Here's the thing: Activated charcoal in organic vapor cartridges like the 3M 6001 can block isocyanides. However, isocyanides (also called isonitriles or carbylamines) have a faster break-through rate than other vapors, and the bad news is there is no sure way to determine how fast that break-through is going to happen.
When I say break-through, the way to think about it is like a water dripping into a sponge. A slow drip will be absorbed, and many drips can be held in the sponge before the water comes through. A fast drip, or a steady stream, will quickly overwhelm the sponge's ability to hold back the liquid. In the same way, organic vapor cartridges can hold back a limited amount of isocyanides.
How much? Even 3M doesn't really know. Will these organic vapor cartridges provide long-term protection? The answer is no. Or at least it's not worth finding out. But will they provide short-term protection? With a properly fit mask, yes they will.
For the hobbyist painter using a 3M mask, several pair of the 3M 6001 Organic Vapor cartridges, changed out regularly during the course of your work, will likely provide adequate protection. Every hour wouldn't be too often to change the cartridges out because isocyanides are so toxic.
On top of the cartridges you will also want a pre-filter that is resistant to oil. 3M makes a retainer and filter that fit over the 6001 cartridges. The 3M 501 Retainer clips easily over the cartridges and holds the 5P71 Pre-filters in place.
The pre-filters come in a box of 10. You'll know when they need to be changed out. A full filter doesn't let you pull air in and you'll find it difficult to draw a breath. P95 filters are supposed to take 95% of all particulate matter down to the very, very small .3 microns out of the air, and are rated to work with dust and mist containing oil. They are designed, as they fill up, not to let more particles through, but to have less passageways to let the air through.
Professional painters don't use cartridges. Constantly changing out cartridges quickly adds up to serious money, and changing them out every hour or two is inconvenient when timing is so important. They use airline respirators. Airline respirators draw air from a clean air source, and deliver it to the mask in the painting room. They are generally not used by car hobbyists because of the cost. A one-worker system with a half-face mask is currently about $1000.
Remember isocyanides have no taste or smell, so you can't know when they are breaking through your respirator protection. Safety when painting with urethane involves not only a properly fit mask, and frequent changing of the cartridges, but also adequate ventilation. A ventilation blower or large fan forcing air out of the painting environment will help remove some of the dangerous vapors, while placing an HVAC filter over the air intake window on the other side of the room will help keep out dust and other airborne particulate matter.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to comment, or call us during business hours at 1-800-829-9580.
What's the Most Effective Filter When Painting with Urethane?
Justin McCarter |
"I'm planing to paint a project car that I have been building. I'm wondering what is the most effective filter type to use (with a full face mask) when painting with Urethane paint. Urethane has isocyanides which are very bad. Thanks. - Daryl V."
This is a very good question, and it comes up fairly often, so I decided to write it out for more people to see.
For car enthusiasts who want to paint their car themselves, the problem of how to protect their lungs is a serious one. Urethane paints, which are used most often because of their superior hardness and finish, contain isocyanides. Isocyanides if breathed in, can cause serious liver damage.
Here's the thing: Activated charcoal in organic vapor cartridges like the 3M 6001 can block isocyanides. However, isocyanides (also called isonitriles or carbylamines) have a faster break-through rate than other vapors, and the bad news is there is no sure way to determine how fast that break-through is going to happen.
When I say break-through, the way to think about it is like a water dripping into a sponge. A slow drip will be absorbed, and many drips can be held in the sponge before the water comes through. A fast drip, or a steady stream, will quickly overwhelm the sponge's ability to hold back the liquid. In the same way, organic vapor cartridges can hold back a limited amount of isocyanides.
How much? Even 3M doesn't really know. Will these organic vapor cartridges provide long-term protection? The answer is no. Or at least it's not worth finding out. But will they provide short-term protection? With a properly fit mask, yes they will.
For the hobbyist painter using a 3M mask, several pair of the 3M 6001 Organic Vapor cartridges, changed out regularly during the course of your work, will likely provide adequate protection. Every hour wouldn't be too often to change the cartridges out because isocyanides are so toxic.
