3 Best Face Masks for Sawing Wood

Sawing wood is hard work! It’s important to make sure you’re always taking care of your skin so you can do your best work every day. That’s why these five face masks are the best choices for when you’re sawing wood, especially if you have sensitive skin that gets irritated easily by airborne sawdust. Here are our picks

Hazards of inhaling wood dust
Breathing in wood dust can create health problems for people who work with wood, including: asthma and other respiratory ailments, such as allergies and nosebleeds; allergic reactions; breathing difficulties; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); lung cancer. People exposed to wood dust also may experience skin irritation, itching and rashes. The wood dust from different species of trees has varying effects on human health. Most dangerous are products made from hardwoods that tend to be more concentrated in toxic chemicals and have small particles, resulting in a finer dust. Some softwood products can cause similar risks when processed or machined with high-speed tools that generate larger particles than traditional hand tools or sanding methods do.

Should you wear mask when sawing?
With all of those tiny pieces flying around, it’s easy to get hurt. To keep sawdust out of your nose and mouth while also protecting your face from splinters, you can wear a mask or respirator, like OSHA recommends. While you don’t have to purchase an industrial-strength respiratory protection device specifically made for woodworking (those cost between $30 and $200), using an inexpensive dust mask or disposable breathing cover is better than nothing at all. As long as it covers your nose and mouth completely, regular bandana masks are fine, too.

Does N95 mask protect against sawdust?
For simple wood sanding, some folks recommend the old standard 3M 8210 particulate respirator. Lots of people would call this style a dust mask. Others would say that it’s barely better than nose hair. It’s an N95 which means it will filter out 95% of the particulate matter, which is certainly better than nothing.

What type of mask is recommended for woodworking?
There are four basic types of face masks: disposable, dust-filtering, allergy and HEPA. Disposable masks are inexpensive and offer some protection from sawdust. They’re best suited to applications where there is minimal dust exposure and won’t be reused (such as cleaning up a small spill). Dust-filtering masks are slightly more expensive than disposable masks, but they offer increased protection against larger particles; many of these come with exhalation valves that allow you to breathe more easily. They’re ideal for applications where you have limited space, because they can fit comfortably over your glasses or safety goggles.

Here we list some good face masks for simple woodworking.

Harley L-288 N95 Mask NIOSH Approved

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has certified the Harley L-288 as a N95 mask. As an NIOSH-approved mask, the L-288 has met strict requirements for penetration, breathing resistance, and strap strength. The Harley N95 Respirator can remove pollutants as small as.

Shining Star SS9001-N95 Mask NIOSH Certified

Shining Star has recently been issued the NIOSH seal of approval for its SS9001-N95 Mask, making it one of the only masks approved by both NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This unique mask protects against harmful bacteria in the air, making it an invaluable tool for anyone exposed to such organisms, from construction workers to food handlers to janitors. It’s important to know why you should wear this mask and how it differs from other masks on the market.

GIKO 1200H N95 Mask CDC NIOSH Approved

Whether you’re do DIY job or sawing the wood, it’s important to be prepared when it comes to health and safety equipment like the GIKO 1200H N95 Mask. These masks are built with comfort in mind while still being strong enough to protect you from harmful airborne particulates that may be floating around the area where you’re working, like asbestos, lead, or mold spores. If you’re looking for a way to keep yourself healthy and safe at work, this is an excellent choice of mask that meets CDC and NIOSH standards of fit and protection.