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Picked the 3M respirator over the cheap one and my lungs might thank me later
I was standing at the paint supply store last Tuesday trying to decide between a $45 3M half face respirator with the pink pancake filters and a $12 no name brand from the clearance rack. The cheap one felt flimsy in my hands and the rubber smelled weird like it would crack after a month. The 3M was heavier but the seal around my face was WAY better when I tried it on in the parking lot. I went with the expensive option because I do clear coat work for 4 hours straight sometimes and I don't want to taste solvent in my mouth for days afterward. After two weeks of using it I can tell the filters are still going strong and my nose feels clean after spraying. Has anyone else noticed a big difference between bargain bin respirators and the name brand ones?
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garcia.laura13d ago
That's the part that gets me every time... @oscarw83 you're right on the money about replacement filters. I bought a cheap one once and by the time I needed new filters they were discontinued. Now I'm just sitting here with a perfectly good respirator body and zero way to use it, like a car with no wheels but somehow I'm supposed to drive it. My wallet still hasn't forgiven me for that mistake and honestly my lungs probably rolled their eyes too.
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