supplied air respirator

[kinsandkyle]

Hi, I've never submitted a question before, but I LOVE this site, read it all the time.
My question is: can I build my own air supplied respirator? I have a full face mask (optimair mm, older unit) that is in excellent condition, and a craftsman 5.5 horse/ 25 gallon verticle compressor that is oil-free. can I hook these together and regulate it way down, maybe add some type of filter and use i this way. The compressor is not used for painting and I am only just getting in to this as hobby so it won't be used everyday. thanks for any advise you may have and keep up the good work

 

[flamethrower]

Sounds to me like you have the perfect air supplied hood system! I would filter it before the hood, but you probably don't really need to. This will be perfect protection while shooting large quantities of Iso-Cyanates (catalysts).

 

[kinsandkyle]

Thanks Flamethrower, what I wanted to hear, now I just have to figure a way to connect a hose. I was thinking maybe a filter/moisture trap of some kind cause the tank gets water and has to be drained, that can't be very good for ya. what do you think? does that change anything? Thanks again for your help

 

[kinsandkyle]

Does anyone have anymore thoughts or ideas on this subject? I just want to here from people who know this stuff, since it is my health,just want as many opinions as possible.
Thanks again and thanks for this great site!

 

[DDG]

I've looked at this ? a few times and am wondering
if it's a good idea to use a regular comp. My concern is carbon monoxide.
Well, I looked at an old brochure from PPG's respiratory equip.

If yours doesn't make CO or oil mist then I guess you should be fine.
The comps PPG have are oil-less like yours.
There is a pressure-relief valve set at 10psi so I would imagine you won't want to go higher than that and they repeatedly tell you to put the comp
in an area free from air contaminants like paint spray vapors or auto exhaust.
You can also buy a conversion kit from them to convert their full facepiece respirator to an air-supplied one.
Best of luck with it.
Dirt

 

[kinsandkyle]

Thanks for your response Dirt I appreciate it! I really hope I can use what I have and spend as little as possible, but I want to be safe too! I will look at paperwork for comp. & see if it says anything about carbon mon. I have a reg on it that I can turn way down, maybe put a ball valve on as well? but I still think a water trap for piece of mind. This stuff is fun! Thanks again.

 

[DDG]

If the comp booklet doesn't tell you about CO,
you can always try Sears since it's a Craftsman.
You may have to talk to a few people until you find someone who knows anything about it.
Dirt

 

[kinsandkyle]

Hey dirt, I was just thinking... doesn't carbon monoxide come from combustion, like in a cars engine. The comp is electric, I know nothing about this subject and I don't want to undermine you, I just had that thought, those happen occasionally, just checking. thanks

 

[DDG]

I know as much about it as you do, it's just what I read off of the brochure.
Dirt

 

[rex]

There are filtration systems built so you can do this with a regular compressor but I don't know who makes them.I would talk to the paint store and see what kind of info you can dig up there too.

 

[H Steve]

The isocyanates are the problem. If you want to know about them and get frightened, do a search on the OHSHA site. The real deal is that you have one set of lungs. Yes, you can kluge together a system but you can get a new one, complete, an SAS model 3800-?? from tool paradise for about $500. I did it and it works great. If you're going to do this, there are some tools you need to do it right. Consider this one of them.

 

[cozee]

Besides the proper filtration, make sure that the air compressor is drawing in clean air. Run an intake to an area that is not contaminated with whatever you are spraying. Outside air being the best but be sure you have something over the intake to keep the birds, bugs, and other critters out of it!!!