Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

that's how they fill SCUBA tanks - after a bunch of filtering
"jay" wrote in message
...
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

jay writes:

I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule.
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

jay wrote:

Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

Why do you ask? Telling us your application will give you better information. You need
some positive pressure air for spraying nasty stuff under a hood? Maybe like Imron if
that is one of the bad ones. Too late to look it up.

Wes
--
"Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect
government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home
in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller

On Jun 11, 8:59*pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. *We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. *Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. *Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater..

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. *The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule. *
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. *But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

I'm not considering underwater usage. Being a SCUBA diver, I've
thought that air being compressed to 100+ bar for consumption
underwater required special compressors, lubricants, filtering,
dryers, scrupulous maintenance, etc. At this moment I'm just
interested in getting a safe topside positive air flow to protect me
from dust, diesel fuel & other nasty **** that affects my allergies. I
despise respirators. I'm retired & I refuse work another day waring
one. I'm considering a small 5 to 10 cfm compressor that I could use
to do other stuff such as paint while bleeding off a small percentage
of it's air to breathe. I'm considering a Sears or other brand @
around $300. I realize that oil free compressors don't last as long,
but that's OK. I was concerned that perhaps even the oil free ones put
out some hazardous gases.
Thanks for your helpful words.

On Jun 11, 8:59*pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. *We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. *Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. *Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater..

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. *The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule. *
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. *But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

Are you saying that even an oil lubricated compressor is safe to
breathe @ 1 bar (sea level). If oil lubed compressors are safe a 1
bar, that's great news for me.

On Jun 11, 9:04*pm, Wes wrote:
jay wrote:
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

Why do you ask? Telling us your application will give you better information. *You need
some positive pressure air for spraying nasty stuff under a hood? *Maybe like Imron if
that is one of the bad ones. *Too late to look it up.

Wes
--
"Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect
government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home
in their eyes." *Dick Anthony Heller

Yeah, that's pretty much it. I'm allergic to a lot of stuff that I
like to work with. See some of the other replies I made to other
posters in this thread.

jay wrote:
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

In addition to what everyone else mentioned, you might
pick up a used CPAP from Craigslist. My local listing
shows 6 machines available from U$ 200. and less.

--Winston

--

"In an age of bodily repose, with nearly all locomotion artificial,
with money as the principal purveyor, it is not surprising that men are
careless about their physical powers, and think them hardly worth the
trouble which their full cultivation would entail."

Popular Science
_On the Artificial Production of Stupidity in Schools_
June, 1872

jay writes:

Are you saying that even an oil lubricated compressor is safe to
breathe @ 1 bar (sea level).

Yes, in proper working order. That's my opinion and my firsthand
experience. It must be cleaner than the sidewalk of a busy city street
breathing exhaust, diesel particulates, etc.

"jay" wrote in message
...
On Jun 11, 8:59 pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule.
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

Are you saying that even an oil lubricated compressor is safe to
breathe @ 1 bar (sea level). If oil lubed compressors are safe a 1
bar, that's great news for me.

The Shell Co make a non-synthetic compressor oil ("Corena P150") which is
used in Scuba air compressors and is supposed to be safe in that
application.
--
Regards,

Chas.

(To email me, replace "xxx" with letters tango papa golf.)

If your application is for a room, a compressor is the wrong plan. You need
volume and slight pressure just higher than atmosphere. If you wish this air
supply is particulate free, then a clean room filter and a large sqirrel fan
blower is the answer.
steve

"jay" wrote in message
...
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:15:24 -0700, the infamous Winston
scrawled the following:

jay wrote:
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

In addition to what everyone else mentioned, you might
pick up a used CPAP from Craigslist. My local listing
shows 6 machines available from U$ 200. and less.

$200 is a good price. (Nothing local to me.)

--
"In an age of bodily repose, with nearly all locomotion artificial,
with money as the principal purveyor, it is not surprising that men are
careless about their physical powers, and think them hardly worth the
trouble which their full cultivation would entail."

