Dust Mask and Glasses fogging

[schlaboatnic]

What is the secret to weaing a dust mask and not fogging up your glasses? I have tried every mask from el cheepo to the double strapped gasketed and still my glasses fog. I am fine with a respirator, but in cases where I suddenly need a mask, I know that I'm in trouble because I'm gonna fog. Suggestions?

[Bruce Hooke]

So your glasses fog when using a dust mask but not when using a respirator? If so, it sounds like you are having problems with air leakage next to your nose. I find that with the type of dust mask that has a small metal strip across the bridge of the nose, I have to adjust the bend in that metal strip carefully to prevent leakage next to my nose.

If all else fails you could get dust filters for your respirator and use it as a dust mask, but it is not much fun wearing a respirator when you just need a basic dust mask.

[Figment]

I'm confused.

If you have a full-face respirator (and really every boatowner should), why on earth would you wear anything less?

My eyes don't like airborne dust any more than my lungs.

[Mrleft8]

There's some anti fog stuff you can put on your glasses. Don't know what it's called, but I bet a Optom.... Optoma.... Optomistress can tell you...

[paladin]

visit your local scuba shop...there's a pink stick that you rub on the lenses and then buff lightly with the tail of your T shirt.....won't fog.....:D

[Bruce Hooke]

I'm confused.

If you have a full-face respirator (and really every boatowner should), why on earth would you wear anything less?

My eyes don't like airborne dust any more than my lungs.

I my opinion there are plenty of times when it makes sense to wear a simple dust mask rather than haul out the respirator. Dust masks usually make reference to nuisance dust, and that is a good dividing line -- when there is enough dust to be a nuisance but not enough to be truly hazardous. There are plenty of times when I am, say, just sanding a piece of wood when it is nice to have a bit of dust protection but not necessary to haul out the full respirator. If you insist that a respirator should always be used my suspicion is that most people will put off putting on the respirator and thus be less protected than if they had simply put on a decent dust mask.

There is also the factor that it is a waste of money to clog up expensive respirator cartridges when you don't need that level of protection.

[George Ray]

Check the rating on masks and respirators. Most are just N95 (95% filtering). There are a lot of masks and even cartridge type that you would think to look at them are very serious filters but when you read the rating they are no better than the nice two strap thick filter pad disposables (most are 95%).

Go for the N99 or P100 rating if you have any question at all about your tolerance for trash in your lungs or just want to take good care of what respiratory function you've got left.

[Jay Greer]

I use medical masks. They seal nicely around the schnoze.
Jay

[Brian Palmer]

I've got a half face respirator fitted with dust filters (no organic vapor control). I can tell there is a big difference compared to dust masks, even when doing hand sanding, not to mention machine sanding. So, that is the only thing I use.

If there isn't that much dudst, then the filters will last longer anyway. If there is more dust, then you'll be glad you have the better filters.

--Brian

[Ron Paro]

I used to have problems with fogged glasses until I got a Dust Bee Gone mask from Woodcraft. This is a very comfortable, washable mask. The nose strip bends to make a good seal. It is even supposed to work well over a beard.

This image is from Woodcraft website (not me).
http://www.woodcraft.com/images/Family/web2089.jpg

[Ron Williamson]

I'm with Brian.
My old respirator has dust filters on it.
My new one has vapour cartridges.
R

[Bruce Hooke]

My experience has been that because a respirator is a fairly unpleasant thing to wear around, I tend to delay putting it on unless I really need it, whereas I hardly notice a dust mask, so I am much more likely to actually use a dust mask.

I should note that because of the kinds of things I tend to do in the shop, it is fairly common for me to kick up a small bit of dust for a brief period of time and then spend a fair amount of time doing non-dusty work like hand planing or chiseling. When I do have to do very dusty things like belt sanding or grinding away at paint I take more serious precautions.

