: What you are trying to do is two seperate things. One is filter out
: particulates and the other is filter out fumes and vapors. The distinction
: is relevant in that almost no respirator does both. The fume filters do
: not work on particulates and the particulate filters do not work on fumes.
: Short of a full face respirator, which can require medical monitoring and
: fitting, the paper ones with the NIOSH button on the front are actully as
: good as 1/2 face respirators in the proper application. Do not pinch the
: filter up to your nose, use your fingers to smooth it out from both sides,
: this avoids causing a leak. Particulate filters actually work better the
: dirtier the get, but fume filters need to be changed at the manufacturer's
: intervals.

You are correct that you need different filters for fumes, vapors and particulates. However You are incorrect about paper dust masks. I don't believe they even have a protection factor rating. On asbestos jobs they are illegal. Half masks are not, they are legal up to 1 f/cc with a protection factor of 10. I wear a full face respirator with a protection factor of 50 (5 f/cc). Which means for every 50 asbestos fibers outside the mask 1 will leak in. I worked three years in hazardous waste removal on an EPA superfund site where we daily wore combination filters for both asbestos dust and volatile vapors. If I remember correctly many of the different filters I have used have dust listed on them as what that filter works for. As far a working better as they load up, maybe from a filtration standpoint but as far as working better no, when they get clogged it makes them difficult to breath through which is what you want to do. If it gets to clogged unfiltered air will leak by the seal as the least path of resistance. And if it's difficult to breath through you won't want to wear it. Your are correct about saturation from fumes and vapors. All that said if you go to Lab safety or any other safety equipment supplier they should be able to get you the right filter. Go with the highest protection factor respirator you can afford, go back a couple of weeks and read a post I wrote on fit and try on several different manufacturer's and sizes. Check the fit by blocking the filters and with the mask on your face suck in, if it fits it will stick to your face, if air leaks by try a different one. Work safe!