Recomendations for gas mask

Quote: Originally posted by Little_Ghost_again

... Actually I am not so bothered by the cancer threat of things...

Quote: Originally posted by careysub

If you are just concerned with respiratory hazard (not eye irritation) then a half-mask is fine, otherwise a full face mask is called for. It is essential that the mask make a tight seal against the skin all the way around. If is does not seal then adjust it, if you cannot then don't use it. Full face masks are given higher protection ratings even against respiratory-only challenges due to being less prone to residual seal leakage. Look at these for consideration: http://www.uline.com/BL_1091/3M-5000-Respirators These are "disposable" respirators, when the life of the cartridge is done the mask is discarded. You can get masks with replaceable cartridges for a somewhat more. You should get an organic vapor plus acid gas cartridge. When working with chemicals particulate filtration is rarely needed (or even helpful) so the N95 cartridge (which is a particulate rating) is extra expense of no value. There are toxic chemicals that if you choose to make them or work with them you must always wear a mask, even with the best fume hood in the world. Prime examples are hydrogen cyanide and dimethyl sulfate (this last requires a full face mask). Max Klemke ("myfanwy94" on this board) killed himself making phosgene, but would be alive today if he had worn a mask. I would look to buy from a regular protective equipment vendor as my first choice, rather than eBay. [Edited on 31-10-2014 by careysub]

Quote: Originally posted by Little_Ghost_again

[Edited on 31-10-2014 by careysub][/rquote] Thank you very much, I now know what to go look for, having read about the member here I think I better go get rid of my chloroform thats not stabilized at the moment! You may not know but the cancer thing was a reference that despite being only 14 I already have terminal cancer, so while I do understand the normal reasons for people to take precautions with this kind of thing, for me it's already there and I am not going to be getting better. Really shocking to hear about the phosgene. Probably I will go for a full face mask, no idea why but the strangest smells seem to make me vomit at the moment, also I have no idea how some things would react with my body full of drugs and medication of numerous description. It was the numbers on the filters that threw me, my old hood was great but around here power cuts are frequent and always only ever happen when its most annoying, like just as the laptop needs charging.

Quote: Originally posted by careysub

Quote: Originally posted by Little_Ghost_again   [Edited on 31-10-2014 by careysub][/rquote] Thank you very much, I now know what to go look for, having read about the member here I think I better go get rid of my chloroform thats not stabilized at the moment! You may not know but the cancer thing was a reference that despite being only 14 I already have terminal cancer, so while I do understand the normal reasons for people to take precautions with this kind of thing, for me it's already there and I am not going to be getting better. Really shocking to hear about the phosgene. Probably I will go for a full face mask, no idea why but the strangest smells seem to make me vomit at the moment, also I have no idea how some things would react with my body full of drugs and medication of numerous description. It was the numbers on the filters that threw me, my old hood was great but around here power cuts are frequent and always only ever happen when its most annoying, like just as the laptop needs charging. I am so sorry to hear that! That is shocking. I have just lost my own 16 year old daughter to leukemia (and whom I was introducing to chemistry and other sciences). Yes, do get the full face mask. She found her skin often very sensitive to outside factors during her illness.

I noticed when using a uv lamp designed for minerals etc with two different bulbs in it, that I cant put my hands under the shortwave light at all.
I dont much like the smell of the rubber but its better than some the solvents .
My chloroform is in the dark and pretty fresh . I read about the kid building the reactor in his shed!! Man and my parents think its rough with me!!

Quote: Originally posted by aga

Having experienced the Joys of an HCl cloud, i think i'll get the full face version.

Quote: Originally posted by blogfast25

Personally I think experiments that cannot be safely dealt with by a decent fumehood should probably not be conducted by hobbyists. There is so much that can be done safely and is interesting to do even w/o fumehood that I don't see the need for experiments that require gas masks or respirators. Experiments that require these precautions can also go wrong in ways that affect bystanders. Professionally equipped laboratories are much better equipped to deal with such emergencies than backyard scientists. If in doubt, don't do it.

