3M P95/OV Paint Project Reusable

It's 3M, so I have absolutely no worries about the quality. I have used many of 3M's products, from the household we all have to more specialty products I've always been pleased. My concern was with sizing. I was hoping to use this both with painting and other chemicals I use in hobby work as well as for my mother who does her own pest control around her house. I'm not a large person, my mother is smaller still. I was concerned whether the Medium would fit. From what I've read researching the product, 3M assumes Medium will fit 90% of people and small and large for the people that have problems fitting equipment. Since this is for something more critical than work gloves or a hard hat I was worried. The medium fit perfectly, I'm a very skinny guy and my mother has a rounder face than I do but this fit perfectly. It took some getting used to to be comfortable on the bridge of the nose while still holding an airtight fit but the folded rubber seal was both much more comfortable than I thought it would be as well as very forgiving on fit. I wear glasses but didn't have any problem wearing them and the respirator nor with the safety glasses I ordered with this (also 3M, the Maxim Safety Splash Goggle). No chance on getting the expensive test they sell to verify it was perfect, but even in a closed room with spray paint, pesticide or other chemicals I can't smell a thing and have no issues from prolonged exposure. Make sure you get the right filters for the job. I chose 3M because the quality and wide variety of filters for different hazards which are compatible with this mask. They sell them all over Amazon and plenty of other specialty websites. Also, it comes with 2 dust covers. Those are the little white pads that look kind of like dust masks. They're packaged inside the clear plastic tops of the filter. The filter itself is the gray cartridge that attaches to the mask and you only need to use one of the white pads in each. Those are for fine particulates (like dust) while the cartridge does the important work. For some reason it never really touches on that in the voluminous instructions. I was very pleased with this respirator. It's performed exactly as advertised and honorable mention to the ease and quickness with which it can be fitted onto a variety of faces by the easy to use pull ties. They can be a tad annoying since they're still in your field of view but I found it easy to overlook.

Fits and works well

My wife and I were due for some painting projects for a new house, so lots of painting to be done. She has always had problems with headaches when painting, so I decided getting one of these would be the best way forward. I looked at the reviews, and purchased two models, the MSA Safetyworks 817662 and the 3M Low-Maintenance Half-Mask Organic Vapor, P95 (Medium). Of the two models, I prefer the 3M better, but quite honestly its very close. This respirator fits my wifes face better, and I would say that I am about average. Its not that this one didn't work, its just that the other one works better and fit better to me. The filters were easy enough to install, the adjustments were nice, and above all it works like a champ. We both have worn these extensively, for hours at a time, and it has worked without a hitch. No headaches, and no problems breathing, you almost forget you have it on. Compared to the cheap paper filters you put over your nose these things are a no brainer. Buy it once and don't regret it. Specific to this model it seems like it has a larger mask part that covers your mouth, and the strap that goes over the back of your head works better. It also has a clip sort of thing so you can take the neck strap off without it. I found this pretty handy for getting a drink of water. A good way to make sure that you have a seal when you are wearing a respirator (or a gas mask for that matter), is to do a "popcorn test". Cover up the filter with your hand and breath in. If it was a full face mask it would pop, thus called the pop corn. You *should NOT* be able to breathe through it. This means your air is coming through the filters and that is good. I rate this as 5 stars, solely because I think the 3M model is a slightly better value with coming with an extra set of filters out of the box. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this one, but if you are an average guy, the other one might fit a tad bit better. Really when it comes down to it, this would get about 4.5 stars, and the other one a 4.75 stars, but I wanted to illustrate which one I liked better.

I used this when painting my truck and it was effective. No paint odors came through. I used it with the black cartridge it came with along with a pink one on the outside.

Good mask, but with heavy use it wears out, so I have to order new ones about once a year.

This works great for keeping dust out. The piece that fits over the nose and mouth feels soft, but at the end of using it I do have pain on the bridge in my nose.

