The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Respirator Question

I would not take the chance

i agree with 50adrod spend the money get one for paint you dont want to mess ur lungs up make sure they are the element type and not for dust the ones for dust dont work for paint and good luck

Back in the day it wasn't uncommon to paint wearing only a particle mask, but the way paints today smell I'm willing to wager that anyone who can breath those fumes without passing out could probably breath under water.

It's inconceivable to even consider painting without the proper respirator.

I'm not sure what an NBC suit is but if your mask is approved for VOCs (I think that stands for Volatile Organic Compounds) it should be OK for painting. Back in the day we often just used dust masks if anything at all. I can't tell you how many technicolor lung cookies I blew over the years. As I got older and smarter I started wearing proper gear. I'm surprised I still have lungs left.

Ive been using a disposable mask, good for 40 hours outside the bag, from my local auto paint supplier. Made by Gershon, cost abou $14 bucks. Seen some from 3M at NAPA as well. Well worth the price for safety.

Mike

I use a 3M dual cartridge respirator, organic vapor/p95 assembly that cost between $15 & $20 depending on where you get it from. It also is good for 40 hours of use. I would not even consider painting todays paints without this as a minimum of protection.

I imagine that'll probably do the job. Can you say "overkill".

You want overkill, THIS IS OVERKILL.

Bruce,

This response is based on over 25 years working in the environmental remediation field dealing with a wide range of hazardous materials. The answer to your question is no. It is not rated for paints, vapors or fumes.

CN and CS are two types of Tear Gas. Both are mist based irritants. Neither of which contain VOC based vapors or fumes. And, neither of which are neurotoxins. Here is a good description of both: http://www.safetyenforcement.com/csteargasfaq.html

Biologicals are particulates and are removed by HEPA filtration.

Many of the automotive paints that are out on the market contain VOCs that either require a respirator cartridge that is rated for paints containing activated carbon or a positive pressure fresh air supplied respirator.

Your tear gas approved respirator is not rated for toluene, xylene, benzene, isocyanate, lacquer thinner or any other volatile compound found in most automotive paints.

My suggestion is to use the right tools for the job. Get a respirator that is rated for the paint you are using. Leave the NBC suit and respirator at work

Thanks for the info. Dave.

I was an NBC NCO in the military. The masks we use are mainly for particulates. They don't stop fumes, which is probably the most dangerous part of painting. Your mask will probably take the spray out of the air for you, but it should clog the filter(s) pretty quickly.

Your best, and cheapest, bet for spray painting is an inexpensive, throw-away particulate mask. (You can get 12 packs from 3-M for a few dollars.) DON'T WORK IN A CONFINED SPACE WITH JUST A PARTICULATE MASK. You'll either get high, or dead eventually. Best solution is a filtered, pressurized suit, or at least the helmet.

Trust me. A pressurized helmet is not overkill. Check some local paint shops.

Tanker wearing nods, How did you get that home...they took mine back to arms room.
Brad

Well, one of my additional duties was NBC NCO, but I didn't try to get my tanker's mask home. That would be ideal with the canister mounted in the center of your back and a connector for an outside air source. Especially since the M-17 was so clumsy.

The best ones I've found lately, other than the throwaways, are Israeli surplus. Tried the Russian model and they s<>k. The Israeli models are cheap, new filters are readily available, they have a lot better vision, and are a lot more comfortable.

But they still don't protect you against fumes. Best bet for that is over-pressure, just like in a tank.