Triton PRA001 Powered Respirator
A giant leap for personal dust protection.
Before I got my Triton, I used disposable dust masks. But these were not very efficient - at least not when you work for hours at a time. I found a lot of dust settled in my nose canal. I have used respirators (for chemicals) at work, but don't like them when you have to wear them for a prolonged time. I also react to the plastic/rubber they are made of (rashes in my face). So I started looking into other solutions.
I checked out several other products, including:
- 3M™ Airstream™ High Efficiency Headgear Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Systems. It is professional grade, but costly for an amateur (about $1,000). And the face shield contains a gasket that goes against the face, not suitable for my hypersensitive face skin.
- Trend® Airshield. Too front heavy for me (motor is integrated to the shield) and not comfortable for my head shape. The shield gasket also touches the face, and I was afraid this would cause rashes. Since I do a lot of turning, I wanted a shield with a hard hat that could protect my head from both dust in my hear and exploding turnings.
There are not that many choices out there, so I was very happy to learn about the Triton PRA001 Powered Respirator. I checked it out in the store and liked it right away. Since the battery is integrated into the power pack, I bought an extra battery pack with the unit. That way I can always have a freshly charged pack so I can work all day long.
My Triton Powered Respirator system
The unit works very well for me. I had to do some modifications (shortening the earmuff arms) as the earmuffs fit below my ears, even with the webbing adjusted.
If the prefilter is clogged or the battery is running low, the unit will start fogging. The included flow tester will indicate whether the power pack can deliver enough air.
The things I like the least:
- the visor distorts the view somewhat and scratches easily. If not treated with antistatic spray, it easily attracts fine wood dust that settles on the visor. When you wipe it off, you can easily make scratches.
- the battery cells in the power pack are not of high quality, and will start degrading after a few charges. They can however be rebuilt by a professional service (or by yourself if you know how).
Also remember that the respirator will protect you from harmful dust, but not chemical fumes, something you will find out if you have a hydrogen-dimethyl-sulfide release after eating pea soup or chili.
Even if I use the respirator, I still use a dust collector. That way I minimize the dust spread around in the shop, and the filter on the battery pack does not get clogged so fast. Dust can be suspended in air for a long time after you have stopped working, so the chances of breathing it does not stop when the dust collector stops.
First time I put it on I felt like the first man on the moon and had to exclaim (like Neill Armstrong) "One small step for man; One giant leap for mankind" while walking in slow motion... I can certainly say the respirator is a giant leap for personal dust protection.