small sand out of my lungs
- Mike

[O.Taylor]

Re: Respirator for sand

Good morning - I'm aware of the discussion concerning health and sandblasting with sand.
If I go shopping for a respirator what qualities should I look for?
I plan on buying one for when I start spraying coatings, but I"m thinking I"d want something else to keep small sand out of my lungs
- Mike

I was looking around the local Army/Navy store, they had quick donning gas masks made in Israel, bought one, bought a new small vacuum cleaner and put the exhust in the intake. have used them 3 times and I like it. O.T.

[mhorowit]

Re: Respirator for sand

I was looking around the local Army/Navy store, they had quick donning gas masks made in Israel, bought one, bought a new small vacuum cleaner and put the exhust in the intake. have used them 3 times and I like it. O.T.

That would certainly work but the only filtering is thru a paper cone; I'm assuming you moved the vacuum cleaner away from the work area and ran a long, large diameter hose to the mask? If the 'mask input' is nowhere near the sand dust, not a problem, but in my case, I'll be close in.

- MikeH

[Guest]

Re: Respirator for sand

Good morning - I'm aware of the discussion concerning health and sandblasting with sand.
If I go shopping for a respirator what qualities should I look for?
I plan on buying one for when I start spraying coatings, but I"m thinking I"d want something else to keep small sand out of my lungs
- Mike

Easy fix - don't use sand. Use crushed slag.

Black Beauty is one trade name availible at building and masonry suppiles stores.

Northen tool sell their own brand too.

[mhorowit]

Re: Respirator for sand

Easy fix - don't use sand. Use crushed slag.

.

Respirator? - MikeH

[Guest]

Re: Respirator for sand

I do it outside in open air with a welding helmut on with a clear lens only with a soft cloth over the nose/mouth.

OR

with a two canister (organic hyrdo carbon type) Biinks paint spray mask

OR

in a blast cabinet with a shop vac evacuating the dust

I am still alive and somewhat normal

but I only use Black Beauty

Dave

[mhorowit]

Re: Respirator for sand

Hi DAve -
Here's this afternoon's results using some aluminum oxide I got two years ago with the pressure pot.

Rebuilding the compressor assembly has been an interesting task; even though it wasn't directly work on the plane, I justified it 'cause I need the compressor to run the blaster to clean nooks and crannies. Now I can go back to my spars.

That crushed slag isn't too abrasive for aircraft work is it? - MikeH

[Guest]

Re: Respirator for sand

Hi Mike,

Looks good.

Black Beauty is fine for AC work.

I blasted and blasted and blasted and blasted a piece one day and measured before and after with a micrometer.

No measurable difference. I use a suction blaster.

I have found that after blasting the metal that if you wipe it with any cloth or paper towel you will end up with little fibers all over it where it rasped them off the cloth or paper because of the metal's roughness.

So I don't wipe. Blow it off with compressed air or with solvent in a spray wand then paint.

Dave

[Jim Doody]

Re: Respirator for sand

Use the fine grade of black beauty. http://www.spraygunworld.com/Information2/Safety.htm 3M respirators for blasting and one component paints. Must use fresh air supplied for 2 component paints. Jim

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Respirator for sand

I have found any crushed slag is too abrasive for aircraft tubing and won't use it. I did two fuselages years ago with black beauty and had to redo them with sand because it tore the metal up too bad. I use a guy that uses #4 or #6 silica and leaves a finish that is comprable to what comes out of my cabinet and is ready to spray.

Mike

[hangarb7]

Re: Respirator for sand

I would venture a complete guess and say that the Black Beauty/crushed slag is just as bad for you as the silica/sand. The problem is that it just doesn't break down in your lungs.

I use playbox sand 'cause it is cheap and someone is always giving it away and I use a good quality 3M paint spray respirator. However, I have been thinking of cobbling up a fresh air supply respirator of my own design for both paint and blasting.

Regards,

Jack Dernorsek
N44057