Interesting article about gas masks - Page 2

**hcpookie** · 03-01-2010, 01:50 PM

OK That's a BLOG that is built to look like a government agency website. "National Terror Alert" .com is NOT a government website. Crap but I can't remember how to look up the website owner information - anyone remember? I thought it was something like "whois" or something similar?

Sure, you're talking about your life here so it is worth investigating. However everything on that page is alarmist and dismissive. They don't even provide test criteria. It is an obvious advertisement baiting site for Armchair Admirals, nothing more.

OK.

The interesting bit I picked up from the filter descriptions are that the filter components decay (corrode?) over time and can lead to chromium toxicity. Never heard that but I suppose it depends on the filter element. I can see needing to replace filters every so often. Makes sense - I have to do it for my fridge

Some were listed simply because they can't use current NATO filters. I know for a fact you buy current NATO filter adapters and simply screw them on so you can use NATO filters (duh) so that seems completely moot. Others though are discarded because they don't meet some high standard of "100% NBC" protection. Well I don't live downwind of a chemical or biological weapons factory so I don't need to worry about tear gas, mustard gas, etc. however I do want protection from chemical spills.

I'm looking at the Finnish masks because while I never plan to fight my way out of a tear gas-infested shootout (c'mon REALLY?!?!?!?!?) I do live in an area just a few miles from a government facility and railroad tracks. Obvoiusly chemical spills or other types of accidents would be my primary concern so I can make tracks upwind! Those seem to be the best deal for what they offer.

HOW TO TEST THEM?

What's a good test? Does anyone actually TEST their masks? Hover over some open chemicals (bleach, ammonia, camp fire, etc) and see if you can smell anything? Other tests to validate? This is something you don't want to find out AFTER you need it!!!

kernelkrink · 03-01-2010, 05:52 PM

The "official" test of a gas mask is to break open a vial of bananna oil and see if the wearer can smell it. No smell, good seal and effective filter.

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PapaLes · 03-02-2010, 10:10 AM

With Israel issuing all new gas masks to civilians I suppose we can expect an onslaught of surplus old style masks.

**hcpookie** · 03-02-2010, 10:56 AM

BANANA OIL - most interesting! I wonder if one of those cheap "stink bombs" would do the same thing

zoom6zoom · 03-02-2010, 11:28 AM

Gee, when we had mask training in the Navy they didn't use banana oil.... real tear gas for us.

kernelkrink · 03-02-2010, 06:40 PM

I'm sure everybody knows someone who can clear a room by passing gas. Not as pleasant as banana oil, but I got a feeling it would be an effective test.

**hotbarrel** · 03-07-2010, 07:53 PM

OK here is a true first hand test, as I said before I have some of the Russian masks, the ones that were 15$ with a filter, years back, the ones with the two small glass eyes and an extention filter hose.
as I posted before we had a large anhydrous ammonia spill at my work place.
you can smell 2 PPM
55 PPM feels like cool burning menthol all the way to your lungs.
100 PPM will drive you back with eyes burning and no ability to inhale
300 PPM is the IDLH leval
the mask and filter was 100% effective in all levals mentioned above, also the filters in the masks provided by work were about 1/4 the size of the surpluss filters
real world test YES ANY leak by or filter failure would have been CLEAR.

**tanvil** · 03-07-2010, 08:20 PM

The sealer that I use on travertine tile installations would kill a bull moose. I normally use the German surplus mask that they call the pigface because I found a bunch of filters real cheap. It will take about 3 hrs in small room before I'll smell it. The drawback is that the filters are inside the mask and you need to remove it to change them. Bad design.
Recently I used an M40 US issue. It uses the C2A1 filter which I think is the current nato issue. It lasted a good 6 hrs before I could smell any hint of the sealer.

saracen6x6 · 03-21-2010, 12:37 PM

Thoughts on filter shelf life ?

kernelkrink · 03-21-2010, 02:14 PM

According to the manufacturers, as little as 2-3 years or as long as 10, depending on who made it and type. I would assume like most "shelf life" estimates they are on the conservative side to allow for some leeway with storage conditions and such. They should have an expiration date stamped on the filter or the canister it came in. I wouldn't be afraid to use one that was a year out of date, but beyond that who knows how effective they are. Better than a rag across your mouth, I'm sure.