Respirators?

[Trip59]

Anyone use a respirator and what type? I'm not too worried about normal mild steel, but getting into stainless, galvanized, etc. has me thinking...

[Jason]

I have not used one with welding but I would recommend one if your welding a lot of galvanized. I have welded that a couple times and even cleaning it with a grinder first doesn't seem to get it all.

[Trip59]

Yup, OD'd on zinc a number of times. Several welding fire fences in the junkyard out of old steel trusses and cut down light poles, and a few times in the Navy. Chugged much milk, but still felt like crap for a day or two, and remember the sick-sweet taste of my cigarettes. Getting older and hopefully wiser, I've started paying more attention to safety. Still have both eyes, all 10 fingers and most of my hearing, figure it was luck till now, but it'll be care from here on out.

No recommendation on a type or cartridge? I found some $1000+ 3M auto dark/supplied air helmets, but that's a bit ridiculous.

[SDunlop909]

I just make sure i have good air circulation or an exhaust fan. I guess if I was breathing it in 40 hrs a week I'd probably go with a respirator.

[jerky]

i wear a north half mask. (http://www.masksnmore.com/no77hamaapr.html) with a p100 filter. i will wear it when im wleding, doing lots of grinding, torch cutting. your health should be number one priority. an inexpensive half mask will save you down the road big time.