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Favorite DIY Safety Gear

All Posts, Remodeling 101, Safety

Safety Gear for DIY'ingThis is my must have DIY Safety Gear.   Before we start digging into tutorials and projects, we need to make sure we’re set up to protect our beautiful selves from the potential hazards that can happen when working with Power Tools.

DIY Safety Gear Favorites

I made a video to cover all this but couldn’t work all the goshderned electronic contraptions to get it edited so we’re going old school…pictures and subtitles. Hi guys.  I’m going to show you all my GLAMOROUS safety gear today because safety is absolutely the most important preparation for any project you might want to tackle.  Period!

Safety Gear for DIY'ing

It only takes a second to put on your gear!   It takes less that a second for a tragic accident to change your life forever!  So, work smart, take a second to protect yourself.

First up.  I always pull my hair back.  Keep’s it out of my eyes and away from any moving parts…
Safety Gear for DIY'ing

Glasses and Goggles

Why safety Glasses/Goggles?  They help keep flying objects like ricocheting nails (I’ve had it happen) from taking out your eye.  And why Safety glasses/goggles as apposed to regular glasses/sunglasses? They are made for the job!  (Shatter factor.)
I have several pairs of traditional safety glasses laying around the house and garage.  I have a hard time keeping track of things.
These hang around my neck so I can take them off for a second without losing track of them.  Handy!
Safety Gear for DIY'ing

But, my favorite and go-to pair of eye protection is this pair of Dewalt DPG82-11C Concealer Clear Anti-Fog Dual Mold Safety Goggle

Safety Gear for DIY'ing
I like these because they don’t fog up when I’m wearing them with a mask!
Safety Gear for DIY'ing
And because they have this rubbery stuff all the way around them so they kind of seal out the dust.  This is especially helpful when doing anything with drywall.  That dust gets everywhere!
Safety Gear for DIY'ing

And, also because they fit over my regular glasses that I wear sporadically.  Mainly when it’s dark or I watch TV but sometimes I forget they are on…

Safety Gear for DIY'ing

Masks

I try to ALWAYS wear a mask when I’m cutting, sanding or using harsh solvents or oil based paints.Especially when what I’m cutting or sanding is MDF, particle board or Melamine!  Wood is wood.  Not that you want to breathe sawdust of any kind.  I for one, really don’t want to breath fine particulates made up of compressed sawdust and GLUE.  And when cutting Melamine, you’ve got sawdust, glue and plastic.  That’s a lot of chemical and non-natural particulates (dust) filling the air.p.s.  This is my own explanation and opinion.  It’s not a scientific, medical, manufacturer or any other kind of professional statement.

I usually wear a 3M 8511 Particulate Sanding Respirator N95 with Valve, 10-Pack when I’m sanding or cutting.  They have a ventilation valve that helps prevent fogging up your glasses and keeps your face from getting too hot and sweaty.

Safety Gear for DIY'ing

I just ordered these 3M R9211-10 N95 Cool-Flow Particulate Sanding Respirator, 10-Pack and I’m excited to try them out because when it’s hot in the summer, I still sweat under my mask. It’s so gross!

Then I’ve got my 3M R6211 Low-Maintenance Half-Mask Organic Vapor, P95 Respirator Assembly, Medium for when I paint with oil based paints or clean up with solvents.  You can replace the filters when they need it. And you know they need it when you can smell the chemical with the mask on. (I think.)

Safety Gear for DIY'ing

I sometimes wear it when cutting or routing too.  (If I can’t find anything else.)  It comes with some particulate filters that you put in this plastic cover that snap on over the organic vapor filter.  (But I can’t find my filters to show you.)

Safety Gear for DIY'ing
It’s like an extra 5 pounds on my head when I use this mask with my goggles and earmuffs!
Safety Gear for DIY'ing
So I usually wear the smaller, lighter masks.
Safety Gear for DIY'ing

Protect your Hearing!

Did I say something about earmuffs?  I can’t hear anything!

Safety Gear for DIY'ing
I do have a couple pairs of rubbery earbuds somewhere but I can’t find them.  These are the ones I use!
Peltor H10A Optime 105 Over-the-Head EarmuffI like these because they block out a lot of sound (29 dB if you want specifics), they fit over my glasses/goggles and mask straps and they’re comfortable.
Also, because of my propensity to set stuff down and forget where I put them…for convenient storage, I just put them around my waist or my leg while I’m not using them!Safety Gear for DIY'ing
Yeah baby!

Back Support

Remember, lift with your legs! And don’t bend at the waist and hold your weight with your lower back muscles for long periods of time.  Learn from my mistake.  Unless you actually WANT to use a grannie walker for a couple weeks!
Safety Gear for DIY'ing

Yes, I honestly do wear this… sometimes.  Not all the time!  When my back is already sore and I need to work, I put this little beauty on and wear it like I mean it!

I actually bought mine from Harbor Freight Tools for about $12 but I found some on Amazon that don’t have all the bright orange!  Mine is a medium. ProFlex 1650 Economy Elastic Back Support Belt, Black, Medium

Gloves

Gloves may not be considered “safety gear” because cuts and splinters aren’t going to change your life.  But I like to prevent them whenever possible.  I like to use carpenter gloves when I’m cutting, nailing, framing, building cabinets…most jobs where you want some protection but need to be able to dig a nail out of a bin or hold a screw while you drive it into your project.

Safety Gear for DIY'ing
Safety Gear for DIY'ing

And that’s about it.  This is me when I go out to my “workshop” (which is just my garage and happens to face the street so everyone can see me in all my glory when they walk by with their strollers).

