3M Full Facepiece Reusable Respirator 6800, NIOSH, Large Lens, ANSI High Impact Eye Protection, Silicone Face Seal, Four-Point Harness, Comfortable Fit, Painting, Dust, Chemicals, Medium

I bought this face shield/respirator for bowl turning. It is an excellent piece of equipment. Nice clear vision with no fogging! No breathing in dust. It is especially great at keeping dust out of my eyes!

We ordered "hers" (6800 medium) and "his" (6900 large) full-face protective masks after a lot of research. To save customers a lot of legwork, here is the info. you need: #1 Having had experience with half masks and goggles, it is a no-brainer to go with the full mask. Not only are your eyes as important as your lungs, but reading the specifics on particulates protection, the full mask gives 5 times more protection. That’s according to 3M. Properly fitted and with the proper filter, there are no odors entering the mask. #2 These masks are sized by series number to fit your face. And they do fit your face! Very comfortable, have a great seal, and do not fog-period. We found that initially fitting the mask, the two straps are adjusted over the top of the head to seal the forehead area. The two at the jaw are then adjusted to seal the lower face. Once done, the easy release lower tabs can be released and the mask removed over the top of the head. But always make sure the mask fits properly before entering the area. #3 These masks do NOT come with filters. For your particular application, type in "3M 6000 series face mask" which takes you to the 3M site with a complete user manual, safety instructions, and specifics for filters applicable to your needs. This is clear and concise information worth a few minutes of reading time. Don’t fudge here, if you need two different styles of filters, get them up front. We are talking about your health. The second critical point is to make certain that the filters seat and twist in until you hear a click. The round pink fiber filters may give you the most concern, but with care, they are pretty sturdy and will seat. #4 3M offers for about $25.00 a 25 pack of face-shield protectors that statically adhere to the face shield. One sample comes with the mask. Having tried it, they are worth the investment. There is no difference in vision when they are applied. The mask itself is not cheap and will last a very long time. A replacement lens is about $25. If you are working in any type of environment that will coat the lens or flying debris , most often the conditions you will be working in, it is economic sense to use them.

I've purchased two of these over the past few years to help with hobbies and house remodeling. They are very versatile when paired with the appropriate filter for what you are doing. I used them while blade smithing/metal sanding, wood sanding, fiberglass boat making, using chemicals/epoxy/strong paint pretty much anything where vapors or particulates are involved. They are comfortable enough for extended wear and I've worn them for upwards of 5 hours and still felt reasonably comfortable. I seal check mine each time I use them and after that I've had no issue during use. Maintenance wise they do need replacement valves, head straps, and of course filters as needed, but these are very solid and I feel safe using them for what I do.

This mask just saved me. I was turning a segmented bowl on my lathe and the bowl broke apart. The mask took the brunt of the large piece that flew towards my face. I felt the impact, but was not injured. Without this mask I would have been hit just below my left eye, quite possibly injuring my eye and breaking my eye socket. I always have the 3M 2091 P100 Particulate Filters attached. Together they make woodturning enjoyable. My vision is not obstructed in any way. The mask is lightweight and fits snugly. The filters allow me to breathe and there is no condensation build up in the mask.

I have thrown away my old eye protection goggles that get all foggy on me, and my old respirators for paint fumes, and my cheap face masks for dust and particles I don't want to breath in. This products does it all and does it so much better, and the up front costs are low and it seems to me that it pays for itself over time in so many ways. It protects the eyes by filtering out all the air that comes into the respirator and passing it by the eyes before breathing it in. That way, even if like me you wear contact lenses, you might be able to work with the lenses in as I do. Then it exits your breath with moisture out of the mask so that it does not fog the lense. 3M has a full compliment of approved filters for toxic environments, and I have used a pair. More importantly for me, they also have low cost filters for dust and particles that are even better than HEPA filter facemasks, and those are way better than cheap facemasks. The point is that once you have the reusable mask, the dust and particle filters are in the same price rance as those cheap facemasks. I keep my facemask set to go with two dust and particle filters attached. Then I just pop it on anytime I think I'm going to be in a dusty situation. No fooling. I've got great eye protection, visibility and easy breathing by just pulling the mask over my head and tightening the straps, less than a minute, including testing the seal. When the filters get old, I replace them in less than a minute (I timed myself). There is some cleanup if I am sweating or breathing out moisture. I have to wipe it down the inside when I am done and sometimes rinse it out and dry it. That is not as simple as simple throwing a face mask away, but then it is all set up for me next time, and those face masks are not so easy to set up correctly, and even then I get leakage around the nose and fog on my eye protection without a lot of fuss versus pulling on the 3M mask with its strong straps and comfortable fitting, solid construction. I'm never going back to the old way. One other thing, there is a low cost, thin, clear plastic cover for the hard plastic clear face shield. That cover can be easily removed and another put on, and those are not expensive. I've beaten mine up for some time now, and I'm glad I can remove it and will soon be putting another on.

