The 5-second respirator seal check

A respirator that doesn't seal is a false sense of security. The filter can be top of the line, but if dusty air slips around the edges, you're breathing unfiltered studio air. That's why the seal check matters more than the filter rating — and it takes five seconds.

Here's how: put the respirator on, adjust the nose clip and straps, then cover the mask with both hands and breathe in sharply. The mask should collapse slightly against your face, with no air leaking around the edges. If you feel air on your cheeks or under your chin, reposition and try again. Do this every time you put it on — not just the first time.

A few hard rules that go with it. Facial hair where the mask meets skin breaks the seal — that's physics, not grooming advice. A paper or cloth dust mask is not a respirator; if it isn't NIOSH-rated (look for N95 or P100 on the packaging), it doesn't count. And replace filters on schedule: disposable N95s are single-use, and reusable P100 cartridges get harder to breathe through as they load up.

Wear the respirator for the dusty jobs — mixing dry materials, sanding bisque, scraping kiln shelves — and the seal check makes sure it's actually doing its job.