[Khankhisto]

Hello,

I bought a 3m 6200 respirator to protect myself from the Coronavirus in case things get really bad (I live in Seattle so they kind of have already). I'm sure I've got all the right parts, I've got an organic vapor cartridge with p95 particulate filters (3m brand 5p71) attached (I know the organic vapor isn't necessary but the filters that attach to cartridges were cheaper than the circular stand alone ones).

My issue is that no matter how much I tighten the mask air still leaks through the top right of the mask when I try a positive pressure test (covering the exhaust valve and blowing). I'm pretty sure i have the right size, 6200 is the medium which is supposed to fit most people and I'm a rather average build at just 6'0" 170 lbs.

If I tried to order a smaller or larger size, which I'm not sure would even fix this, it wouldn't get here for at least a week and would cost an extra $25, which is twice what I originally paid. Is there anything I can do to try and fix the seal? All the instructions I've found just say to "talk to your supervisor" if you can't get it to fit after adjusting it, which obviously doesn't apply.

I don't know what to do to fix this so I'm hoping you guys can help. Any solutions are welcome, no matter how creative or unorthodox, I just want to make sure I'm safe. Do I pad it? Tape it? Put in a foam insert to seal the space?

Also if you can help me figure out exactly how often I should swap out the filters that would be really helpful. Most of the advice online is geared towards using these in an industrial setting so I can't find much there. I'd be wearing the mask in the open air just to protect myself from any airborne particles of the Coronavirus. Would it also be wearing out when I'm not breathing through it and it's sitting in storage? Also, will I have to replace the organic vapor cartridge even though I'm not actually using that?

Thanks so much for your help guys, stay safe.

 

[Khankhisto]

Weird symbol popped up whenever I used an apostrophe. Edited it out of the body of the post but couldn't remove it from the title, that's why I made another identical thread. Would delete this one but I can't figure out how. Sorry for that guys.

 

[Bud9051]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Try this link and see if it helps.
https://www.google.com/search?q=How...spirator&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1

Bud

 

[Khankhisto]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Try this link and see if it helps.
https://www.google.com/search?q=How...spirator&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1

Bud

That's the video that I was following along to, but they don't give any advice on how to fix it if you can't get a good seal no matter how you adjust it. They just say to "speak to your supervisor".

 

[3onthetree]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Any solutions are welcome, no matter how creative or unorthodox

Well, you did ask


In all seriousness, I use the 6200 series for mold remediation and the vinyl seal sitting on your nose/cheek gives in enough to form to your face. So I'm not sure of how to help you if you've got the straps right.

 

[Khankhisto]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Well, you did ask
View attachment 588221

In all seriousness, I use the 6200 series for mold remediation and the vinyl seal sitting on your nose/cheek gives in enough to form to your face. So I'm not sure of how to help you if you've got the straps right.

Lmao, I can't quite afford something like that. Thanks for the laugh though.

 

[ront02769]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Not sure about the mask idea. CDC/who both say that you only should use the mask if yuo are at risk because you have underlying conditions. If that is your circumstance, then sorry that I can’t help with your specific mask.

 

[Khankhisto]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Not sure about the mask idea. CDC/who both say that you only should use the mask if you are at risk because you have underlying conditions. If that is your circumstance, then sorry that I can’t help with your specific mask.

You're definitely at risk of becoming sick if you're breathing in airborne particles of the coronavirus. I believe the CDC says that to preserve the supply of medical masks for healthcare professionals. Hospitals aren't going to be buying respirators like these meant for industrial uses, but they still give you the same protection so I bought this to take precautions without undercutting that supply. I may not be at risk to become severely ill, but I can't afford to get sick at all as I already have been for the past 6 months and desperately need to get caught up on schoolwork. Also we don't know if the virus might mutate and become more aggressive/deadly. That's just my rationale, better safe than sorry.

 

[Roxygal]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

They say you should only wear a mask if you have the virus, to avoid spreading to others (if you cough or sneeze). It won't prevent getting it. The medical profession that wear masks, have them custom fitted to their face, not one from a store or online.
The best thing you can do is wipe things down with Lysol wipes and wash your hands often and long, and don't touch your face till after you've washed them.

