Has any one tried the Forged Air respirator? I am looking for something to wear while sanding. I am interested in hearing from others before buying one.
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Forged Air
- Thread starter Bryan Field
- Start date
Interesting. I see they emphasize that it's easy to communicate while wearing one. That would be useful if you have students in the shop that you're trying to coach, but still want to use dust protection. I normally use a North 7700 half face respirator with P100 cartridges. It removes fine dust more completely than the Forged Air which is rated N95. But the North respirator makes it almost impossible to be understood when talking, so if I'm coaching someone, I leave it off or take it off. The Forged Air could be a good compromise in that situation.
It looks like the respirator itself is more expensive than the North, but the replacement filters are cheaper. Although it's worth checking how long the filters last. If you're expected to replace them after each use, that would be expensive.
I'll add that I wear my respirator almost 100% of the time when I'm in the shop. It fits well under a Bionic face shield and the exhaust port for exhaled air points down, so my breath does not fog up the face shield. I'm not sure how well the Forged air would work under a face shield. It's worth checking if you think you'd want to do that.
It looks like the respirator itself is more expensive than the North, but the replacement filters are cheaper. Although it's worth checking how long the filters last. If you're expected to replace them after each use, that would be expensive.
I'll add that I wear my respirator almost 100% of the time when I'm in the shop. It fits well under a Bionic face shield and the exhaust port for exhaled air points down, so my breath does not fog up the face shield. I'm not sure how well the Forged air would work under a face shield. It's worth checking if you think you'd want to do that.
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I hadn't heard of them and thought you had a typo in the title. I'd be interested in hearing if any woodturners use and like it.
It looks like it might be pretty comfortable to wear, but I'm not sure about their eye protection. I can see shavings working their way in by coming down from the top, but the size of the filter might make it incompatible with a normal faceshield.
It looks like it might be pretty comfortable to wear, but I'm not sure about their eye protection. I can see shavings working their way in by coming down from the top, but the size of the filter might make it incompatible with a normal faceshield.
I use the power cap sold by Peke Safety. The unit is light weight, fits over eye glasses and battery lasts close to eight hours.
I have not heard of the forged air system. I use the Peke Safety Power Cap. It's expensive, but an excellent, comfortable, quiet product. It is a positive pressure device, so it works well with my beard, has an integrated visor and long battery life. I got it at a regional symposium and saved on shipping.
The powered respirators are a bit pricey! I'm just looking for a reliable filter for sanding.
Looking at your avatar picture I noticed you wear glasses. One thing about half masks is that they can lift your eyeglasses up, putting them out of focus. Depends on your prescription. Have you successfully used half masks in the psst?
That's true - I held off for years before pulling the trigger on one. But, I find that I wear it much more consistently than I wore my respirator or even an n95 mask, as it is so much more comfortable. I had a friend who developed breathing problems from turning (never smoked, office job, etc.) and his situation played a role in my getting it too.
Dave Landers
Beta Tester
They are, but they work really well. And probably less than the copay/deductible at the pulmonologist.
Hoping someone has used these. Curious how they work for bearded users. In a perfect world I would but a forced air system, but on my fixed income they are a long term savings item.
Gregory
Gregory
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Answered in instructions page one, item 8- https://forgedair.co/pages/instructions - so, no, won't do with a full beard - they aren't a Positive pressure respirator which is what guys like us with beards need.. (Of course, one could always go clean shaven to save money on the facemasks......LOL!)
Yeah that won't happen. I've had a beard for more years than not, by a wide margin. Positive pressure mask investment it is then.
Gregory
You can get full face respirators that work for beards(because at work if someone won't shave the company has to provide them) but I'm not sure about the impact resistance.
You can also get the filters to last a really long time if you often clean the pre filter . . . so there’s not much cost after purchase (except the visor covers).
Interesting. How do you clean the prefilter?
Take it out and shake or vacuum it. It takes only a few seconds.
I went with a powered respirator precisely because I have a beard and glasses. I finally settled on a 3M Versaflo, and I consider it the best woodworking investment I've made. My kids, now in their 40's, and most everyone I know, have never seen me without a beard. I've had one for so long now, that I'm afraid to see what's underneath it. Even if I shaved it off I'd still use the Versaflo though.
I picked up two Titan powered respirators at an auction. They have a hardhat with a curved windshield and then a flexible gator below that. The air is pumped up a hose behind your back from a battery powered filter unit that mounts on a belt. I wasn't a fan of the battery powered filter set up as it has replaceable filters and batteries that have to be recharged. I already had a powered paint respirator called a Breathe Cool unit. It has a powered fan set up with 50' of hose. Since my turning room is separate from the rest of my shop the breathe cool unit is in one room and the hose goes thru the wall into the lathe room. It is sending warm or cool air depending on the season to my hood. The design runs the air up to the top of your head and then it blows down and escapes under the cloth gaiter. Because the Titan helmet and facemark is much stronger than a normal face shield I often wear this when I'm roughing out big turnings on my lathe. You get dust free fresh air from the next room. Obviously it would not be suited for a small shop like a one car garage etc.
However, it does have it's disadvantages. A friend I have known for 40 yrs (who should now be a dead friend) went into the other room while I was turning a big hollow form. He backed his posterior up to the air intake and discharged some noxious fumes then hurriedly came into the lathe room and waited. It took a little while for the deadly gases to make their way down 50 foot of hose and into my helmet. I thought I was going too throw up inside the face shield. He said he could read the realization of what had happened on my face. This took a practical joke to another level.
However, it does have it's disadvantages. A friend I have known for 40 yrs (who should now be a dead friend) went into the other room while I was turning a big hollow form. He backed his posterior up to the air intake and discharged some noxious fumes then hurriedly came into the lathe room and waited. It took a little while for the deadly gases to make their way down 50 foot of hose and into my helmet. I thought I was going too throw up inside the face shield. He said he could read the realization of what had happened on my face. This took a practical joke to another level.
That's the only complaint I have about the Versaflo system. The intake is positioned right above my exhaust port! 
Hi, I ordered one around the first of December 2024 it was delayed because of the flood of responses they said. When it did arrive they sent extra filters for compensation. I use it exclusivly now when i'm turning. I'm in an unheated garage and wear a face shield so I get alot of condensation build-up below the eye level. Also while it does a good job filtering particles and fine dust, it can produce a waterboarding effect, I'm glad I purchased the 30 pack of extra filters. I like the performance better than the RZ masks. My dust collector is outside and the replacement air is fresh cold air.