respirator for airbrushing - Model Railroader Magazine

Also, remember that the cartridge will not last forever. All you should smell with the respirator on is that nasty rubber smell from the respirator itself. If you smell solvent, either the fit is not right and vapors are leaking around the edges or the cartridge is used up and needs replacing. I wear glasses, they often interfere with the fit of my respirator.

One other note - most solvents will also be absorbed through your skin. Wear a latex or vinyl glove if you hold parts by hand when you spray. When you get paint on your hands, do NOT use slovent to clean it off. The skin absorbtion factor of the solvent is almost as bad as inhailing the stuff. Use a gritty soap like Lava or the gritty degreasing hand cleaners from the automotive store. Or just let it wear off.

The accumulative effect of mineral solvents is brain damage. There was an article in MR 10 or 15 years ago about a guy that did a lot of painting for many years with no personal protection. Eventually he had loss of eye-hand coordination and memory loss. It contributed to his death. This is not what a hobby is about! (If this last has upset anyone, I am sorry. I used to be a safety engineer, and it does not stop just because I have retired!)

George