respirator suggestions?

Having spent some of yesterday screening wood chippings for the compost and then much of the evening and today coughing, I'm starting to think it would be good to preserve what's left of my lung capacity. I've begun looking at masks and fresh air systems online. One drawback is that I have a beard (getting longer and scragglier by the moment.) I'd like to use a mask for painting, welding and possibly even dusty yard work. Anyone have experience with these systems or others? Eastwood sells units with pumps and masks but they're pretty pricey. Maybe I don't need the pump for the dust work, so maybe two different masks? I did see an Instructable recently on creating a beard-sealing mask but it was a little cumbersome. Any ideas?

 

I used to use a 3m premium painters mask for doing lacquer, would wear on occasion when sanding bothered me. All and all good mask just for actual painting and finishing I felt like it wasn't good enough. I suppose if the company had a spray booth it might have worked better.

no beard though... I don't know what to tell you. I have never seen a painter with a beard just mustache. I would get a good mask for general stuff, and maybe one of the air ones for when you are doing paint? it depends on the painting and how much, is it ventilated etc.

 

Thanks. I've read that some guys use a petroleum jelly to seal the mask against a beard but that doesn't sound too appealing. Of easily cleaned up.

 

my positive air supplied respirator blows more air than i can breathe, never get fumes in, and i have a scraggley beard... its a surviveair from thirty years ago going strong, i suggest getting a good one they are pricey but have you priced lungs lately???

 

i have used the half mask 6000 series by 3m. They work well for me. different brands will fit different faces better. when i was an industrial painter I used this one to paint thousands of gallons of epoxy, polymide primer, polyurethanes both solvent and water based. Beards were not allowed. I really should have been provided a fresh air system, but my company was cheap and I left. If all you need is a particulate filter I use a half mask by MSA with replaceable cartridges based upon what I am doing.