Breathing mask for welding

[scootr]

What mask do you guys recommend for under the hood protection?

 

[2manyrocks]

If you can, weld outdoors.

 

[Rustyiron]

I guess that squinting doesn't work.
I've used a regular box fan in the general area to encourage sideways movement away from me. A nice temperature and gentle breeze is not always available but working outside has its good points.

 

[grsthegreat]

I occasionally use my hobby air mask when having to weld things like galvanized metal horse tie rails. Even if welded outside, I prefer the safety of my mask. I have it hooked to a 50’ hose to pump, and the pump takes its intake air from other side of building exterior away from everything.
I also use this when spray painting.
Mine is the half face model


the original reason I got mask is to wear when operating plasma cutting table.

Hobbyair-Respirators

Hobbyair AccessoriesMasks and Hoods--Click For More Info-- Hoses & Fittings--Click For More Info--

www.axispro.com

 

[fatjay]

I use a 3m respirator with p100 pink discs. https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/v000093499/

And I use a harbor freight auto tinting mask.

I used to weld without the repsirator and the **** that came out when i blew my nose was unnerving. Using filters completely changed that.

 

[sandman2234]

Clean air supply from some source is a requirement for welding! Even filtering it isn't as good as fresh air, but a lot better than breathing in fumes!
There are fresh air hoods for welding, which I don't happen to own, despite having a Sister who was in the safety end of business and would send me "Care Packages" from time to time with excess samples that had built up.
Miss those since She retired!
David from jax

 

[sea2summit]

I use a 3m respirator with p100 pink discs. https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/v000093499/

And I use a harbor freight auto tinting mask.

I used to weld without the repsirator and the **** that came out when i blew my nose was unnerving. Using filters completely changed that.

What I use as well, it fits under the hood well enough I don’t notice it at all. Just make sure you’re getting a good size/seal.

 

[MarshSt]

I also use the 3M Half-Facepiece and 3M 2091 filters. As already mentioned, make sure you get the correct size facepiece, (6100-Small 6200-Med 6300-Large I think)

 

[scootr]

I also use the 3M Half-Facepiece and 3M 2091 filters. As already mentioned, make sure you get the correct size facepiece, (6100-Small 6200-Med 6300-Large I think)

I ended up getting a medium and a large to see which fits the best... Amazon > one will go back.

 

[dstig1]

Somewhere around 60-75% of people fit in a medium and almost all the rest in a Large. Very few smalls out there, unless you are talking about folks from SE Asia. This is generally true for all half mask respirators, though it will certainly vary with different designs and styles. Some only have 2 sizes and other have 4 or more.

As for filters even N95 will cover most welders, especially hobbyists, until you get into certain specific things like Chrome (a component of Stainless), but P100 is also very common. Either one will do fine and are the most common types. You can also find ones that have some activated carbon in them and will take out "odors" or "nuisance vapors" like the paint you singed when repairing something with your welder but don't have enough carbon in them for working with spray paint, for example.

I won't recommend brands, other than to say stay away from cheap China knock-offs of major brands that you can find on Amazon and other online places as you have no idea if they actually meet the requirements of the regulations or not.

 

[Bearsixty7]

..
I've used a regular box fan in the general area to encourage sideways movement away from me. A nice temperature and gentle breeze is not always available but working outside has its good points.

^^^ I agree!
I have an old oscillating type pedestal fan in the shop I use when welding or even grinding. It sits right at the welding table height.

 

[MTGreen]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it seems that no matter where I put the fan I can still see the effects on my shielding gas. Irritating enough I moved to the 3M respirators even though it's a painus with the auto darkening helmet

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Cordless Milwaukee fan.

 

[jjeff]

After a few suggestions from actual professional welders, Thought about wearing one than I repurposed this old industrial exhaust fan this thing moves air and it doesn't effect using gas on a mig, it was repurposed junk on a greenhouse that was decommissioned. Still use a respirator when occasionally painting with a hvlp gun though. Easy to mount on any shop window.

 

[oosik]

I seldom weld. But when I do - its always outside. Now my neighbor is a big time welder. Always welding to repair something. He has a big fan that clears the welding area.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I had a friend who was a professional welder. He was also a smoker. Between the welding and the cigarettes, the haze was so thick in his shop, you could hardly see the far wall. Sometimes, he used a fan with the doors open, but not in the winter. He had a full beard so a mask was not very effective.

When his doctor found out he was a welder, he told him he might as well keep on smoking.

Sadly, he died of lung cancer in 2021 at age 53.

I weld occasionally and do so outdoors when possible. Otherwise, I open the windows & doors of the shop and use two fans. One large fan vents the shop and the other is a cordless DeWalt fan which I use to vent my helmet. I also have a beard, so a mask would only be partially effective.

 

[nybirdman]

Welded for 40 years,never smoked and no breathing problems at all;never wore a mask of any kind.
Worst to weld is galvanized material,it will kill you if you are not careful.Up wind and lots of ventilation.
About 1/2 the time we were out-doors(pipe-welder).

 

[3Ts]

I wear a 3M half mask (same as the picture in post #8) with the pink pancake filters (xx97). I think both the xx97 and xx91s work for welding - it will say in the description if it's suitable for welding. I also weld only under a carport open on 3 sides, so if it's windy I have to wait for a better day for MIG welding.

 

[jjeff]

Welded galvanized outdoors sometimes got the smoke inhaled my piss looked like motor oil and wreaked was told cuz my kidneys were working overtime to try and filter nasty stuff I was inhaling. Used to have a lit smoke under my hood, Thankfully it was occasionally and these days don't smoke anymore I take extra precautions like attempting to grind galvanization off, extra ventilation same when I'm trying to weld aluminum my exhaust fan is always on in winter . The 3m respirator I use for painting does not fit under my hood.

 

[scootr]

The little pink pad respirator fits under my hood...Fans play heck with mig welding
I use the filter now for welding and plasma cutting. I enjoy metal work but it's not worth compromising the quality or quantity of my life.