Suspicious of my air fed mask

[julianf]

I've got a devilbis air fed.

Compressor is a good distance away, long hose, trap, long hose, 3 stage filter, hose, belt pack, hose to mask. One of the full face ones.

Occasionally when working I get a whiff of solvent. I mean this can't be right, surely?

The belt pack regulator is pre-set. The compressor is a 3hp belt drive and the gun is a tiny spot repair. Ie airflow is not limiting. The final regulator is set to 4bar, which is at the lower end of the input range but is in spec.

With a positive pressure mask, if you breath in faster than the air supply replenishes the volume, you're surely going to suck in air from outside. I assume this must be what occasionally happens.

Is my belt pack knackered? I guess I should try turning up the supply pressure, and see if that makes a difference, but, again, it's within spec.

Or is the occasional whiff of solvent considered acceptable? Im quite sensative / cautious about this kind of thing and it's concerning me at present.

Thank you.

 

[carbon]

I have the honeywell/sperian equivalent of the devilbiss airfed but the one I have has the low pressure whistle. When using a devilbiss GTi pro with the H1 aircap I have to have the pressure higher than 4 bar to stop the whistle sounding, possibly closer the upper limit

 

[carbon]

I’ve just found a picture of the wall regulator for mine. It’s set at approx 6.5-6.75 bar.

 

[julianf]

Upper limit is 7 bar. I can do that.

The reason I have it set at 4 bar is that is the recommended pressure for the paint, and the gun is teed off the belt pack.

I have one of those little screw on gauges / needle valve things on the gun itself, but I always assumed they were rubbish, so have set the pressure on the final 3 stage filter.

If I up the pressure on the filters, I'll be increasing the pressure at the gun (assuming I keep with the same setup in other regards)

Are those little screw in gun regulators ok, or do I need to get another proper regulator and reduce the pressure after the 3 stage?

Thank you.

 

[julianf]

This is the kind of thing I have on the gun itself -

So if I increased the pressure to the belt pack to 7 bar ish, I would then be relying on that (in my current setup) to drop down to 4 bar.

Would that be acceptable? I mean I know that's what they're supposed to do, but I have my doubts...

 

[Roger440]

This is the kind of thing I have on the gun itself -

So if I increased the pressure to the belt pack to 7 bar ish, I would then be relying on that (in my current setup) to drop down to 4 bar.

Would that be acceptable? I mean I know that's what they're supposed to do, but I have my doubts...

Im sure there are crap ones as well as good ones, but it should work.

 

[carbon]

There are better, but using the one you have will see if it works correctly.

 

[julianf]

There are better, but using the one you have will see if it works correctly.

I guess that will certainly be the way to know for sure.

Thank you both.

 

[Anguz]

Not familiar with your mask, but if its like anything we use at work that is positive pressure, if you turn the air off and try to beathe it wont leak breath in any external air if the mask is fitted corectly and the right size

We have to have a face fit test, and 1 size does not fit all

 

[carbon]

Not familiar with your mask, but if its like anything we use at work that is positive pressure, if you turn the air off and try to beathe it wont leak breath in any external air if the mask is fitted corectly and the right size

We have to have a face fit test, and 1 size does not fit all

These don't seal against the face, they have either an elasticated or foam chin seal and a cloth cover at the rear that can let excess air out

 

[carbon]

@Burdekin uses these spraygun pressure regulators. ANI Pressure Regulator

 

[Burdekin]

@Burdekin uses these spraygun pressure regulators. ANI Pressure Regulator

Yep spot on for me, not had any issues.

 

[Burdekin]

My mask is a Sundstrom full face with the air fed attachment. If I turn the air off I can't breathe with the mask on, it sticks to my face and no air can come in. It also has a whistle for low flow. Air fed masks use quite a bit of air, I run three compressors when spraying.

 

[julianf]

Ive turned up the air, and the issue seems to have gone, however, it only cropped up occasionally, so maybe its still there, but ive just not come across it yet. I dont know.

I also had a bit of a look for half masks, as i thought, maybe, these would give a more directed flow of air, but was saddened that they seemed to be much more money than i was expecting (all i want is the mask, i have the belt pack etc)

I mean you can get a mask with filters for £15, but a mask without any filters, but just a pipe in their place, seems to be £100 ish, which is more than i wanted to spend on a quick test!


But maybe its resolved anyway - i guess ill see in a bit more time.

Thanks to all for the advice.

 

[Dcal]

I often use a 3m half mask with the air supply tube.
If I turn off the air I can't breathe at all, the seal is that good.
It uses a "lot" less air than the standard air fed masks I have, but very rarely use.

 

[julianf]

I often use a 3m half mask with the air supply tube.
If I turn off the air I can't breathe at all, the seal is that good.
It uses a "lot" less air than the standard air fed masks I have, but very rarely use.

Thank you. Can you treat me like an idiot, and link me to the parts? It seems like i buy the mask and then the tube as seperate items, but, from looking, im not certain if i just get any mask, or if it has to be specific. Also there seems to be different tube options?

Thank you again.

 

[Kram]

This is the kind of thing I have on the gun itself -

So if I increased the pressure to the belt pack to 7 bar ish, I would then be relying on that (in my current setup) to drop down to 4 bar.

Would that be acceptable? I mean I know that's what they're supposed to do, but I have my doubts...

Bin that. Instead of the cheater valve directly on the gun, where its long and gets in the way.. I have a proper diaphram regulator and water trap about 30-40cm from the gun, gives a lot better freedom to move.

 

[Dcal]

This is the one I have, when I bought it, a fair while ago, it was £90 odd I think.

I'm sure @Kram (the amazon deal king) could get one a bit cheaper, it seems a lot for a bit of rubber hose.
The connector fits in the standard 3m belt mounted filter. I fitted a cheater valve to reduce the air flow to the mask because I run highish pressure to the belt and have a regulator on the belt for my spray gun.

3M™ Lightweight Breathing Tube S-222 - Quick Release Swivel - EU99 CE Approved - [3M-S-222]

TSSC Product 3M™ Lightweight Breathing Tube S-222 - Quick Release Swivel - EU99 CE Approved - [3M-S-222]

www.thesafetysupplycompany.co.uk

 

[Burdekin]

Julian, get this if looking for a full facemask: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304421119817?hash=item46e0e9a749:g:1gYAAOSwaeJiRXa5

Quality gear, I have two of these and a few half masks. You can also get one of the half masks and plug the air fed adaptor into it. Or you can get the filters and use them with the full face and half masks. Great quality and versatile.

 

[norsa]

Julian. I have the devilfish mask, I also have a 3ph screw compressor. I set the valve to full pressure but I have put a pressure gauge on the t piece then the fly hose to gun. This I regulate to 40psi for nearly every paint.
Nick