[TheForge] The Beard vs. the Respirator

[Jerry Frost]

I have a full beard and a supplied air welding helmet. 
(Yes, a helmet not a shield, a real honest to 
breathable atmosphere, protect you from small meteors, 
helmet. <grin>)

While I was refused respirator training because of my 
beard we did try some of the "fixes". Vaseline did not 
make a gas tight seal, even with the filter intakes 
open. I could smell the test solution (sugar water 
mist) plain as can be.

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.



From: "Mark Novak" <mark at fireworkspdx.com>


>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
>