The way I read it is that the 2290 series breathes easier and loads up slower because it's made with less layers of material.

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/572482O/2200-advanced-particulate-filter.pdf
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/572482O/2200-advanced-particulate-filter.pdf

 

.....which actually doesn't answer your question at all, sorry. ;-)

 

@ ex-diver - disdain the term "best", but we run a 3M 7502 (vent down) half-face respirator w/ #2097s particulate filters for material removal/finishing, select welding, and plasma cutting activities. Simple, light, cost effective, and solid performance.

 

Ya that's my exact set up, except have a large size one for my big cow sized head

 

i've always used the 2097 'pinkies' just looked up the 2297 though and think i may be making a switch. i dont think you can go wrong with either.

my take away from the the quick reading just now is basically they are the same as far as filtering but the 22 wont need to be replaced as often.

when i worked in a shipyard i would put new 2097's on my mask nearly every morning.

 

Thanks for all the info, ya read up on the 2297's , sounds like the cats ***. Frequency that other people change out their filters almost freaks me out a bit, I only change them when it gets hard to breath, takes a couple months. I'm only stick welding small pipe though in a building where there seems to be decent circulation so don't bother with a fan most of the time.

 

While we are on the subject of half respirators, I wear eye glasses and whenever I have my respirator on, my eye wear always pushes up making it difficult to see. Has anyone found a fix for this? Bob

 

One of the age-old problems with half-masks and eyewear. Unfortunately there is no silver bullet. Every style of masks work better with certain styles of eyewear and worse with others. But the problem remains that both want to be on your nose, in the same place, for the most part. Try a few options next time you get glasses with your mask to see if you can find something better (bring the mask). Alternately try some different masks to see if something else works better with your current glasses. You can try to wear the mask a bit lower on your nose. Depending on the mask and your face shape, this woks for some people, but obviously you still need to be able to get a good seal or this is a no go.

 

I saw a set up with a small fan in the hood before, looked like a good idea, I have same problem sometimes

 

Thanks Dave, have tried different glasses/masks but to no avail. Just thought I'd ask. Thanks, Bob

 

I used to use the 7502 for the downward exhaust ven, but the 6502QLs also have that PLUS it has the elastic release thingee to release the tension on the upper elastic so you can easily pull the mask down to speak to someone or get a drink of water. I use the 2297s under the welding hood.

I always put the respirator first, then eyeglasses over the bridge of the respirator. Not ideal, but works better than the respirator pressing my eyeglasses up against my eyeballs.

 

In


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Thanks Oscar. I'll put a 2.5 lens in the hood and remove the glasses and just live with it. Thanks Bob

 

Don't stop using your eye glasses. I'll tell you a secret. If you are anywhere near sighted like me, use a 2.5-3.5 diopter reading glasses in conjunction with your normal eyeglasses. Put on your normal eyeglasses then the cheater glasses right on top of them. Might feel a little weird, but what you get is magnification without having to decrease the focal length (nearing your eyes to the object being magnified). It's like putting on welding binoculars. Instant zoom, without having to put your face all up in the vicinity of the weld bead.

 

Oscar, got a chuckle about binoculars. Thanks, Bob

 

lol, well it's true. I'm just mad I didn't discover it sooner. It really helps when trying to TIG very thin materials where you have to keep a very tight arc length and have to distinguish the needle tip of the tungsten from the arc light.

 

we use the pink ones in my shop, they cover a lot of bases. Grinding, welding, plasma cutting, auto body sanding and even some light rattle can painting. we switch to dual cartridge when spraying automotive paint in the booth.

 

hey, remembered your comment, theres a guy that sells perscription 3m safety glasses at my union hall sometimes, i tried on a pair of them with my 3m respirator and they fit perfectly together, i was just slightly weirded out because they have great side protection but they have a slight gap on the underside, which is there presumably for air flow, they were insanely expensive though, i dont take glasses so think without a perscription would be cheaper.