Dust mask or respirator for sanding?

Hey folks, quick question. I've been sanding a lot of old paint off my deck and I'm using one of those cheap paper dust masks. My chest feels a bit tight after a long session. Should I upgrade to a respirator or is a good dust mask enough? I'm thinking about getting one of those half-face respirators with the pink filters. Any advice?

Mike, you're asking the right question. Those paper masks are almost useless for fine dust. I learned that the hard way after a weekend of sanding drywall. The pink filters (P100) are the way to go. They'll catch the really nasty stuff. Your lungs will thank you later. Trust me, you don't want to be coughing up that crap for days.

I second what Hank said. I got a half-face respirator from the big box store for like $25, best investment I ever made for my shop. Just make sure it fits properly. Do the seal check – cover the filters with your hands and breathe in, it should pull tight to your face. If you got a beard like me, you might need to shave a bit for a good seal!

Yep, respirator with P100 filters. Also, consider a dust extractor for your sander if you don't already have one. That'll cut down the dust at the source, and then the respirator is just backup. I run a shop vac with a cyclone separator hooked to my orbital sander. It's a game changer – the air is way cleaner and you don't have to clean up as much after.

Thanks guys, I'll definitely pick up a respirator tomorrow. And Bob, the dust extractor sounds like a solid upgrade for my workshop too – I'll start with the respirator for now and save up for that. Appreciate the tips!