 

[Khankhisto]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Well, you did ask
View attachment 588221

In all seriousness, I use the 6200 series for mold remediation and the vinyl seal sitting on your nose/cheek gives in enough to form to your face. So I'm not sure of how to help you if you've got the straps right.

I have these little foam inserts that came with a reusable dust mask that would be able to add a little padding and seal up the gap. Would it be hazardous at all to attach it to the mask with something like crazy glue, like if I'm breathing in remnant of the glue or something?

 

[Chris616]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Just to try to ease the paranoia, the best data currently available says that the death rate, if you happen to be infected and you’re under 40, is 0.2%.

Looking at your username, by chance do you have a beard? That will negatively impact the ability to get a good seal.

Buying a respirator online is like buying shoes online. It’s tough to know if the fit is right for you. S/M/L in a facemask doesn’t correlate to your body size. Stores that sell these will (maybe not right now and maybe not where you live) have test models that you can try out for fit.

It’s always possible to blow too hard and get a leak in a positive pressure test. It’s not possible to do that in a negative pressure test. That’s how I check if my mask is sealing properly to my face.

Chris

 

[joed]

Deleted your second post and fixed the title.

 

[Nik333]

Are they non-returnable? You may have a "different" kind of face. Even birth can cause that. Or'the mask could be malformed.


They sprayed saccharine outside the mask & if you could taste it, it didn't fit. Peppermint was also used.



I've been fit-tested for N-95 masks to see the size needed but I don't remember being fit-tested for a respirator. Ours looked more like a gas mask without the gas part. Used for RSV.

 

[LanterDan]

There are some people whose faces just don't fit certain manufacturer's masks. If the mask doesn't seem too big or too small, I would probably try another model/manufacturer. I know some people who have to use a full face respirator because they can't pass a fit test in a half mask. That gets expensive though.

I've used at least half a dozen different model half face masks and never had a problem with fit tests, so I'm afraid that all the help I can be.

 

[Nik333]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

They say you should only wear a mask if you have the virus, to avoid spreading to others (if you cough or sneeze). It won't prevent getting it.

I honestly think this is some kind of propaganda, maybe to decrease use of masks & save them for real needs?

 

[Old Thomas]

If you cover the exhaust port and exhale hard enough, it will leak. Try a negative pressure test. Cover the input ports and breath in, moving your head up and down, side to side. If it leaks, it doesn’t fit correctly.

 

[Khankhisto]

If you cover the exhaust port and exhale hard enough, it will leak. Try a negative pressure test. Cover the input ports and breath in, moving your head up and down, side to side. If it leaks, it doesn’t fit correctly.

I pass the negative pressure test just fine. Does that mean I'm good?

 

[Khankhisto]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

Just to try to ease the paranoia, the best data currently available says that the death rate, if you happen to be infected and you’re under 40, is 0.2%.

Looking at your username, by chance do you have a beard? That will negatively impact the ability to get a good seal.

Buying a respirator online is like buying shoes online. It’s tough to know if the fit is right for you. S/M/L in a facemask doesn’t correlate to your body size. Stores that sell these will (maybe not right now and maybe not where you live) have test models that you can try out for fit.

It’s always possible to blow too hard and get a leak in a positive pressure test. It’s not possible to do that in a negative pressure test. That’s how I check if my mask is sealing properly to my face.

Chris

I understand that the mortality rate is low, not worried about dying or anything just taking precautions to avoid getting sick. Not sure what about the name made you guess that I have a beard but yeah I do haha. It's a goatee though and I keep my neck clean shaven so I don't see how that could get in the way of the seal. I pass the negative pressure test just fine, but I had thought that you were supposed to be able to pass both of them to make sure you had a good seal...if I pass the negative pressure test but not the positive am I good?

 

[Roxygal]

Re: Can’t get respirator to fit, even though I’m pretty sure it’s the right siz

I honestly think this is some kind of propaganda, maybe to decrease use of masks & save them for real needs?

Well maybe, but this is coming from real doctors, not the media. They say the best defense is sanitizing and washing your hands often.

 

[Old Thomas]

The mask is designed to seal and give you filtered air when inhaling. It is doing that if it passes a negative air test. A positive pressure test is with a slight positive pressure, to make sure the mask fits the contours of your face. How hard are you exhaling?