09-21-2010, 10:10 PM
I understand what you're saying, but these people have never used a proper organic filter resipirator - not a chemical actived cartridge, but charcoal. There are different types of cartridges for different applications. You'd have to go to an industrial supply company to get the heavier charcoal filters with the red stripe on them - not the blue version, which is only for light applications. I haven't had to replace these, since it's been a few years since I've worn my mask. If your mask doesn't keep out fumes - it's either defective (a hole, or leak) , or your using the wrong filter cartridges for the job. I've used Weld-on cement with my respirator, and never smelled the fumes from it, but I also didn't have facial hair when using it either. We had one guy at the local # 469 that had a full beard, and he wanted to keep it, but they told him to shave it off because it wouldn't provide a proper seal. Some people don't fit these masks as well as they're designed to, so it may not work as effectively as it should. However, this shouldn't be a concern to most people, as it does what it should for most. A thick mustache, or goatee will also hinder the proper use of any respirator no matter what type of cartridge it has in it. Also, a loose fitting respirator won't provide a proper seal either. Be sure your mask is tight fitting, but not restrictive to the point of discomfort.
Xylene, and M.E.K. are only reserved for paint removers. This stuff is too hot chemically, and too toxic for glue use. Tulol as known as Toluene, or oil of mustard is what Testors uses in their glue. This is what you'll see in most styrene based adhesives. This acts like PVC glue which doesn't join two surfaces together, but it melts the plastic much like a weld. This makes for a stronger bond on broad surfaces, but tiny parts will still be delicate because they're so small. Super glues bond to the surface of the part it's applied to rather than bonding to it molecularly. Xylene is not something that I would put into glue as it's only formulated to remove paint - it can't be used for anything else, as it flashes (dries) off so quickly. It evaporates much like acetone, but it's much hotter, and can only be put into metal tubes as it melts plastic. M.E.K. is the same way - too hot for most uses, and it's highly toxic to the nervous system. These chemical agents are only formulated for industrial use, and not for sale, or use in most household products. You can buy it from home improvement stores, but you won't want to use it, except for removing epoxy, or polyurethane paints used in automotive, and furniture factories. No matter what the manufacturer states on their labels, an air supplied respirator is NOT going to help in a small environment as the one you're working in! You need an outside air supply with the proper filters for this. Most household adhesives are not for all day, or everyday use, so you need to be careful, and aware of what you use, and how long you use it. Air supplied masks aren't respirators, as they don't cover only your nose, or mouth area, but your entire head. These are used in industrial sandblasting, or abrasive blasting as it's usually said. These offer more protection than a respirator, as the abrasive comes out at 300 feet per second. This mask is to keep the particles from hitting your eyes. The air is only supplied as the mask goes around your entire head, and there's no breathing hole.
Chemical sensitisation is one factor that you have to keep in mind when using chemicals in liquid form, or even in a dust, or powder form. This can cause all kinds of health problems, and they can ruin your clothing. Just be careful, and ever conciencous about what you're using, and the duration of how long you use it. Chemical cartridges are only good for a few days even when new. If you use it all day - this will deplete any cartridge in about three to four days. I've kept mine in plastic, and the charcoal in it stopped working after about four days. I only used it three times in that span, and only for about seventy minutes each time. This stuff doesn't last forever, and any cartridge left, or stored in the same area the fumes are in will also contaminate the cartridges as well. Just be careful, and remember to do the positive, and negative air pressure check. If you smell chemicals even with new cartridges, and all the mask parts tightened to manufacturers specs, and if you don't have any facial hair to obstruct proper use - the integrity of your mask has been comprimised, which means you'll have to throw it away! Most of these are soft silicone/rubber, or 100% silicone for ease of use, and to conform to the features of individual faces.
I don't recommend using harsh chemicals all day unless it's totally neccessary where nothing else will help, or can be substituted. In your case, I'd use superglue as this is what I use all day, and I don't have ill effects from it. I cap it after everytime I apply it to the parts I need to join. I don't need to wear a mask of any kind, as I'm usually only scratch making parts, and glue is mostly an afterthought to join things together. I'm more careful about what I use chemically speaking since I know what's in most household chemicals, and I don't get them on my skin, or inhale them either by accident, or intentionally. I guess you'll have to use your best judgement on what to do when you can't paint in your booth. If you can't use a booth to paint something in - use a respirator at least. It may not be a "Be all - end all" of breathing equipment, but barring the use of an oxygen respirator for divers, and firefighters - it's the most protection that you can buy without drastic measures, or bulky equipment. It sure as hell beats a paper mask which amounts to almost nothing - it's kind of like pulling your T-shirt over your face.
How to conduct a positive, and negative pressure test:
With both hands over the filters of your respirator - check by inhaling. If you have them completely blocked, and air still comes in - make sure that all parts are secure tightly before doing anything else. If you can't breathe in, and the filters are tight, the neoprene washers inside are working correctly.
To conduct a negative air flow test: cover the bottom aireator with the palm of your hand. If you can feel, or hear air escaping, tighten all parts, and retest. If you don't feel air escaping, the neoprene washer inside is working correctly.
