Painting cars safely

[694spdRT]

Is it not the general consensus that respirators are not good for filtering Isocynates that are in catalyzed paints and clears? I read this all over the Net but get the feeling most people still just use respirators when painting their cars themselves. I am hoping to get back in the swing of things now on my projects cars and that will involve painting to save costs. There are quite a few cars in the pipeline to do so I was looking at the Hobby Air or Breathe Cool fresh air setups as a possibility. We built a spray booth that does a good job of moving air but want to be safe.

What do most of you "home" resto guys end up doing when painting? I did several cars when I was younger just using a respirator because I didn't really know better at the time.

[Silver R/T]

Respirators are fine. It's the the neglect of maintenance of them and proper fitment.

[Patronus]

I agree with Silver RT, we use 3M brand respirators. Only use 'em for paint, keep stored in the supplied bag, and replace the filters every other car. Get the good ones I think they're around $45-50 ea.

[AdamMopar]

I use a Hobby Air II for shooting almost everything, particularly for anything with isocyanates.  I'm not comfortable shooting with just a respirator; however, hobbyists that do and don't seem to have issues.

My recommendation would be to get a supplied air system for what it is worth.

[694spdRT]

I use a Hobby Air II for shooting almost everything, particularly for anything with isocyanates.  I'm not comfortable shooting with just a respirator; however, hobbyists that do and don't seem to have issues.

My recommendation would be to get a supplied air system for what it is worth.

Did you get the full facemask? Some had said the extra hose gets in the way when painting. What length airhose did you buy?

Thanks

[Silver R/T]

It's not comfortable to move around with big tank on your head around car, especially if you're faster painter. You have to constantly watch/drag 2 hoses around. Cartridges are cheap, replace them often.

[Cooter]

Respirator, and shoot mine outside...

[694spdRT]

It's not comfortable to move around with big tank on your head around car, especially if you're faster painter. You have to constantly watch/drag 2 hoses around. Cartridges are cheap, replace them often.

What tank are you referring to? I read the Iso's go in through your skin and eyes also so the full mask and paint suit is best. I am not concerned with replacing cartridges often and would gladly use them if they filtered Iso's.

[Chatt69chgr]

I played around on the net some time ago looking at this and found that you could buy a full face mask for supplied air for around $500.  And the iso's are absorbed through the skin so you have to wear one of those throw away suits, gloves, and cover the neck.  The supplied air can come from your existing air system but, if so, you have to buy a filter/regulator that you attach to your belt that gets the suspended oil out of the air.  This assumes that the air to your big tank is clean air so to speak.  Or you can buy a dedicated compressor and long hose and locate it well away from where you are working to supply clean air.  I think they make these that are of the diaphram type so no belt filter is needed as there is no suspended oil.  I don't recall what these little compressors cost but none of the ones that Harbor Freight had would work.  Couldn't supply the volume of air needed.  If you surf around on the net you will sooner or later run across these offerings which I think are more for "home" setups.  I'm thinking that most professional places use the supplied shop air and the belt respirator setup I mentioned.  I do not think that any of the respirators will filter out iso's.  But I could be wrong.  I too have heard that the iso's are deadly. 

[694spdRT]

I just talked to the shop owner that painted the '69 and he also said the respirators won't filter Iso's. They use a SAS system in the shop. I am leaning toward the hobbyist Breathe Cool one with a regular full face mask and not the "hood" version. I could see the hood being difficult to see out of when painting. A little under $500 and worth the piece of mind for me.

[tan top]

 any  two pack  paint / lacquer /primer  or even etch  use a air fed mask    3m double cartrage mask ok for small amounts of priming & etch as long as there is ventilation

[AdamMopar]

I use a Hobby Air II for shooting almost everything, particularly for anything with isocyanates.  I'm not comfortable shooting with just a respirator; however, hobbyists that do and don't seem to have issues.

My recommendation would be to get a supplied air system for what it is worth.

Did you get the full facemask? Some had said the extra hose gets in the way when painting. What length airhose did you buy?

Thanks

I got the supplied air hood to go with mine.  As mentioned the isocyanates are absorbed through skin, eyes, etc., so to me the hood makes the most sense and I think would be more comfortable.  The hose then goes down your back instead of in front of you. It is a fairly large window so I don't have a lot of issues with visability.  It can be more difficult in a confied space though.

I have 120 feet of hose, 3 40 foot sections; however, I typically only use 80 feet.

As others said it is another hose to manage and you are already managing an air line.  For me I don't find it to be too big of issue.  The key is to lay your hoses out and plan your route.  You shouldn't have too many problems.

[AKcharger]

I use my old M-17 gas mask with new filters and just accept the dain bramage to save some $$$. I paint outside and only about once every 3 years so don't see a big issue

P.S. I can't remember anything before my 9th Birthday 

[694spdRT]

P.S. I can't remember anything before my 9th Birthday 

What about after? Or would you rather just forget most of that. 

[superbirdtom]

if you do not have a real commercial paint booth please use a fresh air system. That is if your going to be doing a lot of painting. A friend of mine became sensitized to isocyanates so bad that he had to get out of painting. one day he woke up in the hospital. he had no idea of how or why he got there . it was because he walked by a body shop one day and that was enough for him to have a violent reaction, needless to say it was because he has developed a reaction so bad that he cannot be anywhere near that type of paint anymore and is on disability to this day, as he smashed his skull on the sidewalk.-- this stuff is nothing to fool with.

                     I have an allergic reaction to primer dust, so my days of doing this crap since 1974 are numbered.