UPDATE: I'm raising my rating to four stars. The problem I experienced with the bottom strap loosening was caused by one of the fastening brackets becoming misaligned. Fixing it was incredibly simple, as is most operations with this mask. I'm leaving my rating at four, instead of rating it as five, because I really think the instructions for this mask should include precautions and steps for periodically examining each of the mechanical components for proper operation. The mask itself is great, but the instructions for using and maintaining it could be described a little better. UPDATE: I'm dropping my rating to three stars. As great as this mask is, after approximately fifty hours of use, one of the bottom tightening straps now loosens automatically and immediately as soon as I tighten it. That's exactly what I DON'T WANT to happen when I'm working with hazardous materials. Worse yet, I didn't discover this problem until several hours into one particularly messy (and unhealthy) job. Who knows if micro-particles of dangerous elements seeped into my mask during that instance. I'm torn as to whether I should buy another mask of the same model, or if I should try a different model or manufacturer. 10 uses for a $110 respirator is a bit expensive. ORIGINAL REVIEW: I've used half-mask respirators with safety goggles to perform lead, mold, and dust remediation and MAN: full-mask respirators are A MILLION TIMES BETTER! The half-mask respirators or goggles would always end up giving me headaches or skin irritation after a few hours, and leave my face etched with deep red imprints for several hours after removing the equipment. No such problems with full-mask respirators. This respirator in particular was VERY comfortable, and never fogged up. I've used it for 10 hours at a stretch, and never once felt out of breath or excessively sweaty in it, even when I used it in an attic in 90 degree weather. It is also extremely easy to adjust the straps to tighten or loosen the respirator. I was particularly impressed that I could dismantle the entire respirator into several separate pieces that could be easily cleaned and reassembled. I have a feeling this respirator will last a long time. AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT: the seal around your face, specifically near your temples, can become temporarily compromised if you make certain facial gestures, such as furrowing your brows, or looking over your shoulder and straining to see something out of your field of view. It's just a natural fact that as you contort your face muscles into different positions, it might raise the mask slightly so that the seal is broken and air leaks in to the face mask, especially around the temples. Note that you MUST perform a fit test to make sure that the seal is formed properly whenever you put this (or any) respirator on. Make sure you get the right size, and that you adjust the straps properly. In my experience, the broken seal did not leak air into the respirator itself; just near my eyes. You should not use this (or any similarly-rated) respirator for working with toxic gases or such.

This respirator is top notch!! The closure is a great fit, the 4 point harness fits easily over your head and the closing clasps are easy to use and stay in place. The breathe ability while wearing this isn’t that bad and it’s very functional, You can take most of it apart to clean it you can even find replacement parts on here when components get worn out which is a big plus.

