Dust Mask - Quality One

[joko]

i have asthma and i suppose weakish lungs and i often get bad chests and infections etc
i have a big task coming up involving a lot of dust, mould and dirt etc, which is going to last a while

i have already got a bad chest, and cheapish dustmasks i have, work mostly but obviously not good enough

i am looking for something fairly good, that i can wear for long periods without struggling to breathe in it.

any recommendations?

(not a really expensive elaborate one)

thanks

[Zacs-Master]

Have you heard the one about the guy who walks into a rolls Royce showroom and asked for a car of the same quality but for half the price?

This might help
http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/dustmasks.htm

[The Builder]

Let's forget about all those rather silly cheap face-masks that some people use. If the mouth/nose bit gets bunged, then the dust simply comes in around the sides. In fact, even when not bunged-up, they never fit properly, and lots of unfiltered air creeps in under the edge.

The old "gas-mask" type are much better. Rubber/elastic straps for a good fit. Always go for throwaway separate filters too.

For you, I'd guess that dust in the eyes could well be just as much of a problem, so I'd go for a full-face mask. They are much more expensive though. Even more expensive (hundreds of pounds) are full-face with powered extraction (re-chargeable batteries).

Not wanting to spend that kind of money ... you should maybe go for full-face with throwaway filters (unpowered.)

http://www.screwfix.com/c/safety-workwear/dust-masks-respirators/cat850440#category=cat850440&page_size=20&page_start=0

The ones listed as "without filters" just means you buy the right type of filter separately and plug them in.

[EDDIE51]

Your health is far more important than saving a few £s on a cheap dust mask. A proper fitting mask is absolutely essential . Is this 'big task' to do with work? If so I would just tell them you can't do it , no mask is perfect.
If it is a home job I would seriously think of paying some one to do it.
If you do do it yourself you need a full face powered respirator, NOTHING other than that will be safe. I know this as I had to work on clearing asbestos contamination.

[joko]

well thanks all - but really not sure why everyone is going on about cheap dust masks!
i have specifically stated i dont want cheap ones - the whole question is about finding a better quality one - i know i need a good one - thats why i asked!
at no point have i asked for a cheap mask!

i cant however afford to spend a fortune on one - i am unemployed at the moment ...
so i want something good but that isnt some big elaborate industrial top quality item - because i cant afford that - simple as that.

i was hoping for some info on actual types of masks to look at - styles, brands etc etc

[Sir Alec]

Coincidentally, I've also been looking for a mask to do up my old house with, as there is some mould on one of the walls and I know how serious it can be to breathe in the spores.
Well done, The Builder! I would never have thought of Screwfix. Was going to browse Amazon, but those look perfect for my needs. Many thanks!

[EDDIE51]

I have used the Drager ones and they were as good as any and comfortable to wear. Just remember to change the filters regularly , if it is really dusty you need to change them daily or possibly more often.