Thread: Darth Vader Mask

Hi Guys,
am finding as I get older and my sight gets weaker that I have to wear Glasses under my mask when welding, even find welding in the sunlight helps as well.
Issue is that here in the tropics with very high humidity, breathing under the mask leads to fogging of my specs, making it even harder to see what I am doing,
Question is, are there any masks around with a breathing port, sort of like a Darth Vader mask? need some help but am not going to go with a sealed mask and breathing apparatus setup,
am in the Australian bush and weld off a generator, and frequently from the back of a truck out around the property.

Any filter or baffled air port on the front of a welding mask is basically going to be ineffective because of the large gaps around the sides of most masks which means air will continue to be drawn in and blown out of the sides. What would be effective is a forced air mask, has a battery powered fan that blows fresh filtered air from behind your head down over the mask wearers forehead. These are available but cost big $$$.

thanks, didn't think of that, maybe a small electronics fan on top of mask with small solar/ battery setup might be cheap and easy enough, will check ebay for what may be suitable.

Originally Posted by BayanDundee

thanks, didn't think of that, maybe a small electronics fan on top of mask with small solar/ battery setup might be cheap and easy enough, will check ebay for what may be suitable.

For about $15 you should be able to get a brushless 12V fan (make sure you get a quiet one or it will drive you nuts) that draws about 200mA.

3 x 3.7V, type 18650, 3700 mA/Hr Li-ion batteries should drive that fan for many hours.
3 x 3.7V = 11.1V but will easily drive a 12V brushless albeit little slower.

You might need to add a little cowl or foam rubber around the fan to direct the air downwards. It would probably work better if it sucked although that means more fumes coming up from the stick - maybe put a reversing switch on it so you could do either?