Rockler Power Air Respirator

Good review Dick. Where do the batteries go? Does it have a wire attached? Is that what I see attached
to the guys hip in the picture?

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

That’s the battery pack on his belt, it takes 4 AA batteries.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Thanks for the review Dick. It sounds like a respirator I should look in to.

How does it feel while wearing your glasses? It looks like it rides up the nose quite a bit.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

Bill, in my picture I may have had it adjusted a little high. It’s something a person has to get used to.

It doesn’t seem to bother my Son, & he has a smaller face than me.

One thing, the fresh air feels good.

I think it should work with a beard, because of the positive fan pressure.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Hi Dick

This sure looks like the respirator to have. After breathing saw dust all of these years I seem to cough a lot more than I used to around saw dust. I like the idea of the fan to keep your face cooler when wearing. How bad is it on battery useage?

Tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Looks good to me Dick, particularly the fan cooling in humid climes. I would be interested in the battery life as well. do you have any information on that?.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Dick -

This is a very timely review as I have been looking into a good dust respirator. I always value your judgment.

David

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

looks good.. enjoy the fresher air

-- making sawdust....

To tell you the truth, I have never worn it long enough to run down the batteries completely.

I’ll ask my son how long they last for him.

If you read the reviews on Rockler, one fellow says he gets 4 hours on a charge.

I have learned something, when I buy batteries for my camera, I now buy the NiMH battery with the highest mAhr. rating, so when buying batteries, look at the rating in the small print on the battery. It’s worth paying a little extra for a higher rated battery.

From Wikipedia: NiMH battery can have two to three times the capacity of an equivalent size NiCd. However, compared to the lithium-ion battery, the volumetric energy density is lower and self-discharge is higher.

Common AA batteries (penlight-size) have nominal charge capacities© ranging from 1100 mA·hr to 2900 mA·hr at 1.2 V

If you want all of the battery info. on Wikipedia, click here.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Very nice review of an important device to keep dust entering lungs. What is the cost of the respirator?
Sharad

-- patanjali

Click here, for the prices.

It’s $62.99, the extra filters are shown on Rockler.

My Son has used his mask for almost a year now, & hasn’t needed to change the cartridge yet.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Looks like a good idea Dick. If I get my Lathe going I definately will get me one. mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

I forgot to mention, that it works the same as a regular respirator when the batteries are dead.

It’s takes a little more effort to breath though. A person gets used to the fan.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Thanks for this review Dick. A job well done. I’m going to order one soon.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

Do you have any problem wearing glasses or ear muffs?

I recently tried the Trend Face shield and it made wearing glasses difficult and ear muffs impossible.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

When I first started using it, I had to tune up my adjustments, I go under my chin a little further,

but no problem after That.

No problems with ear muffs. My Son says it’s kind of a hassle when removing all the stuff when you’re done.

You just remember to remove them in the reverse order.

The plastic strap that goes over the head has a bunch of little knobs on the surface of it to hold it in place, I guess.

They kind of irritate the scalp, a little to pointy, but I filed them down a little, & its fine now.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Thanks Dick. I think I will give it a try.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I’ve worn a lot of different respirators over the years, & everyone of them have something to be desired.

I guess everyone has a little different contour to there face, & they try to design one that fits all.

The silicon rubber mask seems to adjust fairly well.

The fresh air supply is really a nice feature.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

That’s a real improvement over the fan-less systems that I wear off and on when I’m spraying finish.
With the cannister down front like that I wonder how it will be for looking straight down?
I guess for as often as you do that it should work just fine.
One caveat, it does not tell us if you can get specialized filters for it.
I’d want to check on that too.

Nice find Dick and good review.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

If you got the Diameter of the filter you may be able to get a cannister for painting.

I’ll check the size.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

The instruction sheet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cartridge is 3 3/16” x 1” You should be able to get filters for painting.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I just ordered one so we shall see.

I hope it’s the one I have been looking for.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I too, hope it satisfies you.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I recently got a message from Gary, that he got his respirator, & he told me he likes it.

When I recommend something to others, it’s kind of a scary, hoping you did the right thing.

My respirator isn’t working to well right now. I accidentally left my battery pack on my belt, & drove to the post office.

Shortly after I was going to use my respirator, & I couldn’t find the battery pack, & then I remembered what

happened. It must have fallen off into the snow when exiting the car.

I’ll have to make myself another battery pack, because Rockler doesn’t have parts for it.

I’ve been using it without power, It’s a little tougher breathing, but it still works OK.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

thanks for the review Dick. I may have to order one of these as well. Paper dust masks are almost useless. I have been using a respirator as well but it doesn’t have any power to it. I have some Rockler rewards that I need to use so this will be on my list.

Thanks.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I’m just getting into woodworking and have given alot of thought to dust control/respirators etc… This review is right on. Looks like something that will be used….consistantly versus being used once or twice and then left in the drawer because it is too much a hassle….! Thanks for the review and everyone elses input.

Carlyle

-- Cheers!

It works great! Makes a big difference. The power makes it a lot easier to breath. You really notice it when
you accidently pull the plug on it.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

GaryK,

I’m glad you’re satisfied, you’ve had it long enough now, to have more use of it .

It’s very hard to recommend things, because everyone seems to have a different outlook about things.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Did you ever get the replacement part Dick? Do you still like your powered respirator?

Has anyone tried the Triton over the head model with hat and face shield? A lot more money, but I am curious how well it works. I believe Debbie had tried it and said it was hot in the summer. Any others?

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

Hi Bill,

I haven’t used it lately, & haven’t taken time to make myself a power supply. I’ve been using it powerless.

Like Gary said, it’s tougher breathing without the power.

I haven’t had a chance to look at my son’s battery pack yet, so I can copy it. there’s a 2 speed switch on it.

He has used it almost everyday since he got it, & he’s on the road a lot.

Rockler doesn’t sell parts for it.

It’s made in China, that’s why, What else is new!!

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1