[bluespook]

Planning to paint newly built wooden bookcase with HVLP sprayer. What kind of mask should I use?

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[Steve Neul]

Any charcoal paint spray respirator will work with wood finishes. Just make sure if fits your face well. Put it on fairly tight and put the palm of your hand over the exhaust and blow into it. You should feel it inflate a little. If a lot of air escapes around the sides then it doesn't fit well or you don't have it on tight enough.

 

[HowardAcheson]

What "paint" are you going to spray?

 

[bluespook]

Lacquer.


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[bluespook]

Water based lacquer.

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[Steve Neul]

A normal paint spray respirator will work for either a solvent based or water based lacquer. It's when you get into two part finishes like some automotive urethanes that contain isocyanate hardeners you have to use a air supplied respirator. A air supplied respirator is about 400 bucks but will offer you better protection with any paint because it has a compressor that is placed outside the paint area that pumps clean air to the respirator.

 

[BWSmith]

We use 3M here.

Posted to comment...and you're probably already aware of this...just sayin.Even with full-on supplied air respirator's,you kinda shouldn't be relying solely on them.Meaning,you need positive air movement.

The easy to understand version is...which way is the wind blowing?Do you stand up-wind or down-wind of the "bad air"?