Serious stuff!!

[Bob Parmenter]

I'm thinking more about the young studs and studettes here than you geezers, it's too late for you! Not really, but you know the bit about old dogs.....................

I was bustin' some rust on some wheels last night and it occured to me that for too many years in my youth I did the same thing most young folks do.......................tempt fate because we're "invincible". Now, as the sins of my past are coming to roost I've gotten smarter (?) and thought I'd pass it along. Of course, most of you will probably treat this like you did any advice your daddy gave you and just dust it off.


Pictured below are a couple items you should always use any time you're kicking up particulate matter. You know; vacuuming rat turds from your new find, sanding old paint, scrubbing 50 years of gunk off the chassis, sanding "bondo" (especially bad for you) etc. I've added one of those inexpensive paper dust masks for comparison. If you use one of these you are at least making an attempt. If you insist on the cheapies, at least buy the ones with two straps, you get some better level of seal that way. The single strap ones are a complete waste of time and effort. However, if you're really interested in making your future a healthier one, get the particulate respirator on the left. It gives a complete seal around the mouth and nose area, has changable filters, and is very comfortable. In the long run they're cheaper than boxes of the cheapies. After a minute or so you forget it's there. These are a 3M product #07183, you can get them at any wholesale auto paint supply house, about $30. Yeah, yeah, I know, ain't cheap. But you were only supplied one set of lungs. The second muy importante item is the safety glasses. Right, real men just fish chunks of junk out of their eys. Been there, done that. Never thought it was fun. Wrap around safety glasses are a must. I've used all kinds, and these are the most comfortable, and offer the best field of vision. Again, once you have them on, you almost forget about them..................well, until you get so much junk on them you can't see through them. But then, that's the message isn't it? And if you use the good particulate respirator they don't get fogged up because of the complete seal.

BTW, a PARTICULATE respirator is no substitute for a CHEMICAL respirator (e.g. for painting), even though they LOOK similar.

Be safe (better yet, smart) out there!