I have purchased a respirator for airbrusing some of my models with Testors Mighty Mini airbrush and Testors acrylic (and possibly enamel) paints. It is the AOSafety Professional Multi-Purpose Respirator, number 95050. It says it is recommended for:
Paint and Pesticides sprays/vapors
Chlorine and Muriatic Acid
Lead and Asbestos fumes
I will be airbrushing in a 2-stall garage with both doors open if necessary, but in the future, I would also like to airbrush in an indoor airbrushing booth. Will this respirator protect me from everything that could harm me when airbrushing?
Specs look OK BUT it reads more like a DUST FILTER for construction as opposed to a Painting application. I could be wrong and I am sure that someone will correct me if I am.
I got mine from Ditzler Paint Company. An overkill BUT my dad died from spraying paints without one.
Best thing is a GOOD spray Booth or HOOD.
Never can be to safe with some of these products.
Take Care
George P.
I agree with George. Drop by your larger AUTOMOTIVE paint stores and see what they wouold sugest, perhaps even a small roll of fine masking tape for future progects.
I see a lot of post with excessive overkill on building a layout, however personal saftey, electrical, chemical, fire and personal saftey is not overkill, its survival…John
If in doubt, ask the supplier. Tell him what materials you plan to spray.
Some automotive paints are very deadly, and you must wear a respirator. They are strictly for professional use. But paints (or other chemicals) made for consumer use are a different story.
But it is a good idea to limit your exposure to them in any way.
postdog2, I am a safety professional working in a very toxic industry and can speak to this to a degree. I know that American Optical is a very well respected manufacturer of safety equipment. Good choice.
Some questions though: have you used your respirator? Are you getting any vapours through it? Can you smell or taste the paint vapours? Getting your nostrils stuck together?
Your description sounds to me like you have the right unit. Just as important as the respirator though, is the fit. Does the respirator seal properly all the way around?
Facial hair, e.g., beard will compromise the seal where the edge of the respirator contacts your skin. The part of your face that comes in contact with the edge seal of the respirator should be clean shaven. There should have been instructions with the respirator for testing the fit and seal. Check these before you use it for the first time.
I strongly recommend your getting a spray booth that is vented to the outside if you want to do any painting inside your house with solvent-based paints. These units aren’t cheap, but they have an exhaust blower on them that carries all the paint fumes to the outside. You don’t want the fumes accumulating in your house even if you’re wearing a respirator. If the solvent fumes get to a high enough concentration near an ignition source, e.g. gas water heater, etc. there is the potential for an explosion or fire.
Have you thought about trying to use some of the water-based hobby paints which do not present these hazards?
Gentlemen, as an MFG of water based dyes for the after market auto folks they are still BAD NEWS when sprayed. Please note that the HAIRS in your nose are you FILTER system for your body. With that said, ANY spray vapors from ANY paint source is small enough to GLUE thosew hairs together and realy cause a health problem. I brush paint all the time BUT when I fire up the spray equipment be it the air brush or a production gun the BEST I CAN GET is what I put on. I am almost 60 ans been doing this for 45+ years and STILL HAVE NO LUNG PROBLEMS. That is my story and I am sticking to it!
Please do not let WATER BASED PAINT fool you it is just as deadly as any other kind, just takes longer.
In a WATER BASED COLOR CALLED LAMP BLACK there is amonium hydorxide and carbon, need I say more. You know that color as engine black.
It may be less than 2% BUT why take the chance?