Woodworking is a fun hobby that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. But even though you can pursue this hobby at home and with relatively few tools, it is always important to use the right protection. Woodworking tools can be dangerous but the thing that is toughest about this job is the damage it can cause to your lungs.
In this art, you will be doing a lot of sanding and cutting. This can result in lots of airborne dust that can be inhaled. Some of the products for treating wood such as turpentine and varnish can also have strong fumes. As you can imagine, it isn’t too healthy to inhale these toxic chemicals or microscopic pieces of dust and varnish. If you want to protect your lungs then you should wear the best woodworking mask when working with wood.
The 6 Best Woodworking Masks to Buy Now
There are quite a few different types of masks on the market. These can vary from simple surgical masks to those high-tech masks that are designed to purify poisons from the air.
For woodworking, something more basic will suffice. All you need is something light enough to wear comfortably that allows you to breathe easily and that can remove all the particles from the air so you don’t inhale them.
Up next, we are going to have a quick look at some of the best woodworking masks to get for your workshop.
1. The Dumik 3 Piece Reusable Mask
These masks by Dumik are all highly durable because they can be reused many times over. When you notice that your mask filter is dirty, simply give the entire mask and filter a good wash and it should be in good condition again.
This set by Dumik is also elite since they are made of durable nylon mesh. Each mask is fitted with two exhaust fans and each mask has a filter. In addition, you will also get a few extras such as filters and exhaust valves so you can replace these parts on your original mask when they become too dirty or worn out.
Specifications
- Color – Black
- Main materials – Nylon
- Qty – 3 pieces
- Type – Reusable
- Strap – Around ear with back head loop
- Spare filters – 8
- Spare exhaust valves – 10
- Nose clip – Adjustable
- Cleaning – Washable
- Function – Perfect for allergies, woodworking, running, sanding, and mowing
Pros
- Large bulk pack will last you 2 to 3 years.
- These masks can be hand washed and reused many times.
- Each mask has an exhaust valve that promotes easy breathing.
- The nose bridge can be bent to suit your nose shape.
- The mask secures around your ears and behind your head for a snug fit.
- You get lots of extra filters and exhaust valves with the set.
Cons
- These masks can be a tad hard to breathe with.
- They can be warm on your face.
2. The JKY Reusable Dust Face Mask
The comfortable strap allows you to secure it around your ears at the back of your head for a snug fit.
Specifications
- Size – 13.2 x 5.9 inches
- Color – Black
- Main materials – Nylon with activated carbon filters
- Qty – 1 piece
- Type – Reusable
- Strap – Around ear with back head loop
- Spare filters – 3
- Spare exhaust valves – 4
- Nose clip – Adjustable
- Cleaning – Hand wash
- Function – Running, cycling, outdoor activities, and woodworking
Pros
- The mask is made of durable materials.
- The mask is washable and can be reused many times.
- You get lots of extra filters and exhaust valves.
- Two exhaust valves reduce humidity in your mask when you exhale.
- The mask fits around your ears and around your head for a comfy fit.
- It is suitable for many activities.
Cons
- The mask is pricey compared to the bulk offer and some of the other masks on our list.
- It can be warm to wear on summer days.
- It can be a tad uncomfortable for easy breathing.
3. The C&Xanadu Reusable Mask
It offers a comfortable fit.
Specifications
- Color – Black
- Main materials – Active carbon filters, mesh, and nylon
- Qty – 1 piece
- Type – Reusable
- Spare filters – 3
- Spare exhaust valves – 2
- Nose clip – Adjustable
- Cleaning – Hand wash
- Function – Motorcycling, woodworking, cycling, running, and allergies
Pros
- The mask is made of quality materials.
- It is washable and reusable so you can use it for a long time.
- It comes with 3 spare filters and 2 spare valves.
- The valves allow for easy breathing and reduce moisture when exhaling.
- The adjustable nose clip offers a comfortable fit.
- The filter material is nice and thick, which assists in chemical product resistance.
Cons
- The mask is expensive compared to some of the others.
- The mask can feel a bit warm on hot days.
- It can feel a bit hard to breathe with the filter in place.
4. The NiUB5 Reusable Face Mask
This mask also comes with four filters and four exhaust valves which also makes it a better investment and it is washable so you can re-use it many times.
Specifications
- Color – Black
- Main materials – Activated carbon cotton filters, and mesh nylon
- Qty – 1 piece
- Type – Reusable
- Spare filters – 4
- Spare exhaust valves – 4
- Nose clip – Adjustable
- Cleaning – Hand wash
- Function – Biking, outdoor sports, hiking, yoga, exercise, woodwork, yard work, and allergies
Pros
- The mask is made of highly durable materials.
