Melting Metals and respirator

[archeonist]

Hi guys,

I am planning to melt my piled up gold an silver metals. In the past I have done some melting of very small batches, like a few grams. I did this always outside but I don't feel confortable with it. Now I want to buy a respirator for metal fumes but I really don't know what kind to choose. I do have one for HCl fumes but that is no good for metal fumes. Does anyone have experience with these kinds of repirators?

 

[snoman701]

What kind of respirator do you have?

Metal fumes condense quite nicely, and generally a fitted particulate filter is good enough for the common metals.


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[archeonist]

I currently have this one:

 

[rickbb]

I do not trust any respirator with my health or life. They should only be used as a temporary, escape a bad situation device only.

All cartridge type respirators are rated for a maximum level of fume concentration. Once the level of fumes exceeds that you are toast. Or rather your lungs are.

Put your money in a good fume hood design and forget about respirators.

 

[philddreamer]

I use this type:
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Organic-Vapor-Acid-Gas-Cartridge-6003-07047-AAD-60-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294780293&rt=rud

We use them at our welding shop... proper ventilation is always a must, though!
As you might already know, the filters are just a kind of "scrubber" for vapors/fumes, but they don't help provide oxygen.

Take care!
phil

 

[archeonist]

I use this type:
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Organic-Vapor-Acid-Gas-Cartridge-6003-07047-AAD-60-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294780293&rt=rud

We use them at our welding shop... proper ventilation is always a must, though!
As you might already know, the filters are just a kind of "scrubber" for vapors/fumes, but they don't help provide oxygen.

Take care!
phil

Thx Phil, I do have these filters, I use them when I pour AP solution (or any other solution containing a high level of HCl) outside my fumehood. I am aware of the fact that respirators don't provide maximum protection, I'm just searching for the right combination of personal health protection to provide as much protection as possible.

 

[archeonist]

I do not trust any respirator with my health or life. They should only be used as a temporary, escape a bad situation device only.

All cartridge type respirators are rated for a maximum level of fume concentration. Once the level of fumes exceeds that you are toast. Or rather your lungs are.

Put your money in a good fume hood design and forget about respirators.

I have access to a professional fumehood. 99% of all the action I take on refining I do inside of it. Melting gold buttons I do at my home, outside. It would be safe enough to do it outside, but the use of a proper respirator is adviced as I don't want to breathe any borax (and possible metal fumes). The metals I always melt are refined gold and refined silver, but never sterling as it could contain Cd, this I would certainly do in a fumehood.