Personal Protection Equipment

Hey folks, first post here! Just wondering what type of safety glasses y'all are wearing? I've just got regular safety glasses now, but I'm looking for some tinted ones with a design that I like. Fire is mesmerizing, ya know! Seems like I remember seeing some purple-tinted specs one time. That'd be cool, as I don't mind looking like a hippie :wink: However, safety first, and if they don't protect, then what's the use? Thanks!

Someone is advertising what they call a "welding safety apron" in the local FB Marketplace; it's basically a heavy leather apron with a quilted fabric lining, with a slit and leg straps like a farrier's apron. The interesting thing is that most of it is covered with heavy metal staples that go all the way through. Anyone seen anything like this before? I imagine it would be good for industrial shops where there's a high chance of getting cut, but I suspect the staples might not be great for keeping the heat from a forge at bay.

Looking to find a decent apron for forging, grinding, welding etc. I bought the el cheapo 15.00 one from harbor freight and it works but looking for something more beefy soon for sure. I grinded for 2 hours today on a metal chop saw redo with a wire wheel and it def helped from getting wire hairs in my skin but figure ill be needing something better in the near future. Anyone know any amazon or ebay aprons worth buying thats not 100 bux? didnt know if i should stick with leather or some other non flammable material thats as good or stonger?! thanks

What kind of gloves does everyone use. I'm looking for heat protection with leather palms. Not interested in long welding gloves. I have a pair $8 that I added a leather palm and they work pretty good. Just seeing what others are using.

After doing some grinding yesterday, I took off my N95 mask and was horrified to see how filthy it was. When I blew my nose, it was black. Needless to say, I'm now rethinking my personal protective equipment (PPE) choices. I know that many of you don't do as much grinding, but I'm hoping to get some recommendations for a respirator that's suitable for forging and grinding. I think I would prefer a full-face respirator over a half-face one with goggles because it's less likely to fog up and I won't be as tempted to just use eye protection without a mask. However, I don't have any experience with either, so I'm open to suggestions. While I do my forging outside wh…

A number of PPE threads mention using either earbuds under earmuffs or earmuffs with build-in speakers (either corded or Bluetooth). Does anyone here have experience with the newer generation of earplugs that combine Bluetooth with hearing protection? Any recommendations?

I'm looking to get something to wear while working blacksmithing and around yard/acreage. Perhaps safety toe but resist burns while forging and welding plus general stuff work that could damage tennis shoes. I don't mind spending for quality and want something that will last. Any experience for getting or staying away from would be helpful.

For years I used the small tins of shoe polish. Made a nice shine but did not do much for the barnyard dirt, mud, water, and etc . What do you use as a boot or shoe protection or polish ?

I went to get a respirator and the one I was looking at said not to use with beards. I cant be the only guy with a beard that needs one. So what are you other bearded guys useing. Thanks Mel

Been looking a bit critically at my apron the last couple months. Its dirty. Grease, grime, metal shavings, my sweat, all intermingled into my leather apron. Was wondering, do you clean it? Do you clean yours? How do you do it? I know, its an oddball question. But one i wanted to ask since im not sure how to clean mine. Obviously, i cannot toss it into the washing machine. Wife would kill me (or at least make buy her a new one) . Hot water, dawn dish soap, and elbow grease?

It is cocked to one side. I slit it down the exact middle up to about my crotch, but even though it was straight and in the right spot when on the ground, it wasn’t when on me. Should I have made the shoulder straps adjustable in the front and back?

One of the more unusual bits of PPE available is the Resp-O-Rator from Duxterity LLC. Unlike most dust and vapor masks that cover the mouth and nose and are held in place with straps that go over the head, the Resp-O-Rator connects a scuba-like mouthpiece with a pair of round filters via a pair of tubes that go over the wearer’s shoulders. This has a couple of advantages: no straps to interfere with glasses (safety or otherwise) or ear protection, the filters are farther from the source of dust or fumes, and there is no need for a mask to seal against the wearer’s face — the last being especially important for those with beards or behind a few days on our shaving schedul…

Hello; Well; after the 15th person in my shop told me something along these lines : "Well that is a great idea, mind if I do that too in my shop?" I figured maybe it's time to make some pics and share it with the world. You all (probably) know those cheap full face snorkeling masks, I noticed that these almost never fogged up, and have a reasonably thick polycarbonate "window" with verrrrrry large silicone seals. They cost about 20€, you can find them from various sellers; but I've seen them first at Decathlon. They are scratch and blow resistant as the CE safety mark requires this in the European union. With 2 verry small cuts in the silicone; you c…

I was getting a spray of grit and dust across my left arm while grinding today, and had the idea to use a sleeve to protect it. This is just one leg of an old pair of jeans, with a slit for the neck and a safety pin to gather up the cuff. Quite effective!