[capt jake]

I use the 3M 1/2 face respirator with filters. I found the particulate pre-filters at the autobody supply house. Take the cartridges off and use only the filters. Light weight and they have a good deal of surface area so they don't plug readily. The mask also has an exhalation valve, preventing moist air from fouling the filters.

I use the same mask for painting. Simply re-install the cartridges with the pre-filters.
Like this one. http://store.pksafety.net/3m20p95fi.html

[John C. Gresham]

Just my $0.02, but you could wear the lab goggles that seal around your eyes...I've not had a problem with those fogging.

[shark_ef]

i found the same thing, and turned out to be fixed with which one was on top, also i have those curved almost sunglass like safety glasses by bosc, that helps,

i believe i put my mask on top of the glasses

that's my advice and worked for me, but i have an unusual shaped face

[Lew Barrett]

Make sure you pinch off the metal strip (as Bruce suggests) very tightly around your nose. That should help a bit.

[Ron Williamson]

I found before I quit using disposables, that some were better than others.
I liked 3M 8210 and Norton as well.
The metal band on the cheapie ones at the hardware store(still two strap N95) was not stiff enough to stay conformed to the bridge of my nose.
R

[Varna]

Surprised no one mentioned the disposable dust masks with the exhaust valves which eliminate this very issue . 3M produces them, as well as the others. I have a box of some brand I got from MSC- they are light blue colored- and are great after the fall rains arrive and the humidity climbs above the current 15-20% of summer season here.
Anyway the are cheap and effective and comfortable and stop the fogging problem for me.

[Rational Root]

Surprised no one mentioned the disposable dust masks with the exhaust valves which eliminate this very issue . 3M produces them, as well as the others. I have a box of some brand I got from MSC- they are light blue colored- and are great after the fall rains arrive and the humidity climbs above the current 15-20% of summer season here.
Anyway the are cheap and effective and comfortable and stop the fogging problem for me.

Fogging is down to manageable levels with the valve.

[Nicholas Carey]

Just my $0.02, but you could wear the lab goggles that seal around your eyes...I've not had a problem with those fogging.WRT "safety goggles", please make sure that yours are certified for the use for which you are wearing them.

Lab googles are not likely to be impact-rated: if you're expecting them to protect your eyes from, say, the explosive deconstruction of a cut-off wheel in an angle grinder, you're likely to be sadly (and permanently) disappointed. Lab googles are likely designed to do no more than protect your eyes from chemical splashes.

ANSI Z87.1-2003 (Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices) replaces the previous edition (ANSI Z87.1-1989) and defines two levels of impact resistance: basic impact and high impact (carried over from Z87.1-1989).

Protective devices, under Z81.1-2003, must be tested as a unit (lenses in frames), a change from the previous edition of the standard, where lenses were tested in isolation.

All frames must pass the high impact test described below.

Basic impact lenses must pass the "drop ball" test: the lens must survive the impact of a 1-inch diameter steel ball dropped from a height of 50 inches.

High impact lenses meet more stringent criteria "high velocity" test: a 1/4 inch steel ball is fired into the lens at relatively high velocity. The impact velocity is dependent on on the type of eye/face protective device. For:
protective glasses/spectacles, the impact velocity is 150 ft./sec.
protective goggles, the impact velocity is 250 ft./sec.
protective faceshields, the impact velocity is 300 ft./sec.If your protective gear is classified as high impact, it will bear the manufacturers mark or logo, "Z87" and a plus sign ("+"), like this:

3M Z87+
There may be additional markings: a number indicating lens tint or shade, an "S" if it is a special purpose lens and a "V if the lens is photochromic.

The new standard also requires manufacturers to have a warning tag on basic impact protective devices identifying them as such, with the usual caution, like mattress tags, that the tag is not to be removed (except by the consumer.)

Note that OSHA regulations currently incorporate by reference the older (Z81.-1989) edition of the standard. Compliance with the newer edition is, as yet, voluntary, on the part of manufacturers.

Keep yer eyes safe out there: you've only got two of them and you need them both.

[Phillip Allen]

set a fan up to blow in your face...