Quote: Originally posted by blogfast25

LGA: HCl is quite easily dealt with even if you're allergic (for want of a better word) to it. It's enormous affinity for water makes designing experiments that will absorb any surplus HCl fairly easy. Dissolution of metals for instance can be done in a reflux apparatus with top side connected to a HCl scrubber. Allow another inlet near the flask for flushing with air (flushed through the scrubber also) when you're done and everything is cooled down. But mint is a different proposition altogether! [Edited on 31-10-2014 by blogfast25]

Water mint to be precise, one of my all time favorite smells! Or it was.
If I am honest what worries me more is doing something and having to leave it unattended while I am ermm............busy.
Its a very recent thing (the last week or so), maybe it will go away dont know, but for now it might be worth getting a mask.
I should build a screen for the uv lamp anyway, it has two wave lengths and while I forget the exact lengths now I do know one is short and one is long, the short one is a strange tube with two short elements (one each end), it has a strange almost green like glow, the other is more like a black light.
My TLC plate glow well under it though . I am having camera trouble again!! but hope to have some pics this weekend, my lab space is pretty good, but a full bench flow Cabinet would be easier to make than the type of hood I originally made.
This time I am going to tile it to make it easier to clean

Quote: Originally posted by aga

Ah crap. Surely 'forum drunkard' would discourage anyone from repeating any rubbish i do ? The "Cloud" was possibly a bit exaggerated for comic effect. Anyway, Result : this 'Cloud' would not take any of my photo uploads, so 'The Cloud' isn't HCl based. Blogger's suggestion of Running Away is a most excellent idea when faced with impending nastiness. Far more effective than just wearing a mask. This doesn't hold true for EM, Fusion or Fission, so pick your experiments Wisely.

Quote: Originally posted by careysub

I am not going to just tell them - you shouldn't bother, your fume hood will do everything you need (perhaps true, perhaps not - unless you've seen it), and anyway you shouldn't do any experiments where the protection might materially improve your safety, so don't bother. This a bit like arguing against safety belts and fire extinguishers - affordable, effective safety devices, but that if you do everything right, and have no accidents, you will never need.

now now calm down everybody! Safety isnt the main reason am after one, but seeing as nee to get one I thought it an idea to see what was recommended generally for chemistry work.
From a safety aspect a noob like me has the awful habit of wondering what if I add this syndrome! While I wont deny its totaly stupid to add something to something else without an idea whats going to happen, as a beginner there is always the risk even if we think we know what to expect it goes wrong.
I kind of have this argument with my dad,he insists I wear gloves but rarely does he. So the argument goes something like this,
ME: dad why do I have to wear gloves?

MY DAD: because its safer

ME: so why dont you wear them?

MY DAD: because I am safer without them

ME: how do you work that out?

MY DAD: Because gloves give you a false sense of security

ME: so its safer to not wear gloves then

MY DAD : NO! just put the fucking gloves on

ME: So I have have to wear gloves even though you think its safer not too?

MY DAD: Put your goggles on

parents...................

Our Dyson hoover is broken so now I am wondering if I can turbo charge my fume hood with it !

Actually the fans I used in my old hood worked really well, I did have the datasheet for them but cant find it at the mo, so I cant give you the airflow for them. They came in a bank of 24, in a row of 12 with each fan having another one behind it, originally they were out of a very large server Cabinet at the uni.
They are pretty small and run on 12V, but they shift some air!
I had it set up so the air and fumes inside the hood didnt go near the actual fans, they blow down side chutes into another tube, this exits through the wall to the outside. The bottom of the exit tube is connected to the hood, so the air is pushed into the tube and sucks up the fumes from the hood as it exits.
I used smoke pellets to test it and a mickey mouse wind speed thing to set it up with, I was really pleased with the results, I also have a split rubber hose seal around the front of the cabinet, so if things go tits up I can close the front of the hood down and seal it off.
So far for what I do its over kill, but I dont know how the drugs I take would react with chemicals I use.
I am going to get a full face one then I dont need to bother with goggles.
After my run in with sodium hydroxide I wear the long arm length gloves used for sticking your hand up a cows non eating end, then nitrile gloves on top if needed.
I cant wear the latex gloves they now react with my skin and I get a bad rash. I want to move my lab completely to a outbuilding over the next couple of weeks.

Quote: Originally posted by Little_Ghost_again

ME: dad why do I have to wear gloves? MY DAD: because its safer ME: so why dont you wear them? MY DAD: because I am safer without them ME: how do you work that out? MY DAD: Because gloves give you a false sense of security ME: so its safer to not wear gloves then MY DAD : NO! just put the fucking gloves on ME: So I have have to wear gloves even though you think its safer not too? MY DAD: Put your goggles on

Life is full of genuine contradictions, LGA. You are, in a nutshell, BOTH right and BOTH wrong.

[Edited on 1-11-2014 by blogfast25]