HF respirator safe for isocyantes?

[sflem849]

I just had to start the fight...I apologize in advance.

I was at HF yesterday and their plain old painting respirator said Safe for use with isocyanates if used as directed (or something VERY similar to that) How can that be? I thought only forced air respirators were approved for use with isocyantes?
 

[CNKS]

Charcoal respirator-no. My paint dealer says they are. Worst person to ask is a salesman. They are safe if you have a way to measure the iso's-you don't. Is safe for bodyshops with downdraft paint booths and a regular change schedule. Gemplers catalog sales has always said their masks were safe except for isos. They changed that for about one issue of the catalog, said they were safe, then went back to saying no. HOWEVER some "claim" they are safe if they used one time and thrown away. The only way a charcoal mask can come close to being safe is if it is brand new and fits perfectly. That makes it more or less pass the new thing, but none of them fit perfectly. And if they are safe, you have to buy one a day. Since it takes me several days to paint a stripped tractor, they would cost more than the paint. I don't believe any are safe, even if the manufacturer says so, its only sales talk and has not been proven. There is no way to tell.
 

[B-maniac]

It is perfectly safe to ride a motorcycle without a helmet! However , it is NOT safe to have an accident while riding a motorcycle without a helmet! Wording can mean everything.
 

[FarmerZeb]

an organic vapor cartridge respirator will work
with iso's IF used IAW the MFR spec. BUUUUTTT..it
is very difficult to use them that way. The
problem with the CTG respirators is "breakthrough"
or when the cartridge becomes saturated and no
longer will remove the contaminate in question.
To calculate the time to breakthrough you would
need an atmospheric monitoring program to figure
out how long your CTG would last given the
conditions where you are spraying. This is why
most pro shops use SAR because it is way cheaper
than all that other overhead trying to use a ctg
respirator. Also keep this in mind. If you used
a o-vapor ctg respirator for 10 hours and changed
ctgs every 1/2 hour you would pay for a Hobby type
SAR system in ctg costs alone.

hope this helps to explain

-paul
 

[Kurt_JDB]

Do you have any suggestions for a "hobby" type SAR? I'm gettin' ready to paint my '38 B, and this disscussion has convinced me that I need a better protection system.

Thanks,

Kurt
 

[sflem849]

I will speak for CNKS. He uses the HobbyAir and likes it.
 

[Tom-Pa]

Google "supplied air respirators" and you will get several typss. Citation, Hobby Aire, Breathe Cool by turbineproducts,(which I use), Pro Air, SAS. All are brand names of some of the units. Also type in same phrase on ebay and a number of them usually show up. Be Safe and use a supplied air unit. Then there is no question...