Well I have read throught the sticky post and it is was rather helpfull but I still have some questions on what to use. I know what I should do since one should never cut corners with your heath but the cost of supplied air is a bit hard to swallow.

I will be shooting my BC/CC soon and need to find out what I need to wear to protect myself. The garage is large with doors on both ends and I will have a fan, ventilation wont be great but OK I think. Do I have to have a fullface mask or will a 1/2 do me? 100$ for a 3m6000 is kinda a hard pill to swallow for me. I know i shouldnt be cheap when it comes to my health. I know you should never have the attitude of doing just enough to get by when it comes to the rest of your life but the question is......

Whats the minimum to be safe?

Any particular recomendations of filters and masks would be appreciated.

Although I am in very good health and could hold my breath for a solid minute plus.....that could give me time to do some hosing and make a run for fresh air graemlins/clonk.gif

Never mind. I've got a line on a supplied air set up graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Glad to hear you're getting the fresh airsystem!One thing most people don't realize about safety related products is that they usually enhance the quality of your work. You'll do a much better job of spraying that car if your eyes aren't watering and the taste of paint isn't in your mouth rushing you through the paint application. The same thing goes for gloves, dust masks, sefety glasses/shield, hearing protection, knee pads etc. They reduce body fatigue allowing you to concentrate more on your work and work longer. As a kid I thought nothing bothered me and was really ignorant when it came to safety related items. Years later I learned that safety stuff actually made the work more enjoyable and the quality better. Live and learn.

Ratlover, Just my opinion on the full face vs the half mask is, YES that 100 bucks is well worth it. We just got a 3M fresh air unit back in June so I no longer have a use for my full face mask, Ill say this I couldnt even paint a hood and two fenders without my eyes burning before I bought it. later at night it felt like someone poured sand in my eyes :eek:

It was at the time the FRIGGIN best money spent PERIOD. If you cant afford a fresh air unit then just the way I see it, the full face mask is the ONLY to fly.

I suffer some Zinc Oxide everyday, I work with a guy that NOW has ISO sensitity because of his ignorance. To me NOW when it comes to MY well being, money is not an object, I cant say it any better then YOUR HEALTH is just not worth it.
If I ever relocate to another shop and have to paint, the FIRST thing Ill do is be on the phone buying a fresh air unit myself if the shop doesnt have one. Why risk it???...Eric

A good friend and excoworker of mine spent to many years as a painter not paying attention to paint exposure. Now whenever he gets a wiff of solvent he feels as though he must urinate. His body is telling him he has had to much exposure. His nervous system, kidneys, liver and lungs must be in rough shape. His hands shake so bad he can hardly sign his name. It's sad. Be careful, you only live once.