Popular Science
_On the Artificial Production of Stupidity in Schools_
June, 1872

Good quote, sir!

I'll see you:

Civilization is the art of living in towns of such size the everyone
does not know everyone else.
-- Julian Jaynes, "The Origin of Consciousness"

And raise you one:

In schools, we create artificial environments for our children that
they know to be contrived and undeserving of their full attention and
engagement. Without the opportunity to learn through the hands, the
world remains abstract, and distant, and the passions for learning
will not be engaged.
-- A CERTAIN SHOP TEACHER WHOSE NAME I HAVE LOST
As quoted by Matthew Crawford in _Shop Class as Soulcraft_
(Ayup, I received my copy yesterday)

--
The doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect
can only advise his client to plant vines.
--FLW

"jay" wrote in message
...
On Jun 11, 8:59 pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule.
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

I'm not considering underwater usage. Being a SCUBA diver, I've
thought that air being compressed to 100+ bar for consumption
underwater required special compressors, lubricants, filtering,
dryers, scrupulous maintenance, etc. At this moment I'm just
interested in getting a safe topside positive air flow to protect me
from dust, diesel fuel & other nasty **** that affects my allergies. I
despise respirators. I'm retired & I refuse work another day waring
one. I'm considering a small 5 to 10 cfm compressor that I could use
to do other stuff such as paint while bleeding off a small percentage
of it's air to breathe. I'm considering a Sears or other brand @
around $300. I realize that oil free compressors don't last as long,
but that's OK. I was concerned that perhaps even the oil free ones put
out some hazardous gases.
Thanks for your helpful words.

You need either a very expensive filter or a carbon vane breathing air pump
with a filter:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ite...ratory-_-3AM92

You're going to need some type of hood or mask to feed the air to you
anyway, so you'll sort of be wearing a respirator with a hose attached.

I wouldn't breathe air from a Sears compressor.

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
. ..
jay writes:

Are you saying that even an oil lubricated compressor is safe to
breathe @ 1 bar (sea level).

Yes, in proper working order. That's my opinion and my firsthand
experience. It must be cleaner than the sidewalk of a busy city street
breathing exhaust, diesel particulates, etc.

Same here.

A couple of other things I have seen is coolers and charcoal filters.
Cooling the air prior to filtering will help wring out oil and especially
moisture. A floating dive shop I used to frequent actually piped the air
down 15' and returned it through an insulated line just prior to filtering.
The results were exceptional. The same could be done with a home-made heat
exchanger. The charcoal filter will eliminate any taste or odor problems, if
ever necessary.

You might visit some local dive shops, especially if you can find one using
a self made compressing set-up. Most will be glad to share their experiences
with compressing breathing air over the years.

On Jun 11, 10:16*pm, jay wrote:
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

No it is not safe.

ANY oil will be atomized and will be deposited in your lungs.

Very bad.

Stick with oilless and filter the air before breathing it.

TMT

On Jun 12, 12:05*pm, Too_Many_Tools wrote:
On Jun 11, 10:16*pm, jay wrote:

Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

No it is not safe.

ANY oil will be atomized and will be deposited in your lungs.

Very bad.

Stick with oilless and filter the air before breathing it.

TMT

Oops..make that "It is NOT safe to breathe from an OIL Lubed
compressor.

TMT

Larry Jaques wrote:
On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:15:24 -0700, the infamous Winston
scrawled the following:

jay wrote:
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.
In addition to what everyone else mentioned, you might
pick up a used CPAP from Craigslist. My local listing
shows 6 machines available from U$ 200. and less.

$200 is a good price. (Nothing local to me.)

Down here in the Gulch, there are a number available
in the $150 range.

I'll see you:

Civilization is the art of living in towns of such size the everyone
does not know everyone else.
-- Julian Jaynes, "The Origin of Consciousness"

.... with sufficient retail outlets that no one has a lock on the
market..

