23
PSA: The $350 I dropped on a proper respirator setup was the best money I ever spent.
I used to just use the basic paper masks for years, thinking it was fine for the quick pours and cleanup. Then last fall, I was doing a long run of brass castings and the smoke was just hanging in the air. I got this nasty headache that lasted two days, and my throat felt raw. My wife finally made me go to the hardware store and get a real half-face respirator with the pink pancake filters. It felt weird at first, like I was breathing through a straw, but you get used to it. Now I wear it for anything hotter than aluminum, and I haven't had a cough or headache from work since. What do you guys use for heavy smoke days? Are the powered air systems worth looking into, or is a good respirator enough?
2 comments