[FLG]

How much are you going to be painting?

Granted these things arent good for you, but unless your doing it as a business i cant see doing it on your own rides a few times is gonna hurt.

[694spdRT]

How much are you going to be painting?

Granted these things arent good for you, but unless your doing it as a business i cant see doing it on your own rides a few times is gonna hurt.

That depends I guess on time and money. I have 4 Mopars right now that need painting, a couple trucks that need redone, and all of my dad's project stuff that needs to be done. Guessing I could have at least 10 cars lined up to do right now but that will be over years of course. I just don't want to kill my lungs or nervous system to save a buck if respirators don't cut it.

[jaak]

That depends I guess on time and money. I have 4 Mopars right now that need painting, a couple trucks that need redone, and all of my dad's project stuff that needs to be done. Guessing I could have at least 10 cars lined up to do right now but that will be over years of course. I just don't want to kill my lungs or nervous system to save a buck if respirators don't cut it.

I painted my Charger a couple of months back (first car I painted in a long time, and I knew it would be a while if/when I painted another) just using a brand new respirator, and I would walk out of my "plastic booth" as quick as I finished a coat. I am fine.
With that being said, if your concerned about your health, and have no concerns about spending the $$$ for one, I'd go for it. I know some will think its not worth the money for just a once or twice use, but look at it this way if your painting it yourself, being a hobbiest and wanting to save money...you are still saving money because the price of paint, materials and fresh-air system is still gonna be a lot less than paying a pro, labor cost. Plus if you only use it a few times, and its slightly used...you won't have any trouble at all selling it on eBay, Craigslist, etc. and getting some of the $$$ back later.

Good luck,
Jason

[Bobs69]

What about getting an old SCUBA diving tank & full face mask.  That way you can have a couple of tanks that you pay the dive shop to fill for you with their good clean air.  Or maybe a volunteer firedepartment nearby?  I know that the fire department here at work fills their own and the system is inspected and certified.....by whoever.

I never new about iso's getting into you thru your skin and eyes etc.  What type of material is it you need to block them?

[Silver R/T]

Modern shops are not as concerned about this issue as they have nice down-draft spray booths and many shops are using water based paints anymore

[suntech]

I use my old M-17 gas mask with new filters and just accept the dain bramage to save some $$$. I paint outside and only about once every 3 years so don't see a big issue

P.S. I can't remember anything before my 9th Birthday 

HAHAHAHA !!

Anyways....totally agree! There is no need for a lot of fancy air fed expansive full face equippment to do a couple of cars a year......a couple of cars a week on the other hand......completely different story!

[moopa]

I got so sick about 20 years ago painting just my second vehicle ( single stage acrylic enamel)with only a respirator...thought I was dying...It was a very windy day, blowing against my exhaust fan, so the garage was filled with fumes....it was horrible. Ended up with pneumonia and was sick for a while. Then when I started getting back into the hobby a few years back I swore I'd never put myself in that danger again. So when I was sandblasting in my Costco tent, the dust got so thick I needed a fresh air system  as the respirator couldn't handle the dense dust. I got the breathe cool system with a hood for sand blasting. Now it's a joy to be able to breathe while in the dusty environment. Then I was thinking about painting and using the same system,but didn't want to use the sandblasting hood, and was too cheap to order the full face mask from breath cool. I already owned a Survivair(Sperian) full-face respirator,that I was able to get a conversion kit to change it to supplied air. I adapted the Survivair mask to the breathe cool pump, and now I can paint with it, too and not worry about the deadly fumes. It's a pain to drag the hose around(but it's very light), it goes over the shoulder and down the back and attaches to a belt. I like it! The pump has enough power to run two masks, so if you have a helper, they can work safely, too. When sandblasting, the air is nice and cool,making the hot stuffy hood very comfortable.

[694spdRT]

I got so sick about 20 years ago painting just my second vehicle ( single stage acrylic enamel)with only a respirator...thought I was dying...It was a very windy day, blowing against my exhaust fan, so the garage was filled with fumes....it was horrible. Ended up with pneumonia and was sick for a while. Then when I started getting back into the hobby a few years back I swore I'd never put myself in that danger again. So when I was sandblasting in my Costco tent, the dust got so thick I needed a fresh air system  as the respirator couldn't handle the dense dust. I got the breathe cool system with a hood for sand blasting. Now it's a joy to be able to breathe while in the dusty environment. Then I was thinking about painting and using the same system,but didn't want to use the sandblasting hood, and was too cheap to order the full face mask from breath cool. I already owned a Survivair(Sperian) full-face respirator,that I was able to get a conversion kit to change it to supplied air. I adapted the Survivair mask to the breathe cool pump, and now I can paint with it, too and not worry about the deadly fumes. It's a pain to drag the hose around(but it's very light), it goes over the shoulder and down the back and attaches to a belt. I like it! The pump has enough power to run two masks, so if you have a helper, they can work safely, too. When sandblasting, the air is nice and cool,making the hot stuffy hood very comfortable.

Thanks for the post. Won't the hood work for painting as well?

[Bobs69]

All you got to do is read what it says on the paint can.  "USE FORCED AIR blah blha blah"

[moopa]

Thanks for the post. Won't the hood work for painting as well?

It probably would, but it's a bit cumbersome with the hard hat,chinstrap set up and the ear muffs.The full face would offer a tighter seal to keep fumes out, the hood just keeps dust out with positive pressure. They also sell a full face mask kit similar to mine, but  i think the Survivair is a top notch respirator,  it has excellent vision, and is comfortable.
Mark