I got this respirator primarily for doing some painting work. The rubber is firm, but comfortable and in terms of texture, soft. It creates a safe seal, which you can tell by testing it per the instructions included with the respirator. The straps for the respirator are well-designed, and fit comfortably. However, while the respirator is easy to tighten while wearing, it is difficult to loosen them. This doesn't matter as much though, because you should be testing and adjusting the fit of the respirator before you do anything. Safety comes chronologically first too. The straps are not super thick either so I can wear a hat while wearing this respirator. In terms of wearing goggles while using this respirator, it really depends on what kind of goggles you're wearing. I just used my goggles I use for my lab for chemistry class, and they fit fine. I was sanding something outside though, and my sunglasses unfortunately didn't quite fit so well. Not a big deal. The respirator filters that come with it are not heavy either, which would be a concern if you were wearing this for long periods of time. They are not particularly cumbersome or anything, which is nice. In terms of the noise, this thing is pretty quiet (especially while you're spray-painting). However, if you were to sit around, there's a kind of a whistle that comes out of the exhale valve. I figured out that it's actually the piece that mounts the straps, and fits over the exhale valve, not the valve itself. It's not a big deal but something worth noting. Overall it's a great respirator, a reasonable price, and I would recommend this respirator. Plus it doesn't look bad either. UPDATE 2/4/2013 I have had this thing for about a year now, and it's still in great shape. The seals are doing well, and the straps are still in very good shape. I use mine about once a month though. Additionally, I used this mask when handling a decomposing body of a rat (don't ask why) and it did very well with the smell. While not fitted with filters designed to keep out biological material, the organic filters are enough to keep out the smells. I also happened to bring mine to anatomy lab, and I couldn't smell any formaldehyde, so 3M's filters are pretty good.

Amazon Review 3M Tekk Protection 6211 Paint Project Respirator 4 ½ stars- I bought this product specifically for its ability to block organic vapors in the 3M Hi-Tack 76 Spray Adhesive. It was an unqualified success in keeping those vapors out of my respiratory system. The one time I felt encumbered by it and removed it to do some detail work a nose length's distance from the project (inside a vehicle), I paid for it by spending a few hours the remainder of the day trying to clear my upper bronchial area and throat. The respirator comes with 4 huge foldout pamphlets. 1 for the Organic Vapor Cartridge 1 for the Particulate Filter 1 for the respirator body 1 outlining the protections provided for 38 configurations of various respirator components. Moreover, the user is directed to read and fully understand all of these instructions before proceeding AND before occupational use, a written respiratory protection program must be implemented meeting various government requirements! Some heavy duty stuff! Leads me to believe I bought the right one! Assembling the respirator was otherwise fairly intuitive except for 1 small detail. Although it is probably stated somewhere, 4 particulate filters are included. They are compactly pressed inside their respective holders that snap on to the OV Cartridge. At a brief glance, it looked like the particulate filter housing just needed to be snapped onto the OVC and we would be ready to rock. One side kept popping off and found that each PF housing had 2 filters in it. Nowhere in the volume of instructional material does is mention to separate the PF filters, making sure to install only one per side. I believe the only place where 4 PF filters might be mentioned is in the description on the product before ordering. Also not mentioned (at least not in an obvious manner) is whether or not the respirator can be used without the PF filters. I presume it can because there is no warning cautioning against it. Although the snaps and straps looked like they would be a rat's nest, they absolutely were not. One set fits over the back of the head and the other easily snaps together behind the neck. The one behind the neck has a fastener that makes it very easy to attach just by feel. I think the mask is extremely comfortable for the protection it provides. The Organic Vapor cartridge is dated. The one I received had a use before date of 1/20/2016. It is not clear if that date is good only as long as it remains in the sealed package. Useful life is likely shortened after initial use, but I don't know yet by how much. So far, I needed it only for this project and has only about a total of 1/2 hour exposure to organic vapors. The straps did not interfere with a pair of safety glasses that I used over a pair of very low profile readers from costco. I dinged the rating only for the inexplicable irony of the lack of direction on how to deal with those particulate filters and lack of ease in gauging the life of the Organic Vapor cartridge(s).

Fits well, easily replaceable filters and you can tell the difference between using single use disposable face masks. This product is a must.

Perfect for an inexpensive mask does the job as good as top price maskes

10/10 good packaging and excellent product for painting and being protected during this pandemic.

Very good protection for health

Why did you choose this product over others?: Did not come with the pre-filter adapter parts advertised. Item unusable as is as cannot attach filters to vapor cartridge.