I started resin printing and I am wondering if you guys use a full on resperator (if so is their a specific classification you’d recommend?) Or do you just use a cloth / surgical mask?
So far I have been using the mask that came with my printer (Elegoo mars 3 pro) but and not sure if that is sufficient.
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The mask that comes with resin printers is about as effective as a bandaid for a gun shot wound.
I wear a 3m respirator with filters specd for VOCs.
I’d also recommend getting one of the carbon filters that goes inside of you resin printing enclosure as they do a lot for mitigation of gnarlyness.
Also having your printer in an enclosure that exhausts fumes right out your window is good for your health.
Keep an air filter in your room that has a decent amount of carbon for a carbon filter in it as that is good to have as well.
Ventilation is key. If you can exhaust the fumes to a window with a fan that would be ideal, and a respirator should be a secondary option. Though if you must, you need something with OV on it for organic vapours.
Supplied air system is fantastic if you can’t ventilate. I got a 2 man hobbyair setup on ebay for $200 mostly for isocyanates with painting cars. Might not be the best choice for you but figured I’d throw it out there
Full 3m respirator. Safety glasses. Water proof rubberized apron. Long sleeves. Gloves always.
I use a 3M 6200 half mask and 60923 cartridges. They’re good for organic vapor, some acids, and P100 (99.7% particulate blockage including oily particulates )I keep it on a hook near the door and use it for painting and epoxy work in closed areas. Cheap and effective, iirc the cartridges only need changing every 100-200 hours of use.
If you’re smelling a strong odor then a respirator would be advised. You need one with an organic vapor cartridge. Surgical mask is doing nothing for you in this situation. Probably easier just to get some good ventilation going though. Or minimize you time around the printer.
I could open my garage door however I am worried about letting in sunlight and ruining and/or damaging the prints.
I will take a look for the respirator and cartridges you mentioned!
In addition to other suggestions, you could also set up a barrier (cardboard box) that would shade your printer from direct sunlight when the door is open.
You also don’t need the door open fully. Just open a few inches and turn on a box fan.
AFAIK the problem with resin printing is vapors, not particles. A respirator may help, but it is no substitute for proper ventilation.
Ventilation is the way to go. Still, respirators have different filters for different chemicals.
Don’t quote me on that: A1 to A3 is what you should get. Still, check the list if it is the right filter for your 3d-printer resin (epoxy resin).
I don’t use a respirator at all, but I also don’t hang out in that room while it’s printing, and I have a small air purifier that runs in there full time.
I also don’t hang out there while it’s printing in my garage. Generally I spend less than 20ish minutes while I clean one print and get another one going.
A additional concern with resin printers is VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds, which air purifiers don’t really filter out since they’re focused on particulate cleaning. Sadly there is no solution like dilution, or in this case ventilation
Same here. As long as there is decent ventilation in the room you’re printing in and you don’t hang out excessively in the room while printing you should be totally fine. Eye protection and gloves are far more important imo
I do have eye protection and gloves… I probably should be using those more than I do. So far mask has been the one I use most frequently.
You should be using gloves anytime you are working with liquid resin. Skin contact with resin can cause/worsen a resin allergy over time. I’ve read accounts of people unable to be in the same room as an open bottle of resin because their allergy got so bad. Uncured resin is highly highly toxic
