I have a silly question. I just started using an airbrush probably don’t have a proper set up. I’m using a large cardboard box for a spray booth in my garage. I open the garage door and have a ceiling fan going, though it’s not blowing directly on me. I’m using laquer thinner and enamels. I don’t paint very much, but I don’t want to turn my brain to mush. Is my set up ok for small amounts of painting? Or is this something you want to be extemely cautious with? How much do respirators cost and do you need both ventilation and a respirator? I’m obviously trying to get by with the minimum here but not at the expense of my health. Thanks.
Just my opinion, but I think that a cardboard box tends to capture, concentrate, and hold paint vapors that otherwise should be dispersed, thereby creating a greater potential inhalation exposure problem, not to mention a bigger fire hazard. Opening doors and windows, and running fans is an excellent means of diluting vapor concentrations; however, because you’re spraying laquer and enamel-based materials, a respirator would be a welcome addition to your painting supplies. They run about $20 and can be found at most hardware stores. Make sure you get one that has a rubber facepiece, and an organic vapor cartridge (normally black in color) with a paint prefilter (catches pigments and dust). When not in use, keep the respirator in its original bag, or in a Zip-Loc bag to keep the filters from prematurely going bad. Change the filters when breathing becomes difficult, or when you can smell or taste the contaminant while wearing the respirator (assuming you have a good, no-leak fit). Personally, I would get rid of the box, and spray in as open an area as possible.
Hope this helps.
Gip Winecoff
Agree, a respirator is a simple thing, like a civilian gas mask (as you breathe you make sounds very much like Darth Vader). Just make sure you read the labels or ask a sales associate for something that will protect you from paint vapors. Some respirators will protect from dust only-stay away from those.
My nearest Ace Hardware sells about half a dozen shapes and models.
Painting respirators use the same carbon granule filtering technology as military grade gas masks so if Al-Quaida attacks your hobby mask can double as part of your survival gear.
[:D]
I agree with Gip.
I open the side door in the garage and paint right near the opening of the door with a respirator on and a fan behind me blowing out the door.
I have a MSA Comflo respirator that I like very much.
Here is a photo of one:
Mike
Excellent photo, Mike.
I also like the MSA Comfo II. It’s probably one of the most popular respirators on the market. 3M and North also make great masks, too. I wear a North 1/2 mask at work when necessary, and am fitted for an MSA fullface, as well.
One note: The picture shows what appears to be a yellow or greenish air purifying cartridge. It looks like a cartridge approved for either acid gases or formaldehyde. The cartridge necessary for painting will have a black stripe or color and will be approved for organic vapors. A dust/mist prefilter should be included and will attach to the front of the organic vapor cartridge with a special cover/cap.
Gip Winecoff
I knew when I posted it that you or someone else would catch that filter in the picture as not being for paints. [;)]
Thanks for adding that info.
Actually, my comflo is an older model but is very similar to the one in the picture.
I need to get some new cartridges for it though as mine are REAL old. I wonder who sells them around here?
Mike
Mike,
- Try www.msanet.com. They have a distributors listing, but I couldn’t get it to open up.
In lieu of that, - West Pac Marine www.westpacmarine.com out of Tacoma, Washington sells MSA respirators, cartridges, etc. Their number is 1-800-343-5826.
Gip Winecoff