And raise you one:

In schools, we create artificial environments for our children that
they know to be contrived and undeserving of their full attention and
engagement. Without the opportunity to learn through the hands, the
world remains abstract, and distant, and the passions for learning
will not be engaged.
-- A CERTAIN SHOP TEACHER WHOSE NAME I HAVE LOST
As quoted by Matthew Crawford in _Shop Class as Soulcraft_

I raise my cup of coffee to that one!

(Ayup, I received my copy yesterday)

Sounds like a good'un

--Winston

On Jun 12, 9:45*am, "ATP*" wrote:
"jay" wrote in message

...
On Jun 11, 8:59 pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:



jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule.
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

I'm not considering underwater usage. Being a SCUBA diver, I've
thought that air being compressed to 100+ bar for consumption
underwater required special compressors, lubricants, filtering,
dryers, scrupulous maintenance, etc. At this moment I'm just
interested in getting a safe topside positive air flow to protect me
from dust, diesel fuel & other nasty **** that affects my allergies. I
despise respirators. I'm retired & I refuse *work another day waring
one. I'm considering a small 5 to 10 cfm compressor that I could use
to do other stuff such as paint while bleeding off a small percentage
of it's air to breathe. I'm considering a Sears or other brand @
around $300. I realize that oil free compressors don't last as long,
but that's OK. I was concerned that perhaps even the oil free ones put
out some hazardous gases.
Thanks for your helpful words.

You need either a very expensive filter or a carbon vane breathing air pump
with a filter:http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ite...Partsearch-_-S...

You're going to need some type of hood or mask to feed the air to you
anyway, so you'll sort of be wearing a respirator with a hose attached.

I wouldn't breathe air from a Sears compressor.

You're going to need some type of hood or mask to feed the air to you
anyway, so you'll sort of be wearing a respirator with a hose attached.

Yes, I'm well aware of that, but there's a huge difference from a
sealed (semi-sealed) respirator to a hood w/ a slight positive air
pressure & fresh air circulating. My face comes out soaked w/ sweat,
fatigued / hurting from the pressure of the straps of a respirator. My
eye safety devices usually fogged. I've on occasion worn an air flow
mask & I'll take it every time.

Thanks for you thoughts.

On Jun 11, 8:59*pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. *We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. *Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. *Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater..

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. *The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule. *
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. *But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

Thanks for the adapter drawing. I could use an old full face HOKA or
SCUBA MASK. This is strictly top side usage only.

On Jun 11, 11:15*pm, Winston wrote:
jay wrote:
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

In addition to what everyone else mentioned, you might
pick up a used CPAP from Craigslist. *My local listing
shows 6 machines available from U$ 200. and less.

--Winston

--

"In an age of bodily repose, with nearly all locomotion artificial,
with money as the principal purveyor, it is not surprising that men are
careless about their physical powers, and think them hardly worth the
trouble which their full cultivation would entail."

Popular Science
_On the Artificial Production of Stupidity in Schools_
June, 1872

Hate to show ignorance, but what is a CPAP?

jay wrote:
(...)

what is a CPAP?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_airway_pressure

It assures easy breathing during sleep for folks who suffer from
'sleep apnea'.

--Winston

On Jun 12, 5:55*am, "Steve Lusardi" wrote:
If your application is for a room, a compressor is the wrong plan. You need
volume and slight pressure just higher than atmosphere. If you wish this air
supply is particulate free, then a clean room filter and a large sqirrel fan
blower is the answer.
steve

"jay" wrote in message

...

Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

Thanks for your thoughts, but my interest is more wide ranging that
just a room.
As an aside, your method is perfect for a conventional chemical &
silver photo darkroom. Most instructions tell the builder to suck the
chemicals out of the darkroom, but this has the serious side effect of
drawing in dust from everywhere surrounding the room. The noxious
fumes can be vented into a hood above them, pushed there by the
positive air pressure. If that's not enough, them they can helped
along by a slight negative air pressure at the vent, which might
require a slight increase in positive air.

On Jun 12, 9:45*am, "Tim" wrote:
"Richard J Kinch" wrote in . 97.131...

jay writes:

Are you saying that even an oil lubricated compressor is safe to
breathe @ 1 bar (sea level).

