3 ms·

> are only going to get worse I’m so thankful this year was mostly smoke free, but last year was a dystopian nightmare for like 3 or 4 months, it ended all out

by dahart 4y ago

> are only going to get worse I’m so thankful this year was mostly smoke free, but last year was a dystopian nightmare for like 3 or 4 months, it ended all outdoor activity for most of the summer and fall. Out of desperation, I resorted to riding my bike a few times wearing a ventilator mask, but wow was that uncomfortable. I’m really not looking forward to worse, but of course I know you’re probably right. With the size & scale of these fires I keep wondering how everything flammable hasn’t burned already in the last five or six years?

bombcar 4y ago
Which mask were you using? The quite expensive "all day" ones for painters can be relatively comfortable, and the ones that look like beekeeper hats even more so.
- dahart 4y ago
  I was using a cheap disposable N95 ventilator from Home Depot. Yeah if it gets bad again I will take your advice and invest in a professional mask. Sweating into the mask was probably the worst part, I was having to remove it often to wipe everything down, and the mask was kind of starting to disintegrate after a couple hours. It was, in a weird way, nice to get shocked with the taste & smell of smoke every time I took off the mask, I could tell it was working and helping keep my air much cleaner.
  - bombcar 4y ago
    Yeah, the slightly more expensive N95s are nice (I use https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-N95-Professional-Multi-Purpose-Valved-Respirator-10-Pack-48-73-4014/310392944 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-N95-Professional-Multi... for example) but the big ones are really more comfortable. Sweat is always the main problem after you tighten the bands enough that you're not leaking air on the sides. And if you're getting irritants in your eyes, you may want to go to a full face mask; zee goggles don't do much except against falling nails, dirt, etc.
    - dahart 4y ago
      That Milwaukee one is exactly the mask I bought. :) I found the similar 3M version to be quite a bit more comfortable for me, but I don’t know why. I assumed you were talking about the reusable ones like https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-OV-P95-Paint-Project-Reusable-Respirator-Mask-Size-Medium-6211PA1-A/100653900 https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-OV-P95-Paint-Project-Reusable... Yeah I think I probably was having just a touch of eye stinging from the smoke. Now I’m really curious what it would be like to ride a bike with a full face like https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/ppe/respiratory-protection/reusable-respirators/full-face/i/safety/personal-safety/ https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/ppe/respiratory-protection/r... Maybe the sweat issue would be easier to tolerate if it’s around the outside of my face? :shrug:
      - bombcar 4y ago
        Yeah the second is the upgrade from the first (but see the other thread for detailed recommendations). All the N95s that are disposable work for general quick things, but they are not comfortable or the best.
  - Syonyk 4y ago
    Oh, yeah. Those are vile to use for long periods of high airflow. Get a 3M half face painter's mask, some of the new-style P100 filters (white with a pink hashing over it, not the older style full pink ones), and you'll be a lot happier. Not only do they filter far better, they're much more comfortable to wear for sustained outdoor work. You'll still sweat some, but they won't disintegrate, and I find them not at all annoying like the paper ones I've used in the past. I use mine for just about everything in the summer - even mowing and firebreak cutting are far improved with the filters.
    - dahart 4y ago
      > I use mine for just about everything in the summer I’m shedding a tear about my/our future where this is really widespread out of necessity - just being outside might call for daily mask use. You guys are convincing me to go pick up the highest quality reusable mask I can now!
      - Syonyk 4y ago
        I can't say I'm a huge fan of it, but quality of life from being able to do this is far nicer than suffering through lungfulls of smoke every time I'm outside. Neil Stephenson's latest includes the concepts of "Earthsuits," with filtration and refrigeration and such, used to go outside when wet bulb is too high to survive unaided (and to be more comfortable in general in the heat). They seem a more and more useful concept...
    - charleslmunger 4y ago
      For a specific recommendation try the 3M HF-800 series with p100 filters. The silicone is very comfortable and it has a button for self-fit-test, which allows you to loosen the straps while remaining confident that you are protected. The large amount of filter surface area results in very low breathing resistance, and the exhalation valve improves comfort for extended wear.

by dahart 4y ago

bombcar 4y ago

Which mask were you using? The quite expensive "all day" ones for painters can be relatively comfortable, and the ones that look like beekeeper hats even more so.

dahart 4y ago
I was using a cheap disposable N95 ventilator from Home Depot. Yeah if it gets bad again I will take your advice and invest in a professional mask. Sweating into the mask was probably the worst part, I was having to remove it often to wipe everything down, and the mask was kind of starting to disintegrate after a couple hours. It was, in a weird way, nice to get shocked with the taste & smell of smoke every time I took off the mask, I could tell it was working and helping keep my air much cleaner.
- bombcar 4y ago
  Yeah, the slightly more expensive N95s are nice (I use https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-N95-Professional-Multi-Purpose-Valved-Respirator-10-Pack-48-73-4014/310392944 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-N95-Professional-Multi... for example) but the big ones are really more comfortable. Sweat is always the main problem after you tighten the bands enough that you're not leaking air on the sides. And if you're getting irritants in your eyes, you may want to go to a full face mask; zee goggles don't do much except against falling nails, dirt, etc.
  - dahart 4y ago
    That Milwaukee one is exactly the mask I bought. :) I found the similar 3M version to be quite a bit more comfortable for me, but I don’t know why. I assumed you were talking about the reusable ones like https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-OV-P95-Paint-Project-Reusable-Respirator-Mask-Size-Medium-6211PA1-A/100653900 https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-OV-P95-Paint-Project-Reusable... Yeah I think I probably was having just a touch of eye stinging from the smoke. Now I’m really curious what it would be like to ride a bike with a full face like https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/ppe/respiratory-protection/reusable-respirators/full-face/i/safety/personal-safety/ https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/ppe/respiratory-protection/r... Maybe the sweat issue would be easier to tolerate if it’s around the outside of my face? :shrug:
    - bombcar 4y ago
      Yeah the second is the upgrade from the first (but see the other thread for detailed recommendations). All the N95s that are disposable work for general quick things, but they are not comfortable or the best.
- Syonyk 4y ago
  Oh, yeah. Those are vile to use for long periods of high airflow. Get a 3M half face painter's mask, some of the new-style P100 filters (white with a pink hashing over it, not the older style full pink ones), and you'll be a lot happier. Not only do they filter far better, they're much more comfortable to wear for sustained outdoor work. You'll still sweat some, but they won't disintegrate, and I find them not at all annoying like the paper ones I've used in the past. I use mine for just about everything in the summer - even mowing and firebreak cutting are far improved with the filters.
  - dahart 4y ago
    > I use mine for just about everything in the summer I’m shedding a tear about my/our future where this is really widespread out of necessity - just being outside might call for daily mask use. You guys are convincing me to go pick up the highest quality reusable mask I can now!
    - Syonyk 4y ago
      I can't say I'm a huge fan of it, but quality of life from being able to do this is far nicer than suffering through lungfulls of smoke every time I'm outside. Neil Stephenson's latest includes the concepts of "Earthsuits," with filtration and refrigeration and such, used to go outside when wet bulb is too high to survive unaided (and to be more comfortable in general in the heat). They seem a more and more useful concept...
  - charleslmunger 4y ago
    For a specific recommendation try the 3M HF-800 series with p100 filters. The silicone is very comfortable and it has a button for self-fit-test, which allows you to loosen the straps while remaining confident that you are protected. The large amount of filter surface area results in very low breathing resistance, and the exhalation valve improves comfort for extended wear.