Old one finally gave out. Cartridges were harder to find than the mask itself, so I bought a new rig. It fits wrong. The straps pull across the top of my head instead of the base of the skull and after about forty minutes the seal starts to walk. I've spent two days grinding basalt with a mask I have to stop and reseat every few minutes, which means I'm stopping every few minutes, which means I'm not finishing anything.

The old one was a 3M half face I bought in the nineties. Ugly, cracked lens, the exhalation valve whistled. I knew exactly how it sat without thinking about it. That counts for more than people realize. A tool you don't have to think about is worth twice a better tool you do.

I'll break this one in eventually or I'll go hunting for the old cartridges. Either way the work doesn't care. Dust is dust.