Yes, in proper working order. *That's my opinion and my firsthand
experience. *It must be cleaner than the sidewalk of a busy city street
breathing exhaust, diesel particulates, etc.

Same here.

A couple of other things I have seen is coolers and charcoal filters.
Cooling the air prior to filtering will help wring out oil and especially
moisture. A floating dive shop I used to frequent actually piped the air
down 15' and returned it through an insulated line just prior to filtering.
The results were exceptional. The same could be done with a home-made heat
exchanger. The charcoal filter will eliminate any taste or odor problems, if
ever necessary.

You might visit some local dive shops, especially if you can find one using
a self made compressing set-up. Most will be glad to share their experiences
with compressing breathing air over the years.

Great idea, Thanks

On Jun 12, 10:05*am, Too_Many_Tools wrote:
On Jun 11, 10:16*pm, jay wrote:

Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

No it is not safe.

ANY oil will be atomized and will be deposited in your lungs.

Very bad.

Stick with oilless and filter the air before breathing it.

TMT

What sort of filter do you suggest?
Thanks

Too_Many_Tools writes:

ANY oil will be atomized and will be deposited in your lungs.

That just defies theory, observation, and experience.

You breathe more oil fog and vapor cooking dinner.

On Jun 12, 1:11*pm, jay wrote:
On Jun 12, 10:05*am, Too_Many_Tools wrote:



On Jun 11, 10:16*pm, jay wrote:

Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

No it is not safe.

ANY oil will be atomized and will be deposited in your lungs.

Very bad.

Stick with oilless and filter the air before breathing it.

TMT

What sort of filter do you suggest?
Thanks

On Jun 12, 1:10*pm, jay wrote:
On Jun 12, 9:45*am, "Tim" wrote:



"Richard J Kinch" wrote in . 97.131...

jay writes:

Are you saying that even an oil lubricated compressor is safe to
breathe @ 1 bar (sea level).

Yes, in proper working order. *That's my opinion and my firsthand
experience. *It must be cleaner than the sidewalk of a busy city street
breathing exhaust, diesel particulates, etc.

Same here.

A couple of other things I have seen is coolers and charcoal filters.
Cooling the air prior to filtering will help wring out oil and especially
moisture. A floating dive shop I used to frequent actually piped the air
down 15' and returned it through an insulated line just prior to filtering.
The results were exceptional. The same could be done with a home-made heat
exchanger. The charcoal filter will eliminate any taste or odor problems, if
ever necessary.

You might visit some local dive shops, especially if you can find one using
a self made compressing set-up. Most will be glad to share their experiences
with compressing breathing air over the years.

Great idea, Thanks

On Jun 12, 1:08*pm, jay wrote:
On Jun 12, 5:55*am, "Steve Lusardi" wrote:



If your application is for a room, a compressor is the wrong plan. You need
volume and slight pressure just higher than atmosphere. If you wish this air
supply is particulate free, then a clean room filter and a large sqirrel fan
blower is the answer.
steve

"jay" wrote in message

...

Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

Thanks for your thoughts, but my interest is more wide ranging that
just a room.
As an aside, your method is perfect for a conventional chemical &
silver photo darkroom. Most instructions tell the builder to suck the
chemicals out of the darkroom, but this has the serious side effect of
drawing in dust from everywhere surrounding the room. The noxious
fumes can be vented into a hood above them, pushed there by the
positive air pressure. If that's not enough, them they can helped
along by a slight negative air pressure at the vent, which might
require a slight increase in positive air.

On Jun 12, 1:06*pm, Winston wrote:
jay wrote:

(...)

*what is a CPAP?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_airway_pressure

It assures easy breathing during sleep for folks who suffer from
'sleep apnea'.

--Winston

Great idea! Thanks

On Jun 12, 12:57*pm, jay wrote:
On Jun 11, 11:15*pm, Winston wrote:



jay wrote:
Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

In addition to what everyone else mentioned, you might
pick up a used CPAP from Craigslist. *My local listing
shows 6 machines available from U$ 200. and less.

