September 16, 2022
Choosing the Best Safety Mask for Woodworking Safety comes first in my woodworking shop. Everyone talks about keeping their digits away from the many dangerous tools we use, but I’m also concerned about keeping my lungs free of wood dust. It’s very important to find the best protection, especially over a long career as a woodworker. I choose to wear protective masks as often as possible. I also use a dust collection system with all my tools inside my shop. Every woodworker must choose when to use a mask and what type is most comfortable for them. I’ve tried lots of different companies over the years but I’ve found Parcil Safety provides the best mask options for me. I have been using the PD-100 Full Face Respirator (top item) and the AG-100 Half Face Respirator Mask (lower right item) for a while, @parcilsafety has been gracious enough send me the T-61 Half Face Respirator Gas Mask to test as well. Major Dust Projects One of my messiest projects which causes the most dust is leveling slabs. I own a leveling sled setup constructed and sold by Clean Cut Woodworking @cleancutwoodworking / @ccwroutersleds. (You can find a video using the sled here and use discount code BCW-LS5 for a 5% discount.) It’s a great tool, but when I’m done, I’m covered from head to toe with wood chips, dust and debris. I needed a mask that could handle the intensity of dust and was comfortable to wear for hours. PD-100 Full Face Respirator Back to the subject at hand – while using this level sled I discovered that the PD-100 Full Face Respirator Gas Mask with Organic Vapor and Particulate Filtration does a great job. Statement below is from Parcil’s website –Parcil Safety’s premier PD-100 Full Face Respirator Gas Mask is a comprehensive solution forusers seeking protection for their eyes, face, nose, mouth, and airways. Designed to safeguardthe wearer during a variety of activities from home improvement to industrial occupations, thePD-100 is dependable for strong protection against organic vapors and 95% of particulatesdown to 0.3 microns. https://parcilsafety.com/collections/half-face-respirators/products/t61-gas-mask-respirator Complete Protection with this Mask While I could use dust collection with the sled, I find it easier to use outside, undercover of a tent but that also means it throws a lot of dust and chips. Being a full face mask this mask protects my eyes as well as my lungs and sinus’s. With multiple layers of filters, I find this catches that fine dust that can cause damage. In the picture below I find the Electrostatic Filter is totally brown when working with walnut so I know it’s working. This mask also uses ParticulatePro P-3-P filter has a 99.97% particulate rating against oil and non-oil based airborne particulates. This filter protects against aerosols, particles, mist, fumes and dust. T-61 Half Face Respirator When the need for full face coverage is not necessary and dust is somewhat minimized, then I turn to the T-61 Half Face Respirator Gas Mask with Organic Vapor and Particulate