If you feel air entering while checking the positive pressure test, or air escaping while checking the negative pressure test - it's most likely a loose fitting part. If you've tightened all the parts, and replaced the neoprene washers, this means that the integrity of the mask has been comprimised, and is therefore rendered useless - throw it away! Before tossing your respirator check for small imperfections, or cracks/splits anywhere along the seal on the sides, and toward the edges of the mask itself. This will help you determine the shape its' in before deciding to do anything else. There are replacement parts for any defective seals, or plastic cartridge encasements. You can get new filters, and cartridges at most paint stores, or better department stores. When you change cartridges, change your filters too - these will hold chemical odors as well!
Xylene, and M.E.K. are only reserved for paint removers. This stuff is too hot chemically, and too toxic for glue use. Tulol as known as Toluene, or oil of mustard is what Testors uses in their glue. This is what you'll see in most styrene based adhesives. This acts like PVC glue which doesn't join two surfaces together, but it melts the plastic much like a weld. This makes for a stronger bond on broad surfaces, but tiny parts will still be delicate because they're so small. Super glues bond to the surface of the part it's applied to rather than bonding to it molecularly. Xylene is not something that I would put into glue as it's only formulated to remove paint - it can't be used for anything else, as it flashes (dries) off so quickly. It evaporates much like acetone, but it's much hotter, and can only be put into metal tubes as it melts plastic. M.E.K. is the same way - too hot for most uses, and it's highly toxic to the nervous system. These chemical agents are only formulated for industrial use, and not for sale, or use in most household products. You can buy it from home improvement stores, but you won't want to use it, except for removing epoxy, or polyurethane paints used in automotive, and furniture factories. No matter what the manufacturer states on their labels, an air supplied respirator is NOT going to help in a small environment as the one you're working in! You need an outside air supply with the proper filters for this. Most household adhesives are not for all day, or everyday use, so you need to be careful, and aware of what you use, and how long you use it. Air supplied masks aren't respirators, as they don't cover only your nose, or mouth area, but your entire head. These are used in industrial sandblasting, or abrasive blasting as it's usually said. These offer more protection than a respirator, as the abrasive comes out at 300 feet per second. This mask is to keep the particles from hitting your eyes. The air is only supplied as the mask goes around your entire head, and there's no breathing hole.
Chemical sensitisation is one factor that you have to keep in mind when using chemicals in liquid form, or even in a dust, or powder form. This can cause all kinds of health problems, and they can ruin your clothing. Just be careful, and ever conciencous about what you're using, and the duration of how long you use it. Chemical cartridges are only good for a few days even when new. If you use it all day - this will deplete any cartridge in about three to four days. I've kept mine in plastic, and the charcoal in it stopped working after about four days. I only used it three times in that span, and only for about seventy minutes each time. This stuff doesn't last forever, and any cartridge left, or stored in the same area the fumes are in will also contaminate the cartridges as well. Just be careful, and remember to do the positive, and negative air pressure check. If you smell chemicals even with new cartridges, and all the mask parts tightened to manufacturers specs, and if you don't have any facial hair to obstruct proper use - the integrity of your mask has been comprimised, which means you'll have to throw it away! Most of these are soft silicone/rubber, or 100% silicone for ease of use, and to conform to the features of individual faces.
I don't recommend using harsh chemicals all day unless it's totally neccessary where nothing else will help, or can be substituted. In your case, I'd use superglue as this is what I use all day, and I don't have ill effects from it. I cap it after everytime I apply it to the parts I need to join. I don't need to wear a mask of any kind, as I'm usually only scratch making parts, and glue is mostly an afterthought to join things together. I'm more careful about what I use chemically speaking since I know what's in most household chemicals, and I don't get them on my skin, or inhale them either by accident, or intentionally. I guess you'll have to use your best judgement on what to do when you can't paint in your booth. If you can't use a booth to paint something in - use a respirator at least. It may not be a "Be all - end all" of breathing equipment, but barring the use of an oxygen respirator for divers, and firefighters - it's the most protection that you can buy without drastic measures, or bulky equipment. It sure as hell beats a paper mask which amounts to almost nothing - it's kind of like pulling your T-shirt over your face.
How to conduct a positive, and negative pressure test:
With both hands over the filters of your respirator - check by inhaling. If you have them completely blocked, and air still comes in - make sure that all parts are secure tightly before doing anything else. If you can't breathe in, and the filters are tight, the neoprene washers inside are working correctly.
To conduct a negative air flow test: cover the bottom aireator with the palm of your hand. If you can feel, or hear air escaping, tighten all parts, and retest. If you don't feel air escaping, the neoprene washer inside is working correctly.
If you feel air entering while checking the positive pressure test, or air escaping while checking the negative pressure test - it's most likely a loose fitting part. If you've tightened all the parts, and replaced the neoprene washers, this means that the integrity of the mask has been comprimised, and is therefore rendered useless - throw it away! Before tossing your respirator check for small imperfections, or cracks/splits anywhere along the seal on the sides, and toward the edges of the mask itself. This will help you determine the shape its' in before deciding to do anything else. There are replacement parts for any defective seals, or plastic cartridge encasements. You can get new filters, and cartridges at most paint stores, or better department stores. When you change cartridges, change your filters too - these will hold chemical odors as well!
~ Cobra Chris