Safety Gear for DIY'ing

But I’m not one to put fashion or “image” in front of my safety.  It’s not worth taking a chance on living the rest of my life minus an eye (or a few fingers for that matter) or having to turn the volume up so loud on the TV that everyone else in the room has to plug their ears!

Know what I mean?

Did I miss anything?  Do you have any favorite safety gear that I didn’t cover?  I’d love to hear about it!

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Comments

  1. I hadn't thought about "sealing" goggles. That would have really helped my eyeballs during my last sanding project! Need to get some of those 🙂

  2. Holy crap. Your pictures are so freaking hilarious. It was hard to read your post because the pictures kept begging me to laugh at them. You are too cute!

  3. I was wondering about the gloves. i am not a safety conscious person, and I've almost broken my foot, lost an eye, and I routinely tear all the skin off of my knuckles. I think I'm going to buy a pair of those gloves, USING YOUR AFFILIATE LINK *WINK*lolBut seriously — the gloves? I need those.

  4. okay after looking at those gloves, they only come in medium or large. what size do you use? Cuz I'm afraid they will be too big!

  7. OMG I want to copy your post. LOVE IT. And you finally answered my question as to why my glasses fog up every time I wear them with the mask, I'll be buying the ventilating masks thank you. All us builder ladies (Katy, Ana, etc) need to gear up and send a pic to you for a BuildHers fashion show. I'm putting on my finest right now!

  9. Oh my word! Funniest safety presentation ever! I think I may actually wear some now:) Thanks!

  10. ok thank you on the gloves, I'm so sorry but I typed my email addy wrong on my stupid profile. ARGH!! It's fixed now.oh — and love that herringbone pattern with the subway tile. 😉

  11. What do you mean you aren't putting fashion in front of safety? You are hot in all that gear! ;D

  12. I need to look into those goggles, I always use a face shield because of my glasses. I think I would prefer the goggles because the face shield gets in the way sometimes. You also just reminded me that I need to take a trip to Harbor Freight.

  13. HahahaI didn't think safety could be so funny Love the pictures and made me think dang need some goggles!hahahhaha still giggling

  15. You are too cute! Ok, I have been a supa-slaka in the area of safety–I hereby resolve to be better!

  16. Girl you take safety to a whole new level! 🙂 Great job! I got the big ol' mask for Christmas. I was getting headaches whenever a painted due to painting so much this past summer. But I have a question. I am a slow learner…but what are the gloves for? Since the fingers are out then they don't prevent you from cutting them off..right?

  17. Oh Sandra, you're too cute! Great tutorial. You're a sure thing! AND a safety girl! 😉

  18. gloves are so that you don't get splinters in your hands, and they protect you from scraping all the skin off your knuckles. They are actually really important, once you start building with lumber a lot you will want some. 🙂

  19. Maybe if I get big sealing goggles like those, I won't accidentally wear my safety glasses on top of my head when I leave the house — I do this ALL the time, and my husband has a good laugh. But I also leave the house in paint-covered clothing, so clearly it's not that big a deal to me. :-)Thanks for the rec on the non-fogging goggles, the cooler ventilating masks (my least favorite though still necessary safety device), and the carpenters gloves. They have gone straight onto my wish list.

  20. O.M.G., Sandra.This is the funniest tutorial I have ever seen.The come-hither picture of you in the goggles and vest almost made me pee my pants. That Wes is a lucky man.

  21. Great advice!! I need to update my safety gear. I'm pretty good about masks and eye protection but not the hearing stuff or back brace. You look adorable in your gear that is why the Moms with their strollers are staring at you, not because you look weird.

  22. You are hysterical! I love it! Great info… I have been looking for gloves that have a magnetic area on the back of the hand for keeping track of screws etc. Have you seen them anywhere? I saw a blurb about them somewhere but haven't been able to find them…. Keep up the great work!!!!

  23. Sandra – funniest post ever – falling off my computer chair laughing…..I truly appreciate your humor…..

  26. Ok, so going to the garage in my pj's to spray paint something with the door closed would be a bad thing?

  27. I gotta get me some of those gloves! Is it ok to work in flip flops? Kidding.

  28. Funny – no – you look totally hawt!I have those same face masks, but I think sealing goggles will be better than the safety glasses I use. I also agree with Sunny – the back support is slimming – Harbor Freight here I come (love that place).Super-embarrassing, cause I don't look hawt in safety gear, but maybe I'll have to get in my getup for you all too.

  29. were you channeling your inner pin-up girl?You are awesome in your safety gear!I would add heavy duty footwear to the list, gravity is so hard on us….(and having walked bare foot on a staple gun…it makes for interesting ER experience!)

  31. Hi thanks so much for this post! I try to wear most of this stuff when working simply cuz I have allergies hehe. I wear glasses & need them in order to keep my piggies when cutting (which I just picked up a jigsaw 1st last summer hehe) but I wanted to know if the molded glasses fit over regular eyeglasses? Contacts aren't an option for me since I hate anything in my eyes. Thanks

  32. I love this post. ONe because I am clueless about this stuff so it is very helpful. Two you are hilariously cute!

  33. Great article, and you really do look sweet in all that gear. The cutest DIYer I’ve seen in years. 🙂
    You should maybe slip something about footwear in there too. We all know how heavy MDF is, and it really makes your eyes water when you drop a piece on your favourite big toe…..Ask me how I know.

  34. Sandra, I am just now reading this post. Or maybe I read it way back when and forgot. At any rate, you are a hoot! And I’ll betcha Lady Gaga is jealous of that getup. If she ever stumbles upon your blog, watch out. She’ll be sporting the fighter pilot goggles/respirator/ear muffs and stripey orange reflective back support.

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