Dust Masks and More

by Linda Stuckey

Originally published in American Lutherie #116, 2013



Respirators seem like the most affordable part of the dust control system, and if you’re a hobbyist who backs the car out of the garage on the weekends to set up the bandsaw, your only dust control might be a broom and a dust mask. How do you find the one you need?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certifies particulate respirators that meet its standards. The ratings are based on efficiency and resistance to airborne oil. The letters tell you that the mask is not oil resistant (N), is somewhat oil resistant (R), or is nearly oil proof (P). In a similar way, the numbers describe the efficiency, the percentage of particles the material traps. So an N95 mask is not oil resistant and filters at least 95% of airborne particles.¹ (A rating of 100 means at least 99.97%. They round that one.) So if you’re using an N95 mask, no more than 5% of the particles can get through it, assuming it fits well. The mask works partly like a sieve, so that particles larger than the gap between fibers can’t penetrate. But smaller particles also get stuck to the fibers. And the P-rated masks include an electrostatic coating on the surface of the mask as a third filtering method.rticles also get stuck to the fibers. And the P-rated masks include an electrostatic coating on the surface of the mask as a third filtering method.