Woodworker's Journal 1994-18-5, страница 13
The Air-Mate 3 Air Filtering System By Dennis Preston Breathing dust used to be pari of being a v.ood worker. You worked in a dusty shop and breathed dusty air: it went with the territory. The general unpleasantness of coughing, sneezing, sore eyes and throats, allergies, and even more serious breathing and lung problems eventually plague many of us. For some of us. dust bags on portable power tools and larger dust collectors form our main line of defense against the hazards of prolonged wood dust exposure. These devices do capture most of the larger particles, but unfortunately miss the very fine airborne panicles that pose potential health hazards. To make matters worse, these line particles can remain suspended in our shop air for hours, extending our exposure time beyond just the period when we created the dust. For those requiring more exacting protection, here's another solution. A Personal Protection Device The Air-Mate 3 consists of a belt-mounted air filter, a flexible breathing tube, and a dust helmet w ith face shield. A fan in the belt unit draws air through an air filter and delivers the filtered air through the flexible tube to the helmet. An air duct directs the air over the user's face. A hinged Lexan shield and Tyvek seal cover and protect the user's face. A rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery powers the blower. A charge lasts about eight hours, The helmet assembly weighs less than two pounds, and the filtering unit, battery, and breathing tube weigh 2.4 pounds. The unit has been MOSH-approved for protection against dusts and mists. It was not designed for use in low-oxygen or explosive environments. or in atmospheres containing toxic gases or vapors. How It Worked For Me I wore the Air-Mate 3 while going about my normal shop jobs, both bench work and using power tools, including several sessions at the lathe. In a cramped shop like mine, the Air-Mate 3 required a short adjustment period. The unit worked flawlessly, but I was routinely bumping the helmet and filter unit until 1 got used to allowing extra space for these appendages. Once over that hurdle, I began to appreciate the cool air being directed over my face. Although the fan pushes eight cubic feet of filtered air a minute. 1 found the motor noise barely noticeable. Air filtration was much more effective than the paper masks I typically use. Bearded wearers will find this especially true because the visor and Tyvek completely cover and seal around the face. The unit uses a paper filter cartridge designed to be replaced when airflow drops below six cubic feet of air per minute. I found it generally not clean-able. The manufacturer estimates filter life at 50 to 75 hours, but this will vary depending on dust conditions. Replacement filters costs S 12.50- The helmet resembles a standard construction hard hat and has an adjustable internal harness to fit most head sizes. It fell a little heavy for me at first. I was most aware of it on my head when 1 moved about the shop. However, when I focused on a task like sanding or hirning. I forgot that the helmet was there. I appreciated having the Air-Mate 3 for tasks like routing and turning that create lots of dust and chips. The W oodiurncr Jim Marhias, owner of the lirewood Modification Shop in Three Kivcrs, California, models the Air-Vlaie 3. The batters-powered belt-hung unit delivers a continuous suppl) of tillered air across the user's face. face shield provides great eye protection, and the forced ventilation eliminated any fogging—real pluses. Should Vou Buy? The Air-Mate 3 provides clean, filtered air and eye protection for a variety of adverse dust and chip conditions commonly encountered in many woodworking operations. The unit proved to be portable, comfortable, and quiet. While not cheap at S329, the professional-quality unit should last a long time. Considering the cosl of health care for allergies and bronchial infections, it truly may be a woodworker's ounce of prevention. Also, if you've found it neccssary to curtail or discontinue woodworking due to dust-related respiratory problems, you should consider the Air-Mate 3. It may be one way for you to continue your woodworking activities. 631 Woodworker" < Journal September/October 1904 13 |
