Many woodworkers will spend top dollar on new machinery that’s “safe”, but neglect their own long term health. Woodworking creates lots and lots of dust. Over time, this can lead to respiratory problems that no one wants to deal with. No matter what your solution to dust control is, just about anything is better than nothing. Seeing that woodworking has been a frequent activity of mine for the past 10 years, I figured it was about time to dump the nuisance masks and make an investment in my long term health and enjoyment of woodworking. If you’ve researched powered respirator equipment for more than two minutes, you know that there isn’t an overwhelming number of options. You will have also noticed that every option is quite expensive.
Enter the Trend Air Shield Pro. This is the product that I decided on. While substantially less expensive than most competitors, this product has saved me from the sneezing and congestion that used to accompany long woodturning sessions even when wearing nuisance masks. The helmet has two filters that remove 98% of air born dust particles and a fan that blows this filtered air down across the inside of the face shield to keep dust out of your face.
Considering all that this product has packed under the “hood”, it is surprisingly light weight and well balanced. I do not find the helmets weight uncomfortable until wearing it for a few hours. After 4 or more hours, I’m ready to take it off, but of course it’s also usually time to eat too! The face shield is very clear and I’ve not had any issues with glare using this product. I’m able to see out of the helmet very well and absolutely love that I can wear my glasses while wearing this helmet.
Before I bought the AirShield Pro, I was relegated to wearing a nuisance mask under a standard face shield. That wasn’t a problem unless I needed to wear my glasses. The face shield and my glasses were constantly fogging up from the moisture in my breath. I work in an unairconditioned shop, so just about any time of year causes a face shield, safety glasses, or prescription glasses to fog up when wearing a nuisance mask. The AirShield Pro can also integrate ear muffs into the helmet. I choose to not buy the ear muffs at this time as I am very content with ear plugs. However, it is nice that Trend has built in the ability to attach ear muffs directly to the helmet.
Well that’s the good… Here’ are the troubles I’ve had with the AirShield Pro powered respirator. First off, a few minor annoyances. I feel that the charger should automatically switch to a trickle charge once the battery has reached full charge, as leaving a fully charged battery continually charging can shorten the run time of the battery. The low battery warning… AHHHHHHH!!! I hate the low battery warning. It IS the most annoying sound ever (worse than a 6 year old with a Bop-it). This sound is especially the worst when perfecting the exterior shape of your turning and you hear this constant BEEP… BEEP… BEEP that makes you want to do nothing more than to gently take of the helmet and bash it into a billion tiny pieces. That’s how I really feel about the low battery alarm. I mean do you really need this feature? Does it need to start 20-30 minutes before the unit actually stops working? Trend, if you’re reading this, can you tell me how to disconnect the tiny speaker of doom? Lastly, I’ve gone through two head bands for this unit. Each head band failed in the same area so this was obviously a weakness in the design. After having the second headband fail, I was very tempted to get what I could for the unit and go with a different brand.
When I called Trend, the rep I spoke with (Dave, super nice guy by the way) informed me that they had redesigned the strap and that is was much more robust than the original design. He sent out a replacement that day free of charge (the first replacement was also free) and it arrived two days later. The new head band is black instead of gray and while it does not appear any thicker, the plastic seems a bit more tough. Regardless, I’ll be babying this head band as I might just lose my marbles if I have to deal with another broken head band. I know I said earlier that this product is much more affordable that it’s competitors, but having to replace the same components twice inside 8 months of use is a bit frustrating. That being said… The customer support I’ve received has been absolutely top notch. Dave and Jamie are both great guys to work with and I’ve had nothing but positive interactions with them. Regardless of my issues with the head band or my own personal annoyance with the battery and alarm, I would not hesitate to recommend this product to any of my fellow woodworking or woodturning friends.
Other Trend Products WSM Has Reviewed
The Trend Diamond Whetstone Kit is a super product for all of your hand tool sharpening needs. Check out the article, Trend Diamond Whetstone Kit, Up For Review where I walk you through the process of sharpening multiple items in your shop, even those pricey carbide inserts.
The Grinding Stone is a great addition to any sharpening arsenal! Check out the article, Trend Grinding Stone, Up For Review to see how this diamond whetstone performs!
Full disclosure: I have not been compensated in any way for writing this review. I purchased this product, it was not provided by Trend or any of their affiliates for a review. Thanks for reading y’all. As always, leave questions in the comments section and have a great day!
Don Salter says
Hi again Mike
Thanks for all the input on the Airshield Pro. I’m a retired guy here in Vancouver, Canada with many years of woodworking behind me. I have a decent shop with all the dust collection systems, electric gates, ambient air etc. This is all very good and efficient but, as you know not enough to protect your health in the long run. Believe me you don’t want to get to retirement and have an asthma problem like I do. And so if I may say to the younger woodworkers, breathing protection is an absolute must and it’s never too late. I’ll be buying my Airshield Pro this coming week. Thanks again Mike
Hamisami says
Whats the point ifyou still haveto wear a dust mask
Hamisami says
None of my comments get published. It is a good proof This product sucks. It is no good
get your self a dust mask
Mike says
I’m not sure how you can say bone of your comments get published when I’ve published them all. Also, on what basis are you claiming that the trend airshield pro is a bad product?
Hamisami says
1st of all face shield is no t mentioned. I thought I could wear your product and go dust free. Your airflow is not strong enough to do that.
Mike says
For one, this blog it’s not the website for Trend products. Secondly while this is a superior product for protecting your lungs from dust while woodworking, it does not remove the need for a dust collector or the benefit of a shop air filter any more than a cheap paper mask would replace the need for those items. What the airshield pro does do is improve your level of protection from fine dust particles you’d otherwise be inhaling.
ben says
This unit is complete garbage. Do not purchase. it works well but is so poorly constructed that you will be sorry if you purchase this junk.