--Winston

--

"In an age of bodily repose, with nearly all locomotion artificial,
with money as the principal purveyor, it is not surprising that men are
careless about their physical powers, and think them hardly worth the
trouble which their full cultivation would entail."

Popular Science
_On the Artificial Production of Stupidity in Schools_
June, 1872

Hate to show ignorance, but what is a CPAP?

On Jun 12, 12:55*pm, jay wrote:
On Jun 11, 8:59*pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:



jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. *We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. *Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. *Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. *The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule. *
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. *But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

Thanks for the adapter drawing. I could use an old full face HOKA or
SCUBA MASK. This is strictly top side usage only.

On Jun 12, 12:46*pm, jay wrote:
On Jun 12, 9:45*am, "ATP*" wrote:



"jay" wrote in message

....
On Jun 11, 8:59 pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:

jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

"jay" wrote in message
...
On Jun 12, 9:45 am, "ATP*" wrote:
"jay" wrote in message

...
On Jun 11, 8:59 pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:



jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule.
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

I'm not considering underwater usage. Being a SCUBA diver, I've
thought that air being compressed to 100+ bar for consumption
underwater required special compressors, lubricants, filtering,
dryers, scrupulous maintenance, etc. At this moment I'm just
interested in getting a safe topside positive air flow to protect me
from dust, diesel fuel & other nasty **** that affects my allergies. I
despise respirators. I'm retired & I refuse work another day waring
one. I'm considering a small 5 to 10 cfm compressor that I could use
to do other stuff such as paint while bleeding off a small percentage
of it's air to breathe. I'm considering a Sears or other brand @
around $300. I realize that oil free compressors don't last as long,
but that's OK. I was concerned that perhaps even the oil free ones put
out some hazardous gases.
Thanks for your helpful words.

You need either a very expensive filter or a carbon vane breathing air
pump
with a
filter:http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ite...Partsearch-_-S...

You're going to need some type of hood or mask to feed the air to you
anyway, so you'll sort of be wearing a respirator with a hose attached.

I wouldn't breathe air from a Sears compressor.

You're going to need some type of hood or mask to feed the air to you
anyway, so you'll sort of be wearing a respirator with a hose attached.

Yes, I'm well aware of that, but there's a huge difference from a
sealed (semi-sealed) respirator to a hood w/ a slight positive air
pressure & fresh air circulating. My face comes out soaked w/ sweat,
fatigued / hurting from the pressure of the straps of a respirator. My
eye safety devices usually fogged. I've on occasion worn an air flow
mask & I'll take it every time.

Thanks for you thoughts.

You're welcome. Have you considered a powered air purifying respirator
(PAPR)? You can get them with Tyvek hoods, they are not uncomfortable.

On Jun 12, 2:13 pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
Too_Many_Tools writes:
ANY oil will be atomized and will be deposited in your lungs.

That just defies theory, observation, and experience.

You breathe more oil fog and vapor cooking dinner.

Yeah, but that's vegetable oil, not mineral oil with additives and who
knows what else.

I breath compressor air in a homemade hood. The hose to the hood has a
homemade inline filter made from two spin-on oil filter cans (threaded
endplates cut off, insides thrown away) duct-taped open ends together
with a North 9000 series charcoal filter cartridge (from a respirator)
inside it. Not much gets through that filter. It'll take pressure up
to about 15 psi, much more than I need.

Dan

Chas wrote:
"jay" wrote in message
...
On Jun 11, 8:59 pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
I do it all the time and so do my kids. We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule.
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

Are you saying that even an oil lubricated compressor is safe to
breathe @ 1 bar (sea level). If oil lubed compressors are safe a 1
bar, that's great news for me.

The Shell Co make a non-synthetic compressor oil ("Corena P150") which is
used in Scuba air compressors and is supposed to be safe in that
application.

