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Hi Steve, My thoughts: You are correct in being concerned about the health issues involved with the use of isocyanate-containing paint products. You are also correct in thinking the benefits of such products make them a preferred way to proceed, providing the health-safety aspects of their use are dealt with. In my opinion, that means supplied-air...period. No half-baked measures here. Your good health should not be risked for a "better" paint on a tractor. Some people are adversely affected by a single exposure so the problem is not just long term use. I do speak from some experience as I had an adverse reaction many years ago after spraying a single car (outside I might add) with just a chemical cartridge respirator. After the second car and a second bad reaction, I decided that if I wanted to continue painting using hardeners I would get a supplied air system. I did just that some 25 years ago. I have never regretted it. I don't paint that much either; just for myself and occasionally for a friend. Alternatives: Enamel w/o hardener. Acrylic or synthetic, preferably acrylic. This is not a BAD option even though it is seldom used by autobody shops anymore. You just have to understand and live with the limitations of not using the hardener. Methods: IMO you really cannot properly address this problem with application methods. The only time I use paint containing isos without supplied-air is ONLY 1) outside AND 2) with an artists brush for touching up bolt heads and nuts. It is a personal decision though and one you will have to make for yourself. Protection: Supplied-air. Clean, fresh air continuously supplied under positive pressure to a facepiece...preferably a full facepiece or a hood (your eyes and skin need protection as well as your lungs). Build your own? I would frown on that. I did, however, ASSEMBLE my own system that has worked very nicely for a long time. I purchased a full facepiece all set up for fresh air and provided my own compressed air supply. Such a combination is not certified in any way and would not be appropriate if any labor laws (OHSA) are involved. It does work well for my own personal use though. The compressor is a dedicated, non-lubricated, tankless unit that supplies air at low pressure through 50 feet of 3/8" standard compressed air line. You need a minimum of 4 cfm for a facepiece or 6 cfm for a hood. Bite the bullet?: Yes. I don't know about resale value but I would guess if you advertised a fresh air system on one of the autobody boards (or possibly even here) as "one time use, good buy", it would be sold in a hurry.  Rod
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