Is a N95 mask sufficient for exterior airless paint spraying? Or do I need to buy a respirator

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Is a N95 mask sufficient for exterior airless paint spraying? Or do I need to buy a respirator

duckDecoy

896 posts

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#318490 23-Jan-2025 15:16

We're up for painting the house again and this time around I invested in an airless paint sprayer.

I've never used one before and am not sure what masks are sufficient. Is a covid N95 mask going to do the job? Or do I need to buy a respirator? I'd rather not if I don't have to, but I have zero idea how badly an airless sprayer fills the air with paint particles.

EDIT: and if you do think one is necessary, what is a good one?

mattwnz

20141 posts

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#3334788 23-Jan-2025 15:56

A respirator. 3M are supposed to be good, I have a 3M one for woodwork. SUggest going into https://nzsafetyblackwoods.co.nz/en/ and discussing with them and trying some out and to make sure they fit.

pih

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#3334792 23-Jan-2025 16:05

You can get excellent quality genuine (afaict) 3M respirators on AliExpress for cheaper than you can get something locally, if you don't mind waiting - around $30 shipped for the excellent 3M 7502 respirator with organic vapour filters. You can find the same product (parallel imports) on TM for about $45 plus shipping, and they're about $80 in store iirc.

k1w1k1d

1519 posts

Uber Geek

#3334811 23-Jan-2025 17:15

PB tech also sell 3M respirators.

Not sure if I would trust AliExpress for safety products, especially the filters. Could be just cotton wool?

I use a 3M 7502 for woodwork etc.

pih

649 posts

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#3334814 23-Jan-2025 17:23

k1w1k1d:

PB tech also sell 3M respirators.

Not sure if I would trust AliExpress for safety products, especially the filters. Could be just cotton wool?

I use a 3M 7502 for woodwork etc.

They must go to extraordinary lengths to make them look authentic then (including sealing the vapour filters in foil, and even holographic 3M authenticity labels iirc), but I can assure you they're not made of cotton wool. Typically I'd agree with you that Ali isn't the place for safety products, but I've ordered 3 of them now and been extremely happy with the quality each time.

neb

11294 posts

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#3335155 24-Jan-2025 13:31

Probably third-shift products off the genuine production lines.

lxsw20

3552 posts

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#3335191 24-Jan-2025 14:32

pih:

They must go to extraordinary lengths to make them look authentic then.

Lol where its coming out of are experts in that exact line of work.

sudo

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3335193 24-Jan-2025 14:33

After using a decent respirator, you wouldn't want to go back to regular masks

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pih

649 posts

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#3335252 24-Jan-2025 16:10

lxsw20:

pih:

They must go to extraordinary lengths to make them look authentic then.

Lol where its coming out of are experts in that exact line of work.

And y'know what? If, in my seasoned experience it is made of the same materials, lasts as long, and does the same job (ie. either genuine but licensed only for certain global markets, or equally likely third-shift products), I'm actually totally fine using them if it saves me well over 50% of the local ticket price. And local retailers can't even complain that I'm not paying GST any more.