On top of the cartridges you will also want a pre-filter that is resistant to oil. 3M makes a retainer and filter that fit over the 6001 cartridges. The 3M 501 Retainer clips easily over the cartridges and holds the 5P71 Pre-filters in place.
The pre-filters come in a box of 10. You'll know when they need to be changed out. A full filter doesn't let you pull air in and you'll find it difficult to draw a breath. P95 filters are supposed to take 95% of all particulate matter down to the very, very small .3 microns out of the air, and are rated to work with dust and mist containing oil. They are designed, as they fill up, not to let more particles through, but to have less passageways to let the air through.
Professional painters don't use cartridges. Constantly changing out cartridges quickly adds up to serious money, and changing them out every hour or two is inconvenient when timing is so important. They use airline respirators. Airline respirators draw air from a clean air source, and deliver it to the mask in the painting room. They are generally not used by car hobbyists because of the cost. A one-worker system with a half-face mask is currently about $1000.
Remember isocyanides have no taste or smell, so you can't know when they are breaking through your respirator protection. Safety when painting with urethane involves not only a properly fit mask, and frequent changing of the cartridges, but also adequate ventilation. A ventilation blower or large fan forcing air out of the painting environment will help remove some of the dangerous vapors, while placing an HVAC filter over the air intake window on the other side of the room will help keep out dust and other airborne particulate matter.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to comment, or call us during business hours at 1-800-829-9580.
Here's the thing: Activated charcoal in organic vapor cartridges like the 3M 6001 can block isocyanides. However, isocyanides (also called isonitriles or carbylamines) have a faster break-through rate than other vapors, and the bad news is there is no sure way to determine how fast that break-through is going to happen.
When I say break-through, the way to think about it is like a water dripping into a sponge. A slow drip will be absorbed, and many drips can be held in the sponge before the water comes through. A fast drip, or a steady stream, will quickly overwhelm the sponge's ability to hold back the liquid. In the same way, organic vapor cartridges can hold back a limited amount of isocyanides.
How much? Even 3M doesn't really know. Will these organic vapor cartridges provide long-term protection? The answer is no. Or at least it's not worth finding out. But will they provide short-term protection? With a properly fit mask, yes they will.
For the hobbyist painter using a 3M mask, several pair of the 3M 6001 Organic Vapor cartridges, changed out regularly during the course of your work, will likely provide adequate protection. Every hour wouldn't be too often to change the cartridges out because isocyanides are so toxic.
On top of the cartridges you will also want a pre-filter that is resistant to oil. 3M makes a retainer and filter that fit over the 6001 cartridges. The 3M 501 Retainer clips easily over the cartridges and holds the 5P71 Pre-filters in place.
The pre-filters come in a box of 10. You'll know when they need to be changed out. A full filter doesn't let you pull air in and you'll find it difficult to draw a breath. P95 filters are supposed to take 95% of all particulate matter down to the very, very small .3 microns out of the air, and are rated to work with dust and mist containing oil. They are designed, as they fill up, not to let more particles through, but to have less passageways to let the air through.
Professional painters don't use cartridges. Constantly changing out cartridges quickly adds up to serious money, and changing them out every hour or two is inconvenient when timing is so important. They use airline respirators. Airline respirators draw air from a clean air source, and deliver it to the mask in the painting room. They are generally not used by car hobbyists because of the cost. A one-worker system with a half-face mask is currently about $1000.
Remember isocyanides have no taste or smell, so you can't know when they are breaking through your respirator protection. Safety when painting with urethane involves not only a properly fit mask, and frequent changing of the cartridges, but also adequate ventilation. A ventilation blower or large fan forcing air out of the painting environment will help remove some of the dangerous vapors, while placing an HVAC filter over the air intake window on the other side of the room will help keep out dust and other airborne particulate matter.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to comment, or call us during business hours at 1-800-829-9580.