[TheForge] The Beard vs. the Respirator

[Mark Novak]

I need to ask this question before I shave. I wear a respirator when  
I'm grinding, so as to minimize the amount of metal dust I inhale,  
but I have a beard that interferes with the effectiveness of the  
mask. The guy at my local Safety Store told me in no uncertain terms,  
"If you don't shave the beard off, the mask will never work  
properly," which is what I was noticing while wearing it. He told me  
that there is no respirator that works on guys with beards... they  
all need skin contact.

Does anyone out there have a beard and wear a respirator effectively?  
And if so, how did you do it? Did you fill your beard with vaseline?  
Did you shave a silly looking thin line wear the mask can rest on  
your skin?

Mark Novak