Face mask/shield for grinding

Shug · Jul 16, 2007

I'm acutely aware that when I'm grinding/cutting that whilst my goggles will save my eyes they won't do much for the general facial prettyness if a disc goes. Been eying up faceshields on ebay etc. Will one of those polycarbonate plastic type affairs be of any practical use? Or the wire mesh ones?
At 5 quid I don't hold out much hope on the quality.
My welding mask flickers a bit if I use it for grinding and it'd be cheaper to replace a normal mask than an autodarkening welding one!

Ratty · Jul 16, 2007

I made the mistake of buying cheap gas welding goggles on ebay, they were absolute rubbish, big gaps all round except where it touched HARD (and painfully) on the bridge of my nose. I got a full refund without having to return them and used in desperation the other day when my other 3 sets of goggles were hiding. The lenses fell out almost immediately. I binned them. What value do you put on your face? 2 pints of beer?? Buy a reputable make or go to a shop where you can try it on and check it's robustness.

rtbcomp · Jul 16, 2007

I have a full-face polycarbonate faceshield. It's very good but get one with a brow guard too.

They can get sctratched so I protect mine with a cut-up clear 2 litre drinks bottle held in place with masking tape.

Wozzaaah · Jul 16, 2007

That's a great idea! Mine's scratched as well, I'll do that on my replacement one. Hmmm, better still cut the bottle open and tape that to my face! (Anyone want to buy a home-made face shield? Only £5 each

)

rtbcomp · Jul 16, 2007

Wozzaaah said:
That's a great idea! Mine's scratched as well, I'll do that on my replacement one. Hmmm, better still cut the bottle open and tape that to my face! (Anyone want to buy a home-made face shield? Only £5 each )

Then turn a blowlamp on it so it melts and moulds to the contours of your face :laughing:

Wozzaaah · Jul 16, 2007

Hehe, nice one, custom fit face shields now £10 each

! There's probably people reading this who might think that's actually a good idea! Still got to be safer than those newspaper welding masks though! :laughing:

Drains · Jul 16, 2007

If you're grinding then a comfy set of goggles is fine. BOC do some good ones and they're around the fiver mark.

If you're cutting, sp with a 9" machine, or those skinny 'plasma' discs, you should use a a full face jobbie.

If you want to look like a real pro ( :rolleyes:

), use an old fashioned welding mask with a flip up front for grinding. In restricted areas, like under a car, where your auto mask might sometimes not work, a standard mask is useful.

irondarren · Jul 16, 2007

Dont mess about get yourself something like the optrel helmet, that doubles as a grinding mask, much easier way to do it. But it isnt cheap

Hitch · Jul 16, 2007

I cant stand thoose floppy faceshield things, way too big, plust stuff easily gets aound the sides.

This is what i use....

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Uvex-Ultra-Vision-Safety-Goggles-and-Face-Shield-21088.htm

The actual goggle lens comes out of the frame for cleaning, or it can be relaced seperatly.
The faceshield part is detachable from the goggle, you you only need use it when needed.
Plenty of room for normal glasses underneath, and verey very rarely have a problem with them steaming up.

irondarren · Jul 16, 2007

I use a pair of safety glasses from BOC, the shaded ones of course but only cos i want to look cool while grinding. And of course me welding cap. Got to agree with you on the head shields i have owned a few and you still get sparks go around it. Must admit those ones you sent the link to look far better and price is good as well, uvex is a well know make so they ought to be safe.

Welderpaul · Jul 16, 2007

irondarren said:
I use a pair of safety glasses from BOC, the shaded ones of course but only cos i want to look cool while grinding. And of course me welding cap. Got to agree with you on the head shields i have owned a few and you still get sparks go around it. Must admit those ones you sent the link to look far better and price is good as well, uvex is a well know make so they ought to be safe.

Shame you aint got them on while grinding in your gallery pictures. :laughing:

Flat cap good idea for keeping ****e out of hair. Fred Dibnah wanabee? :laughing:

irondarren · Jul 16, 2007

That wasnt me, got a mate of mine doing a favour, guy called Neil, he is no fred dibner wanna be. More like a pikey wanna be lol.

Welderpaul · Jul 16, 2007

irondarren said:
That wasnt me

Hmmmm.

SC_BK · Jul 17, 2007

I've got a hard hat with full clear plastic visor and ear defenders atatched. So I've got protection starting at the back of my head, all round to the front, whole face and it has the chin guard to protect the neck aswell

It is pretty big and bulky, and if you're at an odd angle you get the odd spark coming round the side.

Got it when I was at the council (for strimming), visor is now pretty scratched up and I could really do with a replacment!

Infact I now have a small collection of head PPE in my shed, also have 2 chainsaw helmets which each consist of hard hat, ear muffs and mesh visor. Then another hard hat with just ear muffs, a pair of the individual ear defenders, few hundred ear plugs, a pair of goggles, and not forgetting my basic welding mask!

MrFluffy · Jul 18, 2007

Just a pair of rigid plastic safety glasses with sides on them, or you find swarf etc manages to curl round the side and get in your eye anyway.
Ive got the rubbery goggles too, theyre good but they make me sweat too much and fog up.
What I have done, is hung a pair of goggles on every machine, so Im much more inclined to put a set on if I can lay my hands on them easy.
If Im doing weld prep I just use the facemask.

Ive never had a disc burst, maybe its because I dont grind aluminium or other soft metal with them and wonder why they overheat afterwards

The Undertaker · Jul 18, 2007

I've got a uvex full face, face part detaches from the goggle part, replacement lenses only a couple of quid and it'll stay pushed up and perched on the top of my head, so it's always close at hand.

Face mask/shield for grinding

Shug

Member

Ratty

Putting the She in Sheds

rtbcomp

Moderator

Wozzaaah

The wizard of woz

rtbcomp

Moderator

Wozzaaah

The wizard of woz

Drains

Yeah, nah.

irondarren

Member

Hitch

Moderator

irondarren

Member

Welderpaul

Member

irondarren

Member

Welderpaul

Member

SC_BK

teuchter

MrFluffy

Member

The Undertaker

Member