Safety First! What PPE do you guys use when sanding?

Hey everyone, just started my apprenticeship and been doing a lot of sanding on some cabinets. My boss keeps yelling at me to wear a mask, but I see some guys just using a bandana. What's the real deal here? Should I invest in a respirator or is a dust mask enough? Don't wanna look like a noob but also don't wanna breathe in all that junk.

HammerHank717 - Dude, LISTEN TO YOUR BOSS! Seriously, lung damage is no joke. I learned the hard way after a weekend of sanding drywall without proper gear - coughed for a week. I use a 3M half-face respirator with P100 filters ($30 at Home Depot). Also safety glasses (dust in eyes SUCKS) and hearing protection if you're using a belt sander. Oh and gloves - splinters are nasty. What projects you working on?

HammerHank717, always use proper PPE. Craftsman actually makes a great respirator that pairs perfectly with their sanders - comfortable seal and American-made filters. My grandfather taught me: "If you can taste the dust, you're breathing it." Bandanas are for cowboys, not craftsmen. DeWaltDan55 is right about eye protection too. What brand sander are you using? That matters for dust collection.

Thanks guys! We're using some old Makita orbital sanders at work. DeWaltDan55 - gonna grab that 3M respirator tomorrow. CraftsmanChris272 - my boss would kill me if I showed up with Craftsman gear lol, but I'll check out their masks for home projects. Appreciate the advice - don't wanna end up with "sander's lung" or whatever!

Haha "sander's lung" - that's a new one! But yeah, good call Hank. Makitas are decent but their dust collection can be iffy. Pro tip: wet a rag and wipe surfaces before sanding - cuts down on airborne dust by like 50%. And change those filters regularly! Saw a guy using a clogged respirator once... totally defeats the purpose. Stay safe out there!