In the never-ending quest for effective and comfortable protective eyewear, I find myself increasingly drawn to the aesthetics of the old school glasses with round lenses, metal frames, and mesh sides, like this: While I very much like the look and I suspect that the mesh side shields have the advantage of good ventilation, I am wondering if anyone here has experience actually using them or if there are known issues with the kind of safety glass used back when these were made. I mean, aesthetics are one thing, but not worth more than one of my eyes. Any thoughts?

Hello. I signed up a week or so ago after delaying my interest in Blacksmithing three times in my life due to reasons of practicality. Well life hasn't gotten any more "practical" for myself to get into smithing now, but I just hit age sixty, so I better start factoring in "now or never" Partly because of advice gleaned here at this forum, I decided to participate in two blacksmithing classes over the last two weeks. My experience there is fodder for another day's post, but before I consider taking any other classes I need to find a solution. The problem in need of solution for myself is that of facemarks and eye protection. The masks were mandated, so we co…

I went to the doc yesterday for two issues. Huge knee pain and a strangely swelling left wrist. I am being sent for an MRI and then to the specialist for the knee. It is what I expected so, aside from being very claustrophobic no issue. The wrist was not expected. I have worsening arthritis that is only going to get worse. The doc was super busy and I did not have time to really discuss the situation. He wasn't happy about this and neither was I. Not worth complaining about here. All he said was either stop trying to blacksmith or get some sort of wrist support. He glanced at my chart then said for both wrists. I knew this would come up eventually with …

I want to buy a filter for when I'm grinding but there are so many diffrent masks/filters/types that i don't know where to start. Any suggestions?

I wasn't exactly sure were to put this, sorry If it Is in the incorrect place. So, I have been forging for about 2 years now, and have gone through about 6 pairs of gloves! They always seem to tare near the thumb and also at the tips of the fingers. My first pair lasted me about 6 months, but unfortunately I don't remember who made them.....so, any of ya'll got recommendations on were to buy gloves that last? Also anyone know of were to get ONLY left handed gloves? Littleblacksmith

I know a lot of people wear gloves to avoid cuts and abrasions..............even blisters. (in the case of a surgeon I read about) I've got so many scars on my hands from such that they look like a Hong Kong street map! I'm all the time sticking my hands up against a knife blade, sanding belt, band-saw blade, motorcycle exhaust or most any other thing that could possibly leave a mark. But when it comes to forging, I want a glove on my tong hand that gives me extra protection if it takes me too long to get hold of something in the forge. I presently use a welders glove. (I don't wear anything on my hammer hand) But it's beginning to get "toasted" and stiff from thos…

I do a lot of MIG and TIG welding, cutting, grinding, sanding, milling, lathe work and painting for my art projects. I am much more safety conscious now than when I was younger. I have multiple sets of hearing protection, eye pro, half masks with P100 filters, full face shields and even full face masks with filters when I work. I have had several pieces of metal in my eye even while wearing eye pro. Due to that, I will not do any smithing without eye pro. I have also lost enough of my hearing to not be able to afford to lose more. Not trying to be a know it all, but I am quite an advocate for safety measures on another forum. I also understand that occas…

I hope this is in the right spot. I am looking into getting a Respirator with a full face shield to protect both my lungs and eyes at the same time while I am grinding on the 2 x 72. Any recommendations on a brand or model? I was looking at North or honeywell brand but none seem to be made for Grinding. I worry the full face shield may not be replaceable. Any Ideas? Thanks in advance.

Hello All, I've been reading on the forum for a while but this is my first post. I work for a historic site where while demoing we need to be able to hear and talk to the public. I have been looking for some ear protection that will allow me to hear and speak with guests more easily, be discrete as we are in a historic space, and give me some protection from the anvil ring. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have been looking at these but was curious whether anyone has had any experience with them. Earpeace HD - Musicians Ear Plugs Thanks!

Personal Protection Equipment has about 1600 questions (threads) which is a manageable number to create and test a new sticky system to make the most important information available to the viewer. This would consist of a condensed version of the information for quick reference, as well as a link to the thread where the subject is discussed. Currently there is one topic that is at the top of the subsection Safety glasses for forging with 330 posts. Let us distill down that information into a sticky. -------------------------------------------- Safety Glasses. The quick version could go something like Yes, safety glasses are recommended for forgi…

I don't have a workshop to put a forge in, nor do I think I'd want to if I had one. [I shall see how long I can weather this winter when I don't get to forge like all the rest of you Torbjörn Åhmans.] Anyways, I have a respirator that was given to me (AOSafety mask with R53HE-P100 cartridges) but some research shows this company has been absorbed into 3M and cartridges are no longer available, except for a premium on Amazon, eBay, etc. Any idea on how long these things last? The only possible marking remotely resembling any kind of expiration date is a stamp with the following numbers in green: 102403 (good through Oct. 24, '03???) I'm currently looking …