The Gun Counter

A relative picked up the Finnish gas mask (found here, among other places).

Is this a novelty sold to the sucker born every minute, or is it effective against modern tear gas? That's all he bought it for.

Understood, Chris. By what methodology could one determine whether the seals and filters are good-to-go?

workinwifdakids wrote:By what methodology could one determine whether the seals and filters are good-to-go?

Banana oil capsules, or ammonia capsules. That's what we use to check the seals and effectiveness on the masks we use in the oil field. I get fit-tested every year for both half and full face respirators.

Or you could make your own CS chamber, using a fairly tight storage shed or out-building.

Just remember: respirators are one thing where you DEFINITELY get what you pay for.

BTW, are you mostly just concerned with CS/CN/OC or other particulates, or are you looking to protect again poisonous gases too? Makes a big difference.

Termite wrote:

workinwifdakids wrote:By what methodology could one determine whether the seals and filters are good-to-go?

BTW, are you mostly just concerned with CS/CN/OC or other particulates, or are you looking to protect again poisonous gases too? Makes a big difference.

The only thing he's interested in is CS/CN/OC.

Have him put it on and "mace" him...Actually don't use "mace", the stuff is nasty(and has also been off the market for some years). Even if the seals leak a small amount, OC shouldn't be a problem. While OC irritates the skin it is really only effective on eyes/mouth/nose(yeah it hurts on the skin but not too bad for anyone who has had large tattoos done or really bad sun burns) where the old chemical "mace" burns like hell(not on the skin but but the respiratory tract). A lot of OC manufacturers will say that pepper spray is more effective but the simple fact is you have a better chance of dying from CS/CN inhalation. That is why cops carry OC now.
I have been pepper sprayed(right in the face while breaking up a bar fight) but thankfully the sun glasses I was wearing at the time kept it out of my eyes. IT SUCKED! but was not incapacitating like the makers would like you to believe. I've also been unfortunate enough to be down wind of CN(mail men carried it for dogs, but the circumstances are a long story). I wretched, vomited and thought I was going to die.
Inspect the mask for drying/cracking and fit. The threads(depending on which mil-surp he bought) for the filters should be the same. If the mask is in good shape just buy new filters. They aint cheap, but otherwise just throw a wet rag across your face because it will have the same effect as an old filter(not much). Better yet, don't do anything that will get a CS/CN can thrown through your window.

I passed along your good advice to my relative, who feels comfortable with his surplus Finnish model.

Based on what all of you said, I decided to buy a brand new Israeli gas mask (not the M15 for their military, but the model they pass out to civilians there). It's factory-sealed, not surplus, and comes with a new, sealed filter. Those filters are NATO-standardized 40mm (new for $6 or about), so that you can pick up filters from anywhere, really - commercial, military, law enforcement.

If the field of vision is poor, I'll save this one for my wife and order the Israeli M15 military issue mask. Feel free to post, but I'll report back in this thread when mine comes in via the BBTOH.

IrateIrishman wrote:Have him put it on and "mace" him...Actually don't use "mace", the stuff is nasty(and has also been off the market for some years). Even if the seals leak a small amount, OC shouldn't be a problem. While OC irritates the skin it is really only effective on eyes/mouth/nose(yeah it hurts on the skin but not too bad for anyone who has had large tattoos done or really bad sun burns) where the old chemical "mace" burns like hell(not on the skin but but the respiratory tract). A lot of OC manufacturers will say that pepper spray is more effective but the simple fact is you have a better chance of dying from CS/CN inhalation. That is why cops carry OC now.
I have been pepper sprayed(right in the face while breaking up a bar fight) but thankfully the sun glasses I was wearing at the time kept it out of my eyes. IT SUCKED! but was not incapacitating like the makers would like you to believe. I've also been unfortunate enough to be down wind of CN(mail men carried it for dogs, but the circumstances are a long story). I wretched, vomited and thought I was going to die.
Inspect the mask for drying/cracking and fit. The threads(depending on which mil-surp he bought) for the filters should be the same. If the mask is in good shape just buy new filters. They aint cheap, but otherwise just throw a wet rag across your face because it will have the same effect as an old filter(not much). Better yet, don't do anything that will get a CS/CN can thrown through your window.

Would you be able to tell if a gas mask would keep out OC if you used inert stuff?

I wonder if there's an effective cartridge available for commercial repsirators - they're relatively cheap(a full face 3M is under 200 bucks, and the cartridges are like 20 bucks each), and might serve as a better alternative.


HTRN

I used a similar one in my military service. We all got to test them to make sure they worked, first by being sprayed with teargas outside, then enter a room with low amounts of teargas, and if that worked, we went into a room that was thick with the gas. If we had no problem at that point we were ordered to do some jumping jacks.

My mask worked fine until I did the jumping jacks, then it failed and I had to bolt for the door and outside two guys grabbed me and doused my face with water. When I was somewhat ok again, I was given a new mask and repeated the test, and that time the mask worked.

I dont think there's any other way to test it, if you want to be sure. It's not a particularly pleasant experience though, especially if it fails.

What is the structure and composition of the seals? If it's no more than a simple 0-ring, those can be had in pretty much any size and durometer imaginable - and for cheap! Could one not simply replace all the seals on an older surplus model, just for good measure?