**UPDATE: It has been 4 years since this purchase. I still own the same respirator, although by now, it's REALLY scratched and just a couple days ago, my left bottom strap broke. I can still insert it into the clip, it just doesn't have the stop. I have used this HEAVILY since ownership and as I mentioned, I'm rough with mine. I sorta did a lot of "tossing" and yanking and pulling. The fact that it's really scratched and a strap is broken is completely justified. I swear to God I do NOT know what I would have done without this thing. It has been THE difference between giving up this hobby entirely, and advancing so much farther than I ever imagined I could. I never would have guessed how therapeutic it would become. When I put on my respirator, pop in my ear buds and dive into cutting wood, hours of sanding, or using highly chemical substances for this or that, I'm in my zone. I should add, people can't hear you very well when you're wearing this. You have to yell. It's a little funny, actually. For me, I just wanna be left alone anyway when I'm working so I avoid eye contact with neighbors because I don't want anyone to strike up a conversation with me cuz I don't like the hassle of removing my respirator and putting it back on over and over. Also, I scare small children when I'm wearing it. But I'm telling you, this thing is a forcefield around your face. I restored a 1942 mail sorter, complete with lead paint. My finishing touch was oil-based sealer on the beautiful wood surface. I holed up in my bedroom for a good week because the mail sorter was in my livong room (small apt). I put my respirator on every time I left my bedroom for any reason. When it was all done with, I was, and still am, so proud of my work. Not having my lungs hurt through all that has made it a really happy memory. I will likely purchase another pretty soon. My carelessness with my shield has made it so seeing details is getting more difficult, and the other straps aren't going to last much longer. Next time around, I treat it more like a vital organ :D ** I'm really, really pleased with this respirator. I dipped a toe in the woodworking/carpentry world about 5 yrs ago, as a way to obtain small things I wanted but couldn't afford. I have asthma, but this hobby didn't pick up until summer 2019, when I stupidly decided to "restore" a wardrobe trunk my mom had had rotting in her basement for eons. SO. MUCH. SANDING! At the same time, I took on remodeling my mom's bedroom, where I volunteered to scrape the ceiling. In nothing but a regular mask. ....yeah.... My lungs hurt SO. Bad. For weeks. So, I started looking at respirators, and doing research made me realize: My lungs were also sore and my allergies flared anytime I used stain, sealer, paint - and I also remembered I occasionally want to use spray paint. And I can't believe what sensitive babies my lungs are! I've had a lot of really, really sucky lung ailments throughout my life but this tenderness was constant, and it hurt to take deep breaths. I nixed partial respirators because by then, I was BEYOND aggravated with my protective eye-gear fogging up with a mask. I didn't realize this didn't come with filters until I got it. I suspected, but I guess I didn't read the fine print. I also didn't consider size, because I had no idea I had even ordered an XL until I got it! I will say, however, I'm glad I got the XL because I have long hair, and if I wear a bun, or tuck my braid, it's bulky. I also wear fabric over my hair, with everything tucked in, to keep saw dust out. I've tightened the straps over my bun before and the pain becomes pulsating and excruciating after a bit. I've learned how to place the straps and my hairstyle to avoid that, but idk if a smaller size would have the same amount of space in the back as the XL does. Also, a lot rides on which filters you get. I got the ones that were recommended, because I really had no clue what I needed. My first time wearing it involved spray painting. I observed how my lungs felt over the next couple days and everything was normal. When it came to cutting wood and sanding, this was where it really sank in how worth it this purchase had been. I don't give a damn what I look like to my neighbors (and I have super snoopy ones, too) -I can sit outside and sand for hours and hours, cut wood and get my face super close to watch my cut without debris flying into my eye or inhaling dust. Also, since getting this, I've noticed when I do a quick cut, like with my jigsaw or cordless saw, the tenderness in my lungs is almost instant. Wearing this has made me aware that I HAVE to wear it EVERY TIME, even if it's a quick, small cut. Also, I keep it on throughout cleanup, putting things away, brushing myself off, etc. I wear clothes under my overalls so I can take them off outside and shake them out. I don't take the respirator off until I'm ALL done disturbing sawdust. Too many times I've thought it wouldn't be a big deal, but it IS. Every time. Even when I drill pocket holes, I wear my respirator! Yesterday, it was 95 degrees, and I live in the Midwest so weather here is literally ALL variations. I was sweating SO bad but I put that damn respirator on each and every time I made a cut. I will add a tip about winter. You have to put it on before you go outside, because it fogs up from the cold and doesn't go away even after you put it on. Cleaning it is suuuuper easy. I take the filters off and the central part for your nose and mouth, and just rinse everything (not the filters, obviously). I've dropped it a million times or it's fallen out of my work bag, and there are no cracks whatsoever. There might be a couple minor scratches on the outside, but I'm pretty rough with mine. It works fantastically and it's still goin strong 8 months later. Definitely worth the buy, which you won't truly appreciate until you use it.