Please recommend a face respirator mask

[JSpill]

I'm looking for a decent respirator to use when spraying or brushing oil finishes. I have a 3M model that fogs up my safety glasses, so I just take it off and it becomes useless. Are there masks out there that won't fog up? If so, please let me know which one has worked for you. Thanks.

[fredhargis]

I use a 3M and a North model, and neither fogs up my safety glasses. I'm just guessing the one you have doesn't fit correctly, or it leaks around the nose. In use, the inhaled air comes in through the filters, and goes out through the exhaust port (duh!) that one mine are all in the lower front center of the mask. When I had a day job (we had one on us all the time) we had to check the seal of the mask by covering the exhaust port and exhaling; you should feel the mask pressurize a little. The seals do fail, so maybe just a new mask...or one that fits correctly...should that be the problem. One other thing, the safety glasses can still fog up but not due to the mask.

[elinourrumming]

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodwo...gift-guide

Elipse P100. Love it. (And I wear glasses – no fogging)

[Rob Young]

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodwo...gift-guide

Elipse P100. Love it. (And I wear glasses – no fogging)

Are OV filters available?

[jteneyck]

3M probably outsells all other brands combined, so they must be doing something right.  I think Fred has it right, Jim, the mask you have probably doesn't fit you correctly, or you haven't followed their fitting directions.  From personal experience masks made of silicone tend to fit better and are more comfortable than others.  Here's one of them by 3M: Link Note the exhaust is on the bottom, so it won't fog up your glasses if it fits correctly.  Buy the correct size and you should be go to go. There are cartridges for it for many applications, too, pretty much anything a woodworker needs. 

John

[elinourrumming]

I don't believe so – just the P100 rated filters, plus ones that add "nuisance odor protection," to the same particulate-size filter.
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/filte...-mask.aspx

[vernonator]

As others have said if your current mask is fogging your glasses something is wrong. When you exhale it is breaking the seal around your nose/cheeks and that is what is hitting your glasses. Masks come in sizes and straps need adjusted to make it fit right. I wear this 3M mask in large with no issues, when I had a medium - foggy glasses. It takes a host of 3M filters including canister types for finishing and costs all of $17. I use the P100 when working wood and canister when finishing. An added bonus is it fits under my faceshield when I am turning.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Facepiece-Resp...Bmask&th=1