Mike says
Hi Ben,
What is it about the unit that you don’t like?
Ben says
It is made from the cheapest of materials. Head bands break, battery pack fell apart, beeping noise , just a very cheaply made product. The motor failed and Trend wanted over $100.00 plus exchange plus shipping for a CHINA MADE $5.00 part. The people at trend were ignorant when I complained about this as well. I plan to continue to tell everyone I see to never purchase this product or any other Trend product .
Jamie says
Dear Sir,
We apologize for your experience with you air/pro. Whilst we did indeed have a problem with the headbands, the problem has been fixed and we have not had a single band come back since the latest design was issued. Further, we immediately offer a new hand and to anyone that contacts us directly. Indeed, we are routinely applauded for our superior customer service.
Concerning the “cheap Chinese part”, I have no idea of what you are talking about. The AIR/Pro is assembled in the USA and most materials are made in Grear Britain or USA. What exactly are you referring to??
Please contact us directly at (877) 918-7363. We want to solve your problem.
Sincerely,
Jamie LaMuraglia
Trend Routing Technology
Ben McLellan says
There is no way to solve this problem other than a full refund and we all know that isn’t going to happen . By Jamies own actions he has admitted to me that the Air Shield Pro Is complete junk. He has sent me 2 or 3 head bands all of which broke the first day I used them and after that he sent me a complet new unit saying he was sorry for my problems. That solved nothing except that I now have two pieces of this trash sitting in my shop .These units are oviously made for people who will only use them now and then. I am not hard to please but for the outlandish price being charged for these units, I would expect it would be made to last for more than a couple of uses.
You saying “The AIR/Pro is assembled in the USA and most materials are made in Grear Britain or USA. MOST materials not all and those motors and batteries are most certainly made in China .
Trend keeps saying that we have fixed the problems and everything is fine but that is just not true. Those of us who own one of these things are stuck with them and there is nothing we can do about it but complain.
Jamie LaMuraglia if you truly want to solve this problem, refund me my $400.00 and stop selling this trash untill it is properly constructed .
Ben Mclellan
info@inklingsinwood.com
Jamie LaMuraglia says
Mr. Mclellan,
You are obviously an unhappy customer and we strive to keep ALL of our customers happy. Indeed, an overwhelming majority of our customers rave about the AIR/PRO and our customer service is ALMOST universally praised.
Please tell me where you bought the AIR/PRO. I will make certain that you receive a full refund.
If you have any further issues, please call me directly. I would like to speak to you! My toll free number is (877) 918-7363
Ben Mclellan says
Mr. LaMuraglia :
This product was purchased from Enviro Safety Products
26027 Huntington Lane, Suite B, Valencia, CA 91355 USA
I paid $355.33 in Canadian funds and would appreciate the refund in an email transfer payable to Ben Mclellan at info@inklingsinwood.com
james Lamuraglia says
Dear Sir,
he business is between you and Enviro Safety. We will need our products back and I will do everything in my power to make certain that you receive a refund in a timely manner. However; I can not specify how you will receive your refund. That is up to the Trend distributor of the product. (Enviro Safety). You have my phone number. I look froward to speaking to you directly.
Ben Mclellan says
The following is an email I recieved from Mr LaMuraglia:
Dear Mr. Mclellan,
I promised to try and get you a refund for your AIR/PRO. However; I must state that
you will not receive a refund for the following reasons:
1) The original unit was purchase in 2010. (Guardian Safety can’t go back anywhere
near that far in their records).
2) You received a damaged unit so we sent you a brand new AIR/PRO and we allowed you
to keep the damaged unit for parts.
3) in 2012, we replaced a motor and a headband. (Yes, we had problems with the
headbands and it was recurring but we have definitely fixed the problem. Indeed, we
have not had a headband failure for any units sold in the last nine months! If you
had another headband failure, we would not ask questions. We would replace it.)
4) You treated my sales person with contempt. You were rude and you cursed him when
you called in asking for a fourth motor!! I will not allow abusive behavior directed
at my employees.
5) You have a one year warranty,. You are demanding parts (another motor) for a five
year old unit.
It is our policy to offer the finest in customer service. I believe that we have
gone above and beyond what is called for in trying to solve your problems and
mollify you.
If you want to talk to me, please do phone me. I will be pleased to speak to you
directly.
Thank you,
Jamie LaMuraglia
Trend
Mr. LaMuraglia
Everything stated by you is true except for the fact that I did not cursed at that man . This is untrue and he is lying or you are to make your case sound better .
I told him that he was trying to rouge me by charging me an outlandish price for the cheap China made motor. If by stating my true belief about Trends product is considered rude than so be it , however you really make yourself look low when you have to tell lies about your customers in order to blame them for the shortcomings in your poorly designed and cheaply made products .
Even though the product was purchased back in 2010, it was not used more than a dozen times. You believe that customer service entails replacing poorly made products with more of the same.
Because of your great customer service, l will continue to spread the word about the inferior products offered By Trend to the unsuspecting public/customers.
Ben Mclellan
james Lamuraglia says
Dear Mr. Mclellan,
I didn’t lie. I spoke to you directly. Something that you refuse to do with me. The customer is always right except in a case like yours.
You go right ahead and scream. I will continue to offer a good product and superior customer service.
I hope that you find peace.
Sincerely,
Jamie LaMuraglia
Trend
james Lamuraglia says
Mr. Mclellan,
One more thing – those “cheap motors are very expensive and they are Made in Sweden. So please stop making false claims.
Thank you,
Jamie Lamuraglia