respirator recommendations?
 

Can anyone recommend a respirator for welding AND painting? Or are the purposes(welding and painting) mutually exclusive?

I use the North half mask with the black(organic vapor) cartridge for painting. Most weldors do not use a respirator for welding. Good ventilation is a must though. If you are welding on galvinized you might try the mask, but I'd use good ventilation too.

i dont know about welding but if your not a painter by trade and only paint on occaisons i recomend the 3m disposable mask it last about 25 paint jobs are you really gonna do that many also store it in a ziplock bag so it last till 25 paint jobs

I don't use anything during sanding or painting, they are too bothersome.

well if your some one who paints ofteni recommend protection but for those that do it once in a great while i guess its ok but painters end up wreally messed up not wearing a respirator remember paint stays in your system unlike alcohol or marijuana

Ask this question on the paint & body section and you will get a lot of information . The bottom line is that with the high tech chemicals used today in paints if you do not use the right breathing equipment with some of these paints just one exposure without protection can cause permenant lung damage and it happened to one of our members , he's ruined for life from one paint job .

3M makes a reasonably priced disposable mask that is good for 1 month after the sealed bag is opened. Also welding galvanised metal can be fatal, the fumes can kill you.