The ONLY safe way to breath air from an oil lubed compressor is to use
the specific lubes designed for breathing air units. Then run the air
through a filter.
Unless you enjoy lung damage from the mineral/petroleum oil that WILL
get into your lungs.

Now if your looking for a neat set-up look for a CPAP unit (MAKE SURE it
has the humidifier option if your an allergy prone person) Just make
sure what type mask it is set up for before you buy it. There are
various types. OR just adapt it to a full face unit like an SCBA mask.

--
Steve W.

On Jun 12, 3:13*pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
Too_Many_Tools writes:
ANY oil will be atomized and will be deposited in your lungs.

That just defies theory, observation, and experience.

You breathe more oil fog and vapor cooking dinner.

You might want to read this.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/chemical-pneumonia

TMT

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:16:01 -0700 (PDT), jay
wrote:

Hi All
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.
But does anyone know if it's safe to breathe compressed air from an
oil free compressor?
Thanks for your input.

I wouldn't use an Oilless unless it is designed for breathing air
purposes, since they have thought through all the failure modes and
internal materials. If the Teflon piston seals go bad and overheat,
it could send nasty stuff down the line to you...

My suggestion - HVLP. Get a bypass style vacuum cleaner blower,
where the motor cooling air is kept seperate from the blower air
circuit.

Or a Ring Compressor - 1/3 to 5-HP multi-stage blowers designed to
only push 1 to 2 PSI but a whole lotta CFM. Put a good filter on the
inlet and another on the outlet, then use a sandblasting style
total-loss hood. (But do a full materials check on the internals.)

You still have to be really careful about where the inlet to the
compressor or blower is. If the inlet is a foot away from an engine
exhaust or a fuel burning appliance...

-- Bruce --

You breathe more oil fog and vapor cooking dinner.

Yeah, but that's vegetable oil, not mineral oil ...

So what? You're just being superstitious. Please explain the organic
chemistry if you assert some hazard to mineral oil. Mineral oil is in the
USP. People coat their skin with it and drink it medicinally. It is in all
kinds of cosmetics applied near sensitive tissues.

Mineral oil is a legal food additive in the USA.

Maybe you're confused by the indiscriminate "harmful or fatal" warnings.

We breathe mineral oil fog and vapor all day long in a metalworking
environment from hot chips.

You should use non-detergent types without the additives, not automotive
motor oil, if there will be bodily exposure.

Too_Many_Tools writes:

You might want to read this.

You can get chemical pneumonia from your own saliva.

The dose makes the poison.

"jay" wrote in message
...
On Jun 11, 8:59 pm, Richard J Kinch wrote:
jay writes:
I assume it's not safe to breathe air from an oil lubricated air
compressor at sea level.

I do it all the time and so do my kids. We hook it up to a scuba
regulator and practice scuba diving in the swimming pool. Never
detected any irritation or as much as a scratchy throat from doing this
for long periods. Boat and pool repair guys do this to work underwater.

The compressor consists of some metal and clean hydrocarbon oil, so
there's nothing particularly toxic in low amounts. The amount of oil
entrained into the air must be way below any OSHA limits for oil vapor,
since the oil consumption of a well-running compressor is miniscule.
I'm sure that running a lathe with kerosene cutting fluid and hot chips
generates more oil vapor into the lungs via ambient air than this.

I was working with this every day I might add a filter canister.

Now in filling scuba tanks to 3500 psi you have to be scrupulously
clean, but this is only 90 psi.

I'm more worried about microbes growing in the puddle in the bottom of
the compressor tank. But the intake filter should keep out most of the
nutrition for them, so there's just clean distilled water and rust in
there.

http://www.truetex.com/scuba_lp.pdf

Are you saying that even an oil lubricated compressor is safe to
breathe @ 1 bar (sea level). If oil lubed compressors are safe a 1
bar, that's great news for me.

Being a former SCUBA diver we were always told not to use an oiled
compressor. Just need the oil to get by the rings just once to cause a
really bad case of pneumonia. Since there are oil less pumps, why tempt
fate?