- It is very affordable considering that it has valves and lots of accessories.
- You also get 4 spare filters and 4 spare valves with this mask.
- It offers a comfortable fit thanks to an around-ear design that ties at the back of the head.
- The mask will filter out toxins and chemicals.
- The exhaust valves are ideal for keeping your face dry when exhaling.
- The nose clip is adjustable.
Cons
- It can be a bit hard to breathe comfortably with the filter in place.
5. The Megrezo Reusable Dust Mask
Specifications
- Color – Cameo
- Main materials – Carbon filters, felt, and nylon
- Qty – 1 piece
- Type – Reusable
- Spare filters – 2
- Spare exhaust valves – 0
- Nose clip – Adjustable
- Cleaning – Hand wash
- Function – Running, cycling, woodworking, construction, and allergies
Pros
- The color is different which makes it unique.
- The mask has valves to help reduce the humidity inside the mask.
- It is washable and highly durable.
- You get 2 spare filters with this mask.
- The felt is soft and comfy.
- The nose clip is adjustable to form a tight seal.
- The mask straps around the ears and head for a more comfortable fit.
- It does offer more comfortable breathing.
Cons
- Some do not like the color.
- The filters are thinner compared to activated carbon filters.
- No extra exhaust valves included.
6. The NYF Phish Logo Reusable Mask
Specifications
- Color – White with Phish logo
- Sizes – Kids and adults
- Main materials – Polyester microfiber
- Qty – 1 piece
- Type – Reusable
- Spare filters – 2
- Spare exhaust valves – 0
- Nose clip – Adjustable
- Cleaning – Hand wash
- Function – Woodworking, allergies, neck warmer, running, cycling, dust protection
Pros
- The mask is beautiful with the Phish logo.
- It is very breathable and light to wear.
- The nose clip is adjustable to form a tight fit.
- The ear straps are adjustable to fit different sized people.
- The mask is also available in a kids size.
- 2 removable filters are included with the set.
- You can wear it around your neck or wrist to keep it close while working.
- The mask is quite affordable.
Cons
- White is not an ideal color for woodworking.
- The ear straps will eventually start to hurt your years.
- The removable filters don’t seem large enough for sufficient chemical protection.
Buying Guide
With so many great masks to choose from, it can be hard to pick one that will suit your needs to perfection. Hopefully, this quick guide can help you decide on the best one based on function and need;
The Budget-Friendly
Some woodworking tools can be quite expensive. No one can or will blame you if you want to save a bit of money by investing in a mask that is a bit cheaper. Lots of woodworkers also prefer to buy affordable masks because they prefer to replace their masks more frequently.
The mask by Megrezo is the most affordable on our list. This mask is quite sturdy considering its price and it does come with carbon filters although these filters are not quite as thick as with the other masks.
The Best Bulk Pack
The three piece set by Dumik is the best investment if you are looking for a large bulk pack. This set includes three masks, eight filters, and 10 exhaust valves. The bulk pack is quite affordable considering everything the pack includes and especially considering that you can re-use most of these products.
With this pack, you are all set for daily woodworking tasks for the next two to three years.
The Best for Lots of Dust
If your woodworking tasks involve lots of sanding and the use of lots of chemicals such as varnish and thinners then it is best to invest in a mask with exhaust valves and thick activated carbon filters. The masks by Dumic are ideal because they qualify for all of these categories and the bulk pack offers good value for money. You can also get the mask by JKY, the one by C&Xanadu or the one by NiUB5 since these all come with vents, filters and they all have adjustable nose bridges that allow you to secure your mask firmly to your face.
The Best for Light Woodworking Tasks
For light woodworking projects, you probably don’t need a very thick mask. Granted, the air vents in these masks do make it very easy to breathe and you can use them without the activated carbon filter for easier breathing but you can also consider the NYF mask with its light fabric design.
The Most Comfortable Fit
All of these masks are designed with comfort in mind. They are all light and very breathable. We do however feel that you might want to avoid the NYF mask because it doesn’t have a strap that secures the mask around your head. Instead, it only ties around your ears with adjustable straps. If you have been wearing a mask for a while, you will understand how annoying and painful those straps can be.
Final Thoughts
We are quite certain that all of these woodworking masks will do a great job at protecting your lungs and we do hope that this guide helped you find the right one.
And if you are looking for other great woodworking products like woodworking clamps, chisels, hand sanders, or woodworking books then we welcome you to hop over to some of our other buying guides where we discuss other good woodworking tools and accessories to buy now.