respirator sizing question

[HOBART]

i'm going to order a 3m 7500 series respirator to wear under my hood. i'm going with the pancake filters so i don't run into any issues with clearance. my question is, how to i know what size to get? they come in a small, medium, and large but i'm not sure what size face i have. i tried to find something on 3m's website, but all the info seemed to be fit test related. nothing pertaining to the size of ones face. thanks in advance.

[davec]

Medium is the most common size, large is next. Very few people wear smalls, especially men in the US. If you consider yourself average size, the med will probably work. If you are bigger, get the large. Holds true for most masks. The only real way is to try them and go with the one that fits best. But keep in mind that sight unseen, it is a guess...

[mb_welder]

honestly, it would be best to get fit tested for one. At least that way there isn't any guesswork involved.

I have cartridge filters on my respirator (for when I "really" need a respirator) and they fit under my lid fine, but for most applications the pink pancakes are fine and they don't interfere with anything!

IMO, I've used one of those backpack ones (not with the forced air mind you!) and I thought I was going to die! It was so ignorant to breathe through the tubes... "Luke, I am your father!"

Although something fun to do to someone who wears one, you take a piece of ductape and...

[HOBART]

there cheap enough, so may just order one of each size and then exchange the one that doesn't fit for another one that does. then i'll have a backup. just thought i was missing something on how to size them.

from what i have read, the pink pancake filters will work for me. i'll be doing stick, flux core, and occasional mig. all carbon steel for now. from what i gather, the pancake filters will protect against the fumes from galvanize and stainless as well. is this correct?

i put an old piece of welding jacket over teh back of my hood the other day to cut down on glare from teh sun and my wife told me i looked like something from star wars. all in need now is a cape. thanks guys

[davec]

Yeah the pancake style are particulate filters, which is exactly what you need for welding. The Pink ones are P100, the highest category so that pretty much covers all the bases for welding needs. You do not need the carbon cartridges unless you are working with organic vapors, for the most part (basically - solvents).

[Pavinsteelman]

Remember fit tests and training are a OSHA requirement thousands of dollars of fines and willfull violations are called for ,you cant just buy a mask and wear it.

[HOBART]

i can buy a mask and wear it at my house. hobby welder here, no OSHA in the driveway.

[DanT]

Originally Posted by HOBART

i can buy a mask and wear it at my house. hobby welder here, no OSHA in the driveway.

Shh, don't say that too loudly. We don't need anyone getting any ideas.

I know a guy that works at 3M here in Nebraska. Second-hand word from him goes something like this:

Small - for kids and women of small facial structure
Medium - almost everyone
Large - you don't need a large unless you're a giant meathead

That's what he said. I ordered a medium myself and it should be in on Tuesday.

I also have an MSA filter and have used a few different filters with great success. Their VOC filter is amazing when working with solvents (I finished about 1,000 sq ft of wood floor). The drawback is the price for the MSA filters at $15 a pair. They're huge, they work great, and I'd use them again if I needed them, they're just costly and probably won't fit under the hood. The mask itself doesn't fit my head perfectly but larger likely wouldn't help much. The mask rides the bridge of my nose hard and glasses don't help that issue. It's hard to compare noses but I don't have a profile that fits the Roman nose description. Just a regular old snoz.

There's probably not much I can say about the 3M that hasn't already been said around here but I'll have the MSA to compare. I'll post something up if there's interest.