Infiltration

mos6502 location: St. Louis, Missouri Gender: Male 8 bits are enough. \|	Respirator Sizes < on 7/6/2007 4:30 PM >

	I was about to order a respirator online, the North model 5500 half-mask, for about half the price I'd find such a thing at the store with P-100 filters included. Then I noticed they come in small, medium and large. Obviously I don't want something that doesn't fit, but I can't exactly go out and try them on either. Is there a huge difference, or do most people fit most sizes? The one I've been looking at on eBay is the small size. I'm a thin person with sharp features... any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

mahogany \|	Re: Respirator Sizes <Reply # 1 on 7/7/2007 12:35 AM >

	There isn't a big difference between s/m/l, at least in the 3m brand masks. I wear a medium, my best friend a large and my significant other a small. I have tried them all, and they are different, but not by much, and mostly it seems in the width. Hope this helps.

resonance location: Western New York / Niagara region Gender: Male I'm the one looking while nobody is looking. \|	Re: Respirator Sizes <Reply # 2 on 7/7/2007 3:05 AM >

	Perhaps you could go to said expensive local store and just try them on? Unless you have a very small face/head, I'd go for medium, but that's just a guess. You could try emailing the manufacturer, but they might just say go try them on.

mos6502 location: St. Louis, Missouri Gender: Male 8 bits are enough. \|	Re: Respirator Sizes <Reply # 3 on 7/7/2007 3:56 PM >

	The "expensive stores" I was first considering were places like Home Depot. Then after realizing they don't even have North or 3M respirators, I looked up phone numbers under "safety supply". I was originally going to just get one fitted, until I discovered that several of these places had them for cheap. So... I ended up with a pair of 3M 6200s (my wife needed one too) complete with the P-100 filters for a grand total of $37 w/ tax. Thanks for the input anyway... I didn't expect to get so lucky. We both have mediums. The employees of of safety supply place just looked at us and knew the proper size, apparently they do consulting work among other things.

resonance location: Western New York / Niagara region Gender: Male I'm the one looking while nobody is looking. \|	Re: Respirator Sizes <Reply # 4 on 7/7/2007 8:24 PM >

	I got mine at a safety store also. Better products and better prices than the hardware stores, for sure! And lots of other fun toys.

mos6502

location:
St. Louis, Missouri
Gender: Male

8 bits are enough.

Re: Respirator Sizes
<Reply # 5 on 7/8/2007 3:43 PM >

Post by resonance I got mine at a safety store also. Better products and better prices than the hardware stores, for sure! And lots of other fun toys.

Yeah, like Tyvek suits and personal air quality monitors... although I haven't been anywhere insane enough to require anything like that.

Deuterium

location:
PNW
Gender: Male

Re: Respirator Sizes
<Reply # 6 on 7/8/2007 5:04 PM >

Posted by mos6502
The "expensive stores" I was first considering were places like Home Depot. Then after realizing they don't even have North or 3M respirators, I looked up phone numbers under "safety supply". I was originally going to just get one fitted, until I discovered that several of these places had them for cheap.

So... I ended up with a pair of 3M 6200s (my wife needed one too) complete with the P-100 filters for a grand total of $37 w/ tax.

Thanks for the input anyway... I didn't expect to get so lucky. We both have mediums. The employees of of safety supply place just looked at us and knew the proper size, apparently they do consulting work among other things.

Screw the 6200, I ditched mine, because it's uncomfortable. Get the 3M 7502. It's an upgrade to 6200 made of much more comfortable, softer silicone rubber. I'm glad I did. Since the rubber fits around your face better, it takes a lot less pressure to maintain a good seal and has a less restrictive exhaust valve, so it's a lot more comfortable.

If you got the 2091 P100 filters, it's time to get yourself a set of 2097.
Neither are good for toxic level of gases. 2097 is an upgrade that virtually eliminates all mold, piss and decomposing odors. If yours isn't already, the filter upgrade helps a lot. Everyone else in your exp group will be complaining about smell and you won't smell anything.

[last edit 7/8/2007 5:06 PM by Deuterium - edited 1 times]

mos6502

location:
St. Louis, Missouri
Gender: Male

8 bits are enough.

Re: Respirator Sizes
<Reply # 7 on 7/8/2007 5:50 PM >

Post by Deuterium
Screw the 6200, I ditched mine, because it's uncomfortable. Get the 3M 7502. It's an upgrade to 6200 made of much more comfortable, softer silicone rubber. I'm glad I did. Since the rubber fits around your face better, it takes a lot less pressure to maintain a good seal and has a less restrictive exhaust valve, so it's a lot more comfortable.

Well, I already bought them... going to use them for the first time today, so I guess I'll see. If it really ends up bothering me, now I'll know what to get. This is my first mask, I can always keep it around to let friends borrow.

If you got the 2091 P100 filters, it's time to get yourself a set of 2097.
Neither are good for toxic level of gases. 2097 is an upgrade that virtually eliminates all mold, piss and decomposing odors. If yours isn't already, the filter upgrade helps a lot. Everyone else in your exp group will be complaining about smell and you won't smell anything.

The no. 1 thing I'm trying to protect myself against is asbestos. But not smelling all the mold and piss will be nice - I've got the 2097 filters installed (bought with the masks). I explored a school a while back where the stench of the water damage was really intense, that place will be the test.

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