Air Brushing – Air Brush

Question:

"Philfthy McSkuzzo" wrote… I have a full beard and have never found what I consider to be a good respirator. not only in working well to do it’s job with the problem of the beard and "sealing" it but also with the size of these things. Recently I saw a picture of one that looked kinda like a Hannibal Lechter mask. I think it came from the UK and IIRC the name of the company started with an "R". It looked like it might work for my purposes. Anyone have any to say on this?

Out of curiosity, what ya paintin’? The reason I ask because there are different cartridges for different paints and some masks don’t have all the cartridge options. As for the beard, when I was younger I worked a summer at an oil refinery and we couldn’t have beards because we had to wear respirators.  Not that I could grow a beard back then but that was the rule. Now I don’t have a full beard, just a goatee but when I’m shooting anything but something with isocyanides in it, I use a half mask respirator made by Safeco (I think that’s the name) or one made by 3M. I prefer the Safeco because its a bit wider and it seals a bit better.  The key is to get them on tight. The other option (what I use for shooting catalyzed paints) is to get a fresh air supplied full mask.  They aren’t cheap, $500 and up, but you gotta have it if you’re shooting that kind of stuff. That’s all I’m aware of but I gotta ask, is it worth it to have the full beard? — hawgeye AH96  BS98  SENS  CtNs www.hawgeye.com

Response:

There is NO respirator anywhere that will seal 100% with a growth of beard be in 1/4" in length or 3 feet. It just wont seal. Now you or others may want to argue this point and that is fine. But under what testing.. Oxygen and Smoke Testing was done with fire department and SOME repeat SOME do allow a goatee or fumancho type beard but only if it stays in the inner parameter of the mask. But I tell ya what I wouldnt want to be the guy to test that same scenerio with Germ warfare germs in the air. Or bacterial environment. having a beard of anykind under my mask.   Not a chance. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a full beard and have never found what I consider to be a good respirator. not only in working well to do it’s job with the problem of the beard and "sealing" it but also with the size of these things. Recently I saw a picture of one that looked kinda like a Hannibal Lechter mask. I think it came from the UK and IIRC the name of the company started with an "R". It looked like it might work for my purposes. Anyone have any to say on this? Thanks, Philfthy

Response:

Shave the beard off. Put up a before and after photo and we’ll all tell you that you look ten years younger. Paul. — The Pinup Art of Paul Corfield      www.paulcorfield.com

I have a full beard and have never found what I consider to be a good respirator. not only in working well to do it’s job with the problem of the beard and "sealing" it but also with the size of these things. Recently I saw a picture of one that looked kinda like a Hannibal Lechter mask. I think it came from the UK and IIRC the name of the company started with an "R". It looked like it might work for my purposes. Anyone have any to say on this? Thanks, Philfthy

— Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

I’ve been around for 32 years. If you’ve had a beard that long who knows what’s been lost in there. You could always form a ZZ Top tribute band and airbrush up one of those hot rods they have on their album covers. Please excuse my sense of humour. I’m British, that’s my excuse. And I’ve had a few beers today. Paul.

The beard has you beat by 3 years. As to being British, I wasn’t aware you needed an excuse,only a passport. As to beer, carry on! Philfthy

Response:

I have a full beard and have never found what I consider to be a good respirator. not only in working well to do it’s job with the problem of the beard and "sealing" it but also with the size of these things. Recently I saw a picture of one that looked kinda like a Hannibal Lechter mask. I think it came from the UK and IIRC the name of the company started with an "R". It looked like it might work for my purposes. Anyone have any to say on this? Thanks, Philfthy

Response:

Shave the beard off. Put up a before and after photo and we’ll all tell you that you look ten years younger. Paul.

Paul- My beard has probably been on this earth longer than you. Guess I’ll just keep breathin thru this wet rag. Philfthy

Response:

how about your local diving club? maybe modifie a snorkel with an air fillter  and a nose clip a full mask and a beard would be to warm?

Response:

how about your local diving club? maybe modifie a snorkel with an air fillter  and a nose clip a full mask and a beard would be to warm?

Full face dive masks are a PITA as well as being expensive.  Also, they require positive pressure rather than just filters, so I’m not sure you’d get enough airflow – AKA a "bad thing".  So you’d need a tank or supply feed from a suitable compressor. As for NBC kit ideas – a British S10 respirator is not a good idea as around 3 days beard growth knackers the seal; I was under the impression that the US issue hoods were OK with beards.  Of course, they are all uncomfortable as hell, so you’ll be prone to overheating, misting up and limited field of vision.  Oh, and some of the organisations using them can get a little funny when you ask whether XYZ can get through the filters…  Of course, the stuff we’re using isn’t generally quite as unpleasant as what these things are designed to block. A comment on this site – http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00112.asp claims that the OSHA "will not allow masks on individuals who have facial hair" which sounds a bit limiting. I still haven’t found a suitable hood-type respirator after a bit of googling – just about everything seems to say "lose the beard". Peter

Response:

I’ve been around for 32 years. If you’ve had a beard that long who knows what’s been lost in there. You could always form a ZZ Top tribute band and airbrush up one of those hot rods they have on their album covers. Please excuse my sense of humour. I’m British, that’s my excuse. And I’ve had a few beers today. Paul. — The Pinup Art of Paul Corfield      www.paulcorfield.com

Shave the beard off. Put up a before and after photo and we’ll all tell you that you look ten years younger. Paul. Paul- My beard has probably been on this earth longer than you. Guess I’ll just keep breathin thru this wet rag. Philfthy

— Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

But I tell ya what I wouldnt want to be the guy to test that same scenerio with Germ warfare germs in the air. Or bacterial environment. having a beard of anykind under my mask. Not a chance.

Thankfully I’m not fighting fires or jumping into Iraq.

Response:

Yea, but have you seen my laundry pile?  These things could come in handy! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – But I tell ya what I wouldnt want to be the guy to test that same scenerio with Germ warfare germs in the air. Or bacterial environment. having a beard of anykind under my mask. Not a chance. Thankfully I’m not fighting fires or jumping into Iraq.

Response: