Air fed Mask info?

[busastars]

Cheers Guys I need all the help I can get on this one

I did send the seller a question asking is everything included to connect it to my compressor, here is the reply:

"Hi you will need a breathing Airline unless you just use the breathing filter"

Does that help work out what I bought.

I always got loads of things in my watch list on ebay, was in work at the time and could only have a quick look on my phone so I asked the wife to bid. Most of the time I come up trumps, hopefully it's ok.

I take it the 3 stage filter is the bit that you have on a belt, so it is basically an air line from the compressor to the 3 stage filter on the belt and then onto the mask? Is it that simple?

Have been googe'ing about the 3 stage filters but cannot find one for sale, anyone know the price range for them.

Also please bare with me on this but I have seen Home Made Air Fed Masks from searching, basically a car rad fan mounted in a box blowing down an air line to the mask. NOW this is a DIY forum and we all like to make our own, does this sound like it would work or not, it is just a thought I might dismiss if it is a big No No.

 

[rtbcomp]

.......

Also please bare with me on this but I have seen Home Made Air Fed Masks from searching, basically a car rad fan mounted in a box blowing down an air line to the mask. NOW this is a DIY forum and we all like to make our own, does this sound like it would work or not, it is just a thought I might dismiss if it is a big No No.

I use a similar setup on my blasting helmet, BUT there is very little resistance to the airflow because there is no rubber seal round the face and I use vacuum cleaner tubing. I also wear a P2 mask inside the helmet just for belt & braces.

I doub't very much whether this type of fan will supply enough pressure to overcome the resistance of a proper paint mask, and given the nature of paint vapours I'd use the proper kit designed for the job.

 

[the snooper]

so its a filter and not a connection think you may have bought a dud given what you intend to use it for

 

[busastars]

It should be posted come Wednesday so will have it by the end of the week, I can then get a better look at it with some decent photos up. Hopefully it can be used if not I'll be on the hunt again.

 

[Chipper]

The 3-stage job is nailed to the wall, some belts have a carbon filter of their own too. I paid about £170 from Spray Guns Direct for the 3-stage, they've got others but I think that was the cheapest one.

 

[sima]

I know this is an old post but that looks like a draager B.A. set. I am a member of an emergency resopnse team and that looks like one of our sets. If it is there should be no need for filtration if there is a forced air supply. These masks use a diaphragm system for expelled air. Air is forced into the mask under positive pressure and the exhaled air is used to open 2x diaphragms (or non return valves). The draager ones are ok for chemicals as well as smoke as the environment I use mine in is an industrial one. Just make sure the seal is good around your face and have a shave before you use it to eliminate breaching the seal with beard hair!!

 

[busastars]

Cheers sima only a recent post so still after info

I may call on you for some advice, I should have the mask by this weekend as it was posted to me yesterday. I will be able to get some good photos up then.

 

[rtbcomp]

Whatever the mask, the need for filtration depends on the source of the air. If it comes from a bottle it will be filtered before being loaded into the bottle.

If you feed the mask from a compressor you will need filtration.

Maybe the best type of compressor to use would be an oil-less diaphram type, drawing its air a long way from any source of contamination.

 

[busastars]

Ahh Diaphragm pump, this one supplies 6lpm, not sure if that is enough to breath.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nitto-Koh...ultDomain_3&hash=item2c5e37fcd2#ht_2168wt_932

 

[rtbcomp]

That's nowhere near good enough - look at The Clarke range of airless compressors on the Machine Mart website.

I'd have one reservation though, I don't reckon those airess compressor would last as long as a lubricated piston type.

 

[sima]

Why cant you de-oil the air before breathing? I am pretty sure the compressor we use to fill the B.A. sets is a piston type with an oil trap and filter on it.

 

[Chipper]

That's one of the functions of the 3-stage filters.

A diaphragm pump might push cleaner air, but it must still need filtering for recycled paint mist.

 

[busastars]

Got the Mask today, put the mask on and fitted well, attached the air feed and 100% sealed off to my face. The front one way valve would let air out but nothing could come in and felt a suction on my face. With the air feed off breath as normal.

So it looks like the valve that attaches to the mask needs high preasure to even open. The exhaust valve seems accurate and will only let air out.

So my thinking is as long as I can get a stream of fresh air to the mask it will do the job just fine, got some experimenting to do.

Is there a good rough way of testing to make sure no air comes into the mask through the exhaust valve ( put it on and dip my face in water ) It did suck to my face when I sealed it off.

Some photos:

 

[rtbcomp]

One of the indications that air is getting into the mask where it shouldn't is that you could smell the fumes - a bit late if they're poisonous though!

Something else to consider is making some tear-offs out of film to protect the polycarbonate (